on Pred for 6 years: got down to 4mg but symptoms come back. Recently( 2 months ago) was put on 15 mg as bad flare up. Dr didnt see me but phone consultation( due to Covid) so no bloods done. Did improve alot but as soon as I started to decrease as recommended problem returns quite badly.
Any suggestions: so fed up
Hi,
A few questions please -
What reducing plan were you given?
At what dose did the symptoms come back?
What dose are you on now?
Did you become more active because you felt better at 15mg?
Why no bloods? In UK. My GP is sending the request forms through the post (spoke yesterday) and I expect to get them done as I have several times in last 8 months.
thanks for replies. reducing plan was reduce by 3mg after 3 weeks, then repeat every 3 weks by reducing by 3mg. Symptoms returned as soon as I went onto 12mg after the 3 weeks of 15mg. So tempted to go back up to 15mg. More active? Yes I guess a little more when I felt better but on the whole I am pretty inactive due to bad knees and Osteoarthritis.
I thought it was daft not calling me in for bloods: reason was unsafe/covid etc! Joke is I had been in that week for a flu jab! I am sure if i follow protocol with mask etc it should be fine!
My GP isn't doing run of the mill blood tests apparently- unless you are diabetic or similar!
I guess the issue is the possibility/actuality of path lab being overwhelmed - so maybe it has come down from hospital rather than GP's decision.
What dose at moment? Maybe a couple of weeks at 15mg, then reduce more slowly - 1mg a time, not 3!
Ditto to DorsetLady's questions - need to know to make a sensible answer.
Plus - did you flare while reducing? Or had you been at the dose for a while?
I have been able to get bloods dine, but last Friday the nurse tried to get blood out of me and failed. She came back on Tuesday and failed again. Trying again next Friday.
Ys flared up while reducing, but before 15 mg prescription was on 8mg for ages
Then it sounds like an increase in the disease activity - and that probably means you have to reduce from 15mg as if it were a new diagnosis. Have you been under extra stress recently or had an infection/accident? I think you probably need to reduce just 1mg at a time and be patient, waiting for the disease activity to wane a bit.
was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with PMR -GCA and put on 30mg pred, but I still have most of the symptoms , neck and shoulder pain, head pains,
I have had GCA for some time now -reduced dosage of preds from 15mg to 12.5mg on Sunday as advised by GP now feel really rough -
I’m a 68 year old Mum of 2 grown up boys have had symptoms for 18 month pmr diagnosed approx a year ago and then Gca in March 2020. 
Is it better to "manage" on a lower dose of pred or put it back up a little to feel better?
Hi. I have RA and just started 15mg pred for PMR. Am terrified of the thought of GCA. How do you know it's not just a headache?
