A bad cold or a flare?

[Chia123]

I was diagnosed in May 2019 with PMR and GCA. I was started on 40mg of pred and am currently on 7mg after a bit of a struggle coming down from 8mg. I have had a really bad cold for nine days- a present from my granddaughter. On day 3 I couldn’t do a thing. Total fatigue. Then the following 3 days just a cold. However, over the weekend I have been totally exhausted and have had no appetite. I have to force myself to eat and can only manage small amounts. My question is- could it just be I get very bad colds? ( the same happened in December when I reduced my steroids from 8mg to 7mg whilst having a bad cold and within 4 days felt very ill. ) or could something be going on with my adrenal glands at 7mg causing the extreme tiredness and lack of appetite or could these symptoms be a PMR flare? I don’t often post on the site as I get a lot of answers to any questions I might have by visiting the site daily. Thank you for all the work you do and any advice/views would be appreciated.

M

[PMRpro Ambassador]

When you are ill you need a burst of cortisol to help your body fight off the infection. If your adrenal function is limited or blunted, no extra cortisol and it is a bit harder to recover.

[Chia123 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reply. Would it be a good idea to go back up to 8mg from 7mg for a few days? I rang the rheumatologist helpline today and she is going to ask the consultant but she said some very strange things - if she said to go up to 8, how would she feel in a court of law as being on steroids makes you more vulnerableto infections- obviously thinking of Covid- but I know from this site that being on steroids does not increase your chances of getting Covid. She also said you can’t use steroids to treat a cold but I can cope with a cold. I was trying to get advice on the tiredness and loss of appetite. Won’t hear back until tomorrow afternoon. I went up to 8 this morning and am already feeling a positive change. Am unsure what to do tomorrow. Just take 7mg or take 8mg again and keep on 8 for a few days. Usually the nurses on the advice line are very good.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Chia123]

But they have never had PMR themselves ... How much difference 1mg will make is pretty questionable I'd think at this level. If you feel significantly better with 8 - that's what you probably need for a day or two.

[Chia123 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Will take 8 tomorrow and see how I go. Hopefully it will just be for a few days.

[HeronNS]

To add to PMRpro's comment: last year I had a minor injury which meant 11 hours hanging around the emergency department of hospital, no food or drink for all that time except a few sips of water. I also felt I was in a bit of shock. I had exactly the same reaction as you for the next couple of days. Did recover but in retrospect an extra dose of pred would have been a good idea. I was at a very low dose at the time.

[Chia123 in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks for your reply. I think I need to go up to 8 for a few days!