Pain and stiffness hits around midday after taking pred in the morning

[redruth123]

Hi All,

Hoping someone can throw some light on why these days I wake feeling dandy (well, moderately ok anyway...), take 15mg pred about 9.30 am with breakfast, only to find that the pain and especially the stiffness hits about midday. If, and only if, I eat a sensible low carb, low sugar diet that day, the pain lifts somewhat about 6pm.

Background - PMR main symptoms arrived late Dec 2020, diagnosed April 2021

Breakfast is bacon, broccolini, mushroom and egg, Cup of hot milk coffee

Thanks for any advice, Much appreciated.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you tried an exclusion approach to breakfast? It could be a reaction to something in the selection.

[redruth123 in reply to PMRpro]

PMRPro thanks. I'll give this a go. I'll start with eggs first, then add other items gradually. Have replaced cereals and toast with the cooked, high protein breakfast to good effect but there may be something lurking there? And perhaps a steady diet of bacon is not such a good idea anyway 🤔😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to redruth123]

The miseries would have you believe it will finish you off - I live in a region where bacon-like products tend be eaten at least 2x a day. If you die at under 80 you went young

[jinasc]

Bacon and Mushrooms fried or grilled? Egg scrambled or fried? Broccolini, plant or seeds.

I would try, as PMRpro says 'exclusion'.

I had to change my breakfast and went for Pro-biotic Yoghurt and teaspoonful of Manuka honey.

I did take my pred whenever I woke after 2am with something to eat like a slice of bread and butter and then snuggled down - this gave time for the pred to start and work.

[redruth123 in reply to jinasc]

jinasc, all fried in a tiny amount of olive oil. Will be starting the exclusion tomorrow.

I'm interested to know - if you don't wake at 2am, what time do you normally take your pred?. Is there a problem with a time lag between doses from day to day? Or does it just work well ? I sometimes wake around 4am and could take the same approach but just not sure how it works.

Thanks for any advice.

[jinasc in reply to redruth123]

In the FAQs (follow this link) and this will tell you exactly why (much better than I can).

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[redruth123 in reply to jinasc]

Thanks very much jinasc 👍

[123-go]

May be what you're eating as said before. Your breakfast list has made my mouth water! However, bacon is high in saturated fat and this promotes inflammation in the body. Try eliminating bacon (as a start) for two or three weeks and see what happens. You may feel you are depriving yourself of something you enjoy but your health comes first.

[redruth123 in reply to 123-go]

123-go thanks for your reply. Yes brekkie is delicious and satisfying, a far cry from my favourite toasts and cereals I used to scoff down, which left me hungry within an hour or so,

I do remove all the bacon fat but am not too sure about eating it all that processed meat regularly anyway. So probably time for a re-think after doing the exclusion process.

[DodiR]

My personal experience is the earlier I take my Pred. the better. 4:30-5:00am is proving worth setting the alarm for.

Breakfast is not until 8:30 and is always a good bowl of own made museli with full fat yogurt and half an apple. Mug of coffee and sometimes a boiled egg.

At 11:00am I eat a small slice of full corn bread with full cream cheese and chives, also cup of tea.

I eat a full freshly cooked lunch everyday containing mainly veg with small serving of meat, fish or eggs around 13:00, sometimes large salad with ham, eggs and cheese added.

From 14:00 I have very little to eat before bedtime. Sometimes a sandwich or fruit and yogurt around 18:00.

My body seems to need a good amount of full fat protein.

I drink no alcohol only water, tea and coffee in small amounts.

My treat each day is a small and I mean small bar of dark chocolate.

Not everyones choice but it sure works for me.

Of course I have the added luck that my partner enjoys the same meals.

[redruth123 in reply to DodiR]

DodiR thanks for your comprehensive reply!

Seems like taking pred in the night works for some at least. This is prompting me to go back to the site files to read about it and gain some more insight.

High protein is essential to me too these days, so it's great to get some ideas of how others plan their meals. As for alcohol...arrgghh.... not easy to wean off "completely" but maybe that will have to happen too.

[Bcol]

Good morning, I've had my Pred early morning, around 02:00, for many months now with a banana and some Greek yogurt and some berries and it has worked well. My breakfast which tends to around 07:30 - 08:00 ish is usually a bowl of porridge over sultanas and some berries, usually raspberries or blueberries or prunes on top. Lunch tends be a yogurt, maybe toast, homemade granary or sourdough bread and a cooked meal in the evening. Evening meal is usually white meat or fish of some sort or other with veg. Still drink wine in moderation when feel like it. Unlike some I've been lucky and not had an exercise, after the first two or three months, or weight problem.

[redruth123 in reply to Bcol]

Thanks Bcol.

Good to hear of your early morning pred success.

Interesting to hear too of someone who still enjoys some their nourishing carbs with no ill effects. I miss eating them but the more I eat, the more I want ! So am trying out different diet regimes - the pred isn't doing it's job as well as it used to? !