Covid & tapering

[Zareda]

I am battling covid and the worst symptom is the unrelenting fever. It’s day 6 and every day my temperature spikes to 102.5 Tylenol or Aleve do little to nothing to bring it down, but I have noticed a pattern with the prednisone. I’m down to 2mg now and after I take that dose in the am, my temperature will slowly come down to 100.8

After about 10 hours it spikes back up to 102.5

What I’m wondering is will taking another dose of 2 mg at night help me get through the night? Rheumy is of no help…..he just gives me his standard answer of continue with current protocol but don’t increase amount

[Bcol]

I would have thought that the "sick day rules" would be applicable. See pinned posts, probably on the right of your screen (if on mobile might be different)

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

Just for info - Mobile…scroll down below posts….

[madhouse1]

I’ve always taken my pred at night and when I had Covid with slept well but by mid afternoon my Covid symptoms were worse but eased after pred and t hi s was every day so I assumed the pred helped reduce the Covid symptoms- just my personal experience compared to those around me who didn’t get the good night’s sleep.

[Zareda in reply to madhouse1]

Thank you…..I can thoroughly relate to that.

[SnazzyD]

When I had it March last year I was on 0.5/1mg. I didn’t try to get the fever down unless it got above 103 as it serves a purpose and I felt I was holding my own, unpleasant though it was. In acute phase illness I want to give the body every chance of the immune system working optimally. Pred will help the fever provoked by inflammatory substances. Come day 10 it felt different and my whole chest felt inflamed and my body in some weird distress that I couldn’t pinpoint. Then I gave myself a run of 2mg on the basis of some bloke in Wuhan saying he was given steroids and it helped that inflamed feel in my lungs. I felt short of breath all the time once the inflammation kicked in but I wasn’t happy to ‘play’ with higher doses in case I suppressed too much because at that point nobody knew about it and my GP still thought it was a bog standard viral infection because I hadn’t been skiing in Italy. Then things changed and I was coughing up lots of gunk and the fevers were spiking after settling around 100. At that point the GP was only too happy to prescribe antibiotics for a secondary bacterial infection. They worked for that bit and my body went back to where it left off with hot lungs, gastritis and breathlessness that lasted 3 months. The point of saying all this is, it can be complicated and don’t just try to suppress all symptoms just to make yourself feel better, though I know when you get to the point of feeling you never will, any chink of light is reassuring. However, in the absence of proper advice use your intuition and sick day rules for Pred is a good call because you are ‘entertaining’ a very tricky guest. Any sign of breathing problems however slight, if you can buy a pulse oximeter it’s very useful. Amazon has done a roaring trade. Check your Oxygen Sats and if you keep dipping into the low 90’s you have meaningful figures to tell medics on the phone so they can assess you more easily. If your fever keeps going high beyond 7/10 days it’s worth seeking advice.

Docs then and still now (going on others’ reports and my experience) seemed to see Covid as someone else’s speciality and avoid applying any of the problems to their own field. Nobody likes to stick their neck out from established protocol and use common sense because heaven forbid it might be wrong. So, I don’t think it’s just your Rheumy.

[Zareda in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes I agree no one wants to accept responsibility for your care in case something should go wrong. I’m glad you are feeling better. I really hope this doesn’t last for months but it’s out of my control. I will read up on those sick day rules.

[SnazzyD in reply to Zareda]

Everybody’s journey has its own path and there is no telling how it’ll be so once again one day at a time. I had relapses every 2-3 weeks for 7 months and then it went to every 4 weeks and I think I felt out of it by April. Others have a so much better recovery, others worse and there seems to be no telling who they’ll be. Good luck

[Zareda in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you! I’m glad you have recovered

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think if I had your rheumy I might look for a better one! Anyone with Covid who is on such a low dose of pred should be told to INCREASE the pred in line with Sick Day Rules.

I assume you have had both jabs? If so, I'd accept the increase in temperature if I weren't too uncomfortable but I would ask the PCP not the rheumy about that as it is bordering on concerning,

medicinenet.com/aches_pain_...

[Zareda in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I agree 100% with everything you said. The problem appears to be passing the buck. The rheumy tries to pass me off to PCP because he’s only treating me for PMR. When I contact PCP, she tells me I need to discuss it with rheumy. It’s so darn frustrating!! I will read up on those sick day rules and be my own dr at this point.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zareda]

But I don;t want to speak to a rheumy about something that is more general medicne - you are in the US then? European GPs are a bit more use!

[Zareda in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I am in the US and after reading many comments on this site…..your medical care seems more advanced than what I’m experiencing even though we are supposed to have the best healthcare. I’m not seeing it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zareda]

You have the most expensive!!!! Studies have shown the cost isn't matched by standards though - it seems to be very very good (if you have lots of money!) or mediocre at best, And at least I will never be bankrupted by medical bills!

I think our primary care has advantages - they truly are generalists - although it may be a bit slow at times.

[Zareda in reply to PMRpro]

I hear you and you are spot on!

[mgrogers99 in reply to Zareda]

In a report this year, South Korea has the best health care. The USA is #30 and the UK is#10. ceoworld.biz/2021/04/27/rev...

[Zareda in reply to mgrogers99]

You won’t hear any argument from me!!

[MrsNails]

Zareda you should be applying the Sick Day Rules & there is a Section on Covid - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Please Get Well Soon 💐

[Zareda in reply to MrsNails]

Thank you so much for the info. I will read up on both of those links.

[piglette]

Of course steroids are being used as one of the medications to help Covid, so pred may have an effect.

[Zareda in reply to piglette]

Yes there is definite improvement when I take my dose each morning.

[mgrogers99]

Temperatures are higher in the afternoon and evening. The purpose of fever is to fight your infection so it's a good thing as long as you can stay somewhat comfortable. Take the Tylenol routinely.

[Zareda in reply to mgrogers99]

I am taking Tylenol routinely but I did add 5 mg of prednisone at night and it made a huge difference. I don’t understand why neither of my drs knew that I need to add more steroid when physically stressed.

[lillyofthevalley37]

This is the strange thing about covid you'd think that you need your immune system actively fighting it yet it seems shutting down the immune system - taking steroids - makes it stop

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lillyofthevalley37]

I'd have thought the role of the steroids was more damping down the production of inflammation which narrows the airways.

[Zareda in reply to PMRpro]

I think I also have adrenal insufficiency at play which rheumatologist refuses to consider.