Tapering while suffering with shingles?

[Karenjaninaz]

Was recently hospitalized for asthma in October and put on mega doses of steroids. When I came down to 12 1/2 I parked. I started to reduce a half a milligram and now at 12. Just came down with the most wicked form of shingles. I went to the hospital in an ambulance! It was so painful I couldn’t even talk couldn’t walk couldn’t blow my nose etc. etc. I had gotten the old shingles vaccine along time ago but now I know that doesn’t last. I didn’t get Shingrix because I wasn’t sure you could get it while having PMR. It must have been the stress from the hospitalization for the asthma; all the rest that goes with it a tipped me over the edge. I am now on antivirals, some paracetamol, lidocaine patch and Benadryl. At the dose of 12, and no PMR symptoms at all for many months on much lower doses, will I be allowed to taper down to 11 1/2 at this time?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Personally I wouldn’t try tapering at the moment….give your body time to recover from the recent trauma.

Last time you post on here, a couple of months ago you’d just had a flare from around 6/7mg I think. Just give yourself another few weeks at 12mg, to really make sure all okay before you restart your tapering.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to DorsetLady]

That wasn’t me that had a flare;.. I haven’t had any PMR symptoms maybe in over 2 years. . I’ve been having all types of stuff happening; allergic asthma attack in Oct after the flu shot requiring 4 day hospital and now on oxygen at home. At that time they jacket up the pred to 40 and now coming down from that as my breathing improves. The shingles are a fallout from that I think.

[SnazzyD in reply to Karenjaninaz]

You’ve been through it. Sounds like you were immunosupressed enough by the much higher doses to let the virus creep out and cause shingles. Personally I’d avoid reducing until the dust has settled more but I say that from my own experience of feeling every 0.5mg drop. Not everybody does. If you do decide to drop, I’d go for introducing the dose in slowly rather than dropping in one go and sticking there.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you, that certainly makes sense.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I wouldn't taper just now either - not least because you might well find the pred is helping with the shingles pain, it is used for that.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to PMRpro]

I called my endocrinologist and she said to double the dose for a couple of days if I had severe pain which is indeed the case. I am taking antiviral meds already this is the third day so perhaps by then I will be feeling better. I am only going up 10 mg these two days making a total dose of 22 mg.

[2013mayo]

Oh poor you, I’ve had shingles 3 times, ocular, very nasty illness.

Don’t try reducing at this stage, just try to relax as much as possible, I know it’s difficult but stress only heightens this virus, it will clear up eventually.

Take care

Sending you a big hug

😍

[keeptalking]

It sounds awful for you. Hope you start to feel better soon. You certainly can have the Shingrix vacation with PMR. I’ve just had my first one. 2nd one in 2 months time.

Take care.