I’m just beginning the slow taper schedule from 9-8.5mg of prednisone. I’m now experiencing more pain in my shoulders, my right hip which wraps around to the front, stiff fingers and swelling in my middle finger on my right hand, more fatigue.
The weather has been quite damp so I’m not sure if the symptoms are due to that also. I have vertigo off and on now also.
Any recommendations are welcome.
If you were good at 9mg, stopping reducing and stick at 9mg for another month. You say more pain - did you already have pain at 9mg?
Some return of pain but it’s grown more as I’ve had two weeks of this taper which takes about 45 days to complete. I was going to be fully on 8.5 the middle of March.But I’m more emotional today because of my mom’s dementia too.
And that stress alone is enough to make the reduction too much. I had to go up quite a lot before OH died - the stress made me flare. It isn't worth the risk forcing it
Today I’m supposed to go from 14mg to 10mg since it’s been five days. I’m not sure if I should because the four of the days have been mixed with some flaring and extreme exhaustion or fatigue.The first day on 14mg was glorious but it didn’t continue. Do you think I should give it another five days because I’m not recovered from my flare?
I’ve tried my best to pace myself on my activities but still feels like I’m pushing myself through each day. My vertigo yesterday certainly didn’t help.
Thanks for your advice.
I would - but it may be "ask the doctor" time. What did you do on that first day? Other than probably too much ...
Friday I took grandchildren to school and sat with one who was home sick with our masks on till dad could get back home from work. Then off to hair salon and back home.
Saturday Messiah rehearsal for two hours and fixed a roast dinner. No more energy so rested.
Sunday went to church with husband and mom then out to eat. Rested
Monday decided to dust, wash floors with my bissel cleaner and wash throw rugs. Went to the pool for half an hour. Fixed dinner In Crock pot and went to an evening meeting.
Tuesday did four loads of laundry, went to two stores to shop for some items, went out to meeting for an hour an half.
Definitely too much!
Far far far far too much. You MIGHT manage one day of each - but then you need a rest day next day which is very important.
If I were being horrid - I'd say it serves you right. but since I'm not really that horrid, I'll say that is why you suddenly got bad again. It is entirely up to you - pred is not a get out of jail card to do everything else. YOU have to do your bit too,
I certainly hear you. I hadn't cleaned my house in two plus weeks and with the weather outside going from snow to mud puddles it wasn't easy ignoring my floors for so long. How do I get more help? How do I get at least 5000 steps in a day so to not lose more muscle? I hear you about resting a day in between so I will give it a try. My husband has slowed down some at 71 and takes an afternoon nap several days a week, but he has always mad me feel like I don't do enough. Not in words but just in actions, but he is all about doing. He has been understanding about the limits PMR has put on my life most of the time. The mental challenge of getting over doing less in life is the hardest part of it all. We moved closer to family six years ago to be of help. It's been a rough winter for us all.Thanks I appreciate all the comments. Even the ones that say "I told you so, slow down!" I'll try to be a better student.😂
Hadn't cleaned in TWO WEEKS???? Dear me - what a dreadful person 
I hadn't cleaned in 2 YEARS.
Put a sign at the door - NO OUTDOOR SHOES past this point. If someone else makes a mess - hand them the mop. You moved to near them to be a help - now it is their turn to have it explained YOU need the help. OH takes an afternoon nap even without PMR - but manages to make you feel guilty? No - we are NOT unpaid servants.
You forgot to mention, however, that you have a cleaner once a week!!🤪
Not for the previous 2 years I didn't, no-one crossed the threshold. And she comes for a whole hour!
The little ones are trained at home to take off their shoes and boots. It's my big one, OH as you call him, that will not, nor my mom who has Dementia. I give up sometimes. Now my mom's dementia is worse the floor under the table has scattered bits of food. They both see the mess on the floor and rugs at the doors but that's it. My mom was so clean years ago but now daily i have to wipe up dirty finger prints on my cupboards and appliances in the kitchen. It's just my life so I do my best and try to pace myself. My only respite is when we go to our little cottage up north and it takes me 2 hours all together to clean before we leave. I'm ready for a week away!
Mine was like that - I wanted all outdoor shoes removed at the door. He wouldn't either. So I shrugged and if he complained about grubby floors I told him to sort it himself. (He didn't.) And my floors are polished wood - I wanted ceramic tiles in the hall and the kitchen area - he and the builder didn't agree. I lost - so if he wanted polished wood floors, his problem.
Thanks so much.
This happens, several times to me too. Very disappointing but pmr is definitely in charge and will let you know if it’s not happy. When you say more pain on the taper, you had pain at 9mgm? If so you need to get back to the dose you were on without pain and stay on that for a few weeks. Also think about your activity levels, if you’ve been doing a bit too much that could explain the pain coming back.
Did fine at 9mg.
I’m sure I’ve been doing too much. We’ve had five funerals in six months and Covid for all my family and some twice.
I'm so sorry to hear this. I don't know where you live, but if it's in the northern hemisphere you might consider waiting to do this taper in the spring. Might make all the difference in ease of taper. Rule of thumb - when you taper, you should always feel as well at the end as you did at the beginning, or possibly even better. Don't try to push on to the next stage, and especially not if you've been experiencing extra stress.
Sounds good.
Having just read Pro’s replies - l’d stay at 9mg & hold up off tapering for now. I was going from 10-9mg after Christmas but l got that horrible chest infection - so that meant stopping my MTX - so not a good time - St Davids Day (1stMarch) for me and l’m going to start a very slowwwwww taper & only going to 9.5mg
Take it steady & sorry to hear about your Mum 💐
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