Miracle of Pred

[WeAreAllMutants]

It was painful work to roll over in bed and I was crawling up stairs (at home). My doc said to take 20mg pred BEFORE LEAVING THE PHARMACY.

In a few hours I was ecstatic to be at 80-90%, and gleefully bending over to pick up random junk just for fun!

[Koalajane]

That is great but don’t do too much!

[SheffieldJane]

Great though it is, this energy is fake, please don’t overdo things or it will bite you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I picked up my pred from the pharmacy about 10.15am and stood outside to take the first dose and went home. Just before 4pm I stood up from the computer and walked downstairs to make a cup of tea and took it back upstairs to the study. And then stopped as I realised what I'd done. Before lunch I'd also crawled up the stairs on hands and knees and the usual going down was like a toddler, stomping down one step at a time! I rememner it like yesterday!

But to echo the warning - this is NOT a cure! DON'T try going back to normal activities!!! It will end in tears.

[jinasc]

Diagnosed with GCA, 60mg and boy did I feel great. I knew not to overdo it as my Mother had both 21 years previously. Take care and read as much as you can in the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ's) top right hand side of page. Knowledge is power.

[Charlie1boy]

Well, that was good advice from your doctor! I took my first pred in a coffee shop where I called straight after leaving the pharmacy, so the same as you. Just shows how desperate we were for pain relief,Good luck, and, as the others have said, make sure you take it easy. The management of pmr needs patience, then more patience, then more patience again!!!

Paddy

[piglette]

It really was like magic, back in the land of the living having been in excruciating pain for weeks. A wonder drug.

[Daffodilia]

Had a similar experience in 2018

[alangg]

Me too - very similar experience a few years ago. But do heed the warnings above; don't think that you are cured! Go easy on your body, keep on the high dose for at least 4 weeks and then start tapering the dose using one of the taper plans on this site. And never drop more than 10%. You will probably reach a dose when the stiffness and pain begins to return. At that point, go back up until you are comfortable again, wait a few weeks and then try to reduce down as before. You may not get to zero - some people don't. It took me 2.5 years.

[Vaggers]

I responded to 20 mgs of pred immediately and I felt amazing. The following day I walked 7 miles over the Malvern Hills (no one told me I should take it easy and I hadnt found this forum) This rendered me back to square one, and worse.

It took 40 mgs to get a response.

So please take it easy!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Pred saved my sight - well in one eye- other already lost pre diagnosis -need I say more !

[cmb02]

Exactly what happened to me. It was a miracle to be able to get up without help.

[MiloCollie]

That’s hilarious-picking up random junk off the floor- just because you can!! 😂😂good luck going forward.

[Predsharer]

Sorry to put a dampener on things. I don’t mean to take anything away from the joy of being pain free and full of beans after horrible debilitating pain. However Pred is no miracle (that suggests a cure). It merely makes one feel better whilst the condition takes it’s natural course. Sadly I am at a stage in the tapering process that is far from easy and the ‘miracle’ seems a distant memory. Take it easy, do all the things recommended on here to give yourself a chance of returning to optimum health.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Predsharer]

Cure it may not be - very little is really - but it DOES preserve sight and gives you your life back. I don't think a miracle must be a cure.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Predsharer]

Actually for me it was a miracle - or at least part miracle - as it stopped my losing sight in remaining eye - one already kaput thanks to late diagnosis. Not to mentioned 18 months of excruciating pain.

Okay it didn’t “cure” GCA, but it made it a hell of a lot easier to live with!

All a matter of perspective.

[MrsNails]

Mine was a bit slower as l had a ‘frozen’ shoulder as well (all part n parcel) but l was able to get out of bed the next day & by Day 10 it was like l was 20 years younger & l was back in high heels 👠 👠 and remained like that until l tried to go to 10mg from 11mg

Enjoy feeling good, please don’t overdo it.

Good Luck

MrsN