Update 2 from 'Shall I or Shan't I" and a small question

[Queenie1901]

It is day 8 today of adding an additional 5mg to my 3mg, total 8mg. The stiffness and aches have been so much improved. Decision now....do I carry on to the full 10 days of an additional 5mg as I have got this far already and does it matter if I do that? Or shall I start the graded drop back tomorrow? Planned to drop to 6mg first then 4mg. How many days at 6 mg is sensible...2....3?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

How does how you feel match to how you felt at your best?

Think if it were me I'd try 5mg straight off and be patient. 3mg was obviously not enough.

[Queenie1901 in reply to PMRpro]

I would say more or less as good as my best, with the odd twinges. Although even better are the late evenings when the pred cover used to start wearing off before bed time. Not happened this week. So 5mg straight off after today is possible then and hold there? (Autumn last year 4.5 was fine. Took long time to get to 4 but seemed to be ok finally in Dec/Jan. Should have stayed there!)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Queenie1901]

It is worth trying - you'll know if it works. There is no point at all feeling rubbish, whatever the dose!

[Queenie1901 in reply to PMRpro]

Just as a P.S. I started first day at 5mg today and an hour or so later I received this text message from my GP in response to my letter I sent in last week. Mirrored your thoughts!

"I would suggest to stay on 5mg for 1 month then reduce slowly by 0.5mg every month eg 4.5mg for a month then 4mg the following month"

I will do the DSNS taper though.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Queenie1901]

I'd keep the "month" under review too.

[Queenie1901 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks - good advice

[Queenie1901]

Thanks for your guidance to order my thoughts. Greatly appreciated. I'm turning this into a positive experience because I've learnt the hard way about the "dripping tap" and the oh so gradual increase in inflammation. Having read about it many times it makes a lot of sense in retrospect when you experience it yourself. Better informed for future.... let's hope those words don't come back to bite me on the....!