On 2.5 Pred and lost motivation

Lately, at this level of 3mg to 2.5mg I'm finding my motivation to get anything done has faded drastically. I'm75 yo and was still working from home until PMR hit me last year. I've always been active and hardworking. Up until about 4mg of Pred I was still keen to get stuff done around the house and my hobbys. My son's reckoned I was unstoppable. I had my days of fatigue but as they passed with time after each reduction I was in my workshop fixing and making stuff. But lately, after 3mg to to 2.5 about 6 weeks ago, I seem to be doing OK with no pain and only "the passing tiredness of old age" instead of that crushing fatigue of Pred and Adrenal lethargy. I'm now concerned about my total lack of motivation and enthusiasm to get anything at all done. This is not me and not what I envisaged for my retirement. I'm considering going back up to 3mg as I feel I am wasting my precious late years just sitting around. Anyone else? Any thoughts on going back up? Cos I'm fed up feeling like I am now. Mind over matter? Try harder? I've been a tryer all my life but I can't shake this. Thanks all.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi

“Mind over matter? Try harder? I've been a tryer all my life but I can't shake this.”

Not mind over matter, but I would say adrenals still struggling…..as you indicated it’s been ongoing for a while and for many it happens on slightly higher doses and by the time they’ve got to your level of Pred the worst is over. Me - during the taper from 6mg to 3mg…it varies from person to person, as does much of the journey.

To that end it may be worth speaking to doctor and getting the situation checked out. In the meantime, don’t be hard on yourself, it’s not YOU, it’s your adrenals (and maybe your illness). If you think returning to 3mg would help then try it, it’s not a huge step up, but if it’s PMR it may help…..as we’re always saying 0.5mg really does make a big difference at such low doses.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with DL - and do consider that, since 3mg is low enough to still encourage the adrenal function to wake up, maybe what you need to do is remain at 3mg for a few months without the stress of reduction attempts to allow the body to catch up. I believe quality of life is what really counts at our age (I'm a bit younger than you). Life has to be worth living.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks DL and PMR Pro. If things don't pick up in a fortnight I'm going back to 3mg. I dont wanna go backwards but, the reality is the reality. My GP lets me run my own taper cos he knows "I read a lot", some of which is you guys! But he keeps a regular eye on me. He's very caring and very thorough. I often feel like I've got my own personal physician! He's a credit to GPs everywhere.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

They do exist!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Don’t look at it as going backwards -look at it as controlling your illness and giving you a better QOL - to me, that’s forwards….

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

After all, the idea is to titrate your dose - I don't know if you did chemistry at school but the way you do that is to slightly overshoot the end point first time round and then go back and go much more slowly to find the exact answer. You have done the first stage - now it is time for the second.

[TheMoaningViolet]

Hi, I suspect this is just a phase and you will feel better as your adrenals adjust. Staying at this level until you feel better as Pro suggests seems like a way forward. Don't give up.

(By the way, I am on 1 mg now and have periods of lethargy and nausea which stop me from being active, so I give myself a break and do as much as I can when my energy levels allow me. )

[cycli]

Insightful and pertinent. I too am inclined to miss a day on the turbo when I don't feel so energetic. I have resisted and stayed at 55 rpm but cannot do 60 rpm at present. I've lost too much muscle. Can't even manage a stomach curl. Determined to correct this. We must keep on targeting improvements however small.