Hi good people just asking how do you cope with this damn fatigue. I take my pred 50mg for my GCA in morning come the afternoon I’m completely exhausted which lasts well into the evening resulting in me getting just a couple of interrupted hours sleep (restless legs permitting) !! Should I try and take my pred in the evening?
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Well unfortunately you won't know until you try... it can be a variety or a combination of things
a..is it the Pred that's making you exhausted, or
b..is it the illness or is it
c.. the Pred disrupting sleep making you fatigued following day?
so it's a bit of trial and error to find what's best for you...
A combination of all three I think, one vicious circle!!
I think I’ll try and take my pred as late as possible tomorrow (as long as head is ok), although my Dr advises to take them first thing in morning.
Thanks DorsetLady
Yes, usual advice is first thing in morning.. but you have to find what’s best for you.
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......
What version of fatigue? - see the final link in the link above.
As DL says - is it because you are ill with a serious systemic illness? If so - are you behaving like a poorly person and resting as much as you can? Or does the 50mg pred give you wings and make you feel you can rush around doing it all? Or is the pred making you fatigued - it does that to some people.
Beware with taking pred at night - especially at such a high dose. It is in your system within a couple of hours maximum - when you take it in the morning it does give you time to get rid of some of the pred from the body before bed. I think you have to accept that at present you are ill - and need to rest when you can, not necessarily at night. It may be worth speaking to the GP who may give you something to allow a few hours sleep to break the pattern.
The early stages are hard - it will improve as the dose goes down. Just hold on to the fact the pred is saving your eyesight.
Sounds like you are low on Magnesium which helps sleep and restless legs. Put yourself to bed for a couple of hours after lunch until sleep becomes a habit. This should give you an evening. Use audio books to help yourself drift off at night. Consider taking your Pred later as it seems to prompt sleep at the moment.
I noticed you were diagnosed this August and it is early days.
It takes a while for you mind to get into your head around that you have a serious auto-immune illness (ie your body has turned on itself). Pred stands between keeping your sight or losing it.
Things do settle down a bit, but it is not an easy journey at the beginning. Once you come down slowly and I mean slowly, you will find that it gets easier to deal with and once you accept that it is a slow journey.
All those years ago I asked, like you 'could I take the dose later - PMRpro answered that one - My medics explained it just like she has.
Back then, there was no place to find information, now we have this forum and it has been a blessing in many ways.
Always ask - and come and grumble. Go to the FAQ's and read as much as you can and look at the Video on You Tube, link in FAQ's.
not sure if I’ve linked this before - apologies if I have, but if I haven’t might help you get your head around things -
l usually have a lie down after lunch and listen to the radio play. I usually drop off and miss the end. It has help me over the last 2 1/2 years to vope with the fatigue.
Fatigue symptoms? 
Fatigue
Extreme fatigue, shaking and palpitations
Adrenal fatigue? 
