adrenals and anxiety

[jaycee444]

Have had a few hiccups along the way but steadily reducing and now just down to 6.5mg. I have however noticed that I am increasing anxious about the least little thing. Is this something to do with my adrenals and when can I expect things to improve.? It’s really uncomfortable.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Unfortunately anxiety can be a sign that your adrenals are struggling.

Here is a recent post that discussed similar - and there are probably more related posts -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

It should improve as the adrenals get going, but obviously if it doesn’t then do seek medical help .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It could well be your body not keeping up with producing cortisol to top up the lower dose of pred - as long as you slow down your taper it will catch up eventually. It is really unpleasant I know. It may be worth speaking to your GP - I don't know if talking therapies are available to help you identify and deal with situations that make you anxious.

[jaycee444 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes its weird. Stuff that normally wouldn’t bother me at all. Also found myself becoming a bit OCD about some things which I guess is part of an anxiety issue. It’s something that Im really conscious about probably because it feels so uncomfortable. Intend to take further reduction really slowly so hope things do improve before too long.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jaycee444]

Tell me about it!!!! In tears at nothing, awake half the night with a washing-machine brain!

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Same here very weepy at ridiculous things especially old family photos!….I drive OH nuts because I am so jumpy at the slightest noise!…have gone back to 5mg pred and will stay there until after Xmas. Hope the washing machine ends it’s cycle soon….

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

I'm very noise sensitive too - think it is part of PMR because that is when my intolerance of noise started. OH had music on all the time - and being deaf you can imagine what the volume was like! I have the TV on - but the volume at something bearable!

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes horrible being so jumpy. OH is deaf but I can’t get him to be tested! TV is on so loud! Good job we have our own space with two different rooms, he used to complain about his mother being deaf now it’s him, I’m fed up talking so loud!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Same here - has helped since I was used to being on my own anyway. We were walking past a hearing studio in town one day and there was a sign offering free hearing checks - said I'd stop moaning at him if they showed his hearing was OK. He was a physicist/physiologist and had taught this sort of stuff to medical students so when he saw the trace from the machine he was shocked and had to admit he couldn't be hearing much! And of course, his brain had switched of as he wasn't hearing things. Of course, he also needed the top of the range all singing all dancing model bit the difference to start with was fantastic. The last couple of years he really needed new ones but since they would have been even more expensive I didn't push it and anyway I would have struggled to get him there - did manage once to get a check and a repair.

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I think my elderly neighbour has told him the price so putting it off…it’s all very well, but if it was me….

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

He can't take it with him - no pockets in shrouds. He might has well enjoy it - or let you enjoy it!!! You do get some back from the NHS don't you? You don't here - just declare it against tax which is something

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Didn’t know that thanks will look into it.

[orangemax in reply to Longtimer]

The US has just come out with pretty good quality hearing aids you can purchase "over the counter". These are not just amplifiers, but the real deal. You can test yourself and adjust yourself, and they're a lot less expensive than those from dispensers. Probably coming to the EU near you soon! Must be some way to find out.

[Longtimer in reply to orangemax]

Thanks will do

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to orangemax]

Unfortunately the UK is no longer a member of the EU!!!!

[orangemax in reply to PMRpro]

OH GOSH!! I knew that!!! 🤪

[tempusfugi in reply to PMRpro]

Hadn't heard that expression ie 'there's no pockets in a shroud' for many years. An old aunt used to use it. So lovely to hear it again!

[Bcol in reply to Longtimer]

You can get add-ons for the present NHS ones that can/will connect to the TV and a mobile phone, can't remember how much they were but don't think it was ridiculously expensive.

[Longtimer in reply to Bcol]

Thank you will look into all the suggestions…

[Joanbill13 in reply to Longtimer]

I’m just the same. Nice to know I’m not the only one 😀

[Floridafan in reply to Longtimer]

Have you tried having the subtitles on rather than turning the volume up. It only takes a little while to get used to them. My OH struggles to hear the TV so for us this has solved the problem.

[Longtimer in reply to Floridafan]

Have suggested it, no but he dozes off quite early now so it gets turned down on first snore!…Thanks

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Longtimer]

There was a device which takes the room noise and amplifies it to ear phones.

When my mom was on hospice her hearing started to diminish and she couldn’t even catch room conversation. A professional recommended such a device and it was a godsend. I think it’s called amplifier with earphones.

[Longtimer in reply to Karenjaninaz]

Thank you, will look that up...👍

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

There are devices to plug into the TV - OH had headphones that gave him extra volume while I listened to the normal level. Or (preferably) he had it so he didn't have to have his door shut and I could still hear it in the next room ...

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

That’s interesting will Google that thank you

[Karendeena in reply to PMRpro]

Me too, maybe we should start night the blogs or conversations, then again we would be using mobiles which I am told aggravates the problem

[Miserere]

I found the same when trying to reduce to 5.5 mg and ended up with a flare. Now I am reducing from 6.5 - 6 but very slowly - using DL's slow method and staying at the new dose for at least four weeks - seems to help to go as slowly as possible at these lower doses.

[Sharitone]

I don't get particularly anxious during the night, but I'm guessing it's a similar thing to bad dreams at night, and I am doing an excellent line in those. The lower the dose, the worse the dreams. Last night I was pregnant, didn't dare tell my parents, and had nowhere else to live.🙄Has to be the lack of cortisol.

[diana1998 in reply to Sharitone]

Bet you were relieved to wake up

[Sharitone in reply to diana1998]

You bet!

[AnniesRyder5]

thanks for your post because as I’ve been reducing to the current level of 6mg I have a strange feeling of foreboding which I hadn’t put down to adrenals. Now I know the reason I can hopefully cope better.

[Joan-E-D]

I remember being anxious and weepy when I was reducing my Pred. dose towards the lower levels. I went to choose a new cat from Cats Protection and burst into tears when I found the one I wanted. Very embarrassing! I had to explain I was reducing my steroid doses and that it was playing havoc with my emotions. Eventually my adrenals caught up and I was O.K. after that. So hopefully that stage will pass for you too. I've been in remission from PMR for 3 years now, after 3 years of PMR. Long may the remission last. Good luck!

[LeighDelaine]

Really understand what you're going through as the same thing happened to me. The end result was me sobbing on the phone to the doctor in Sainsbury's car-park! She suggested 20mg of Citalopram (anti-anxiety drug) and it seems to have dampened down my fears and somewhat abated the OCD. The anxiety hovers, but more below the surface so it's usually manageable. I'm down to 2.5 of Pred now, doing Dorset Lady's method. Good luck with it all.

[Openseas]

I live in Canada and have had PMR since 2019. Two years ago I found an excellent naturopath who prescribed an adrenal tonic which I took as prescribed. I found it very helpful and I have just recently stopped the prednisone. I tapered very slowly, decreasing by .5mg. I have always maintained contact with doctor and rheumatologist. I hope this helps.

[Karendeena]

Exactly what happened to me as I tapered, now I get anxious about everything it's awful. I am having hypnotherapy now

[ChinaWuntoo]

An aside - since there are a number of posts above about hearing loss.

I recently discovered that in UK we can get a Disabled Persons Railcard if we wear hearing aids. Mine is due to arrive any day, having been approved. All you need is your NHS (brown) record booklet. And it covers a second person also, both get 1/3rd off.

[Thirkelly]

Thank you for asking this question and to everyone for answering. I just checked in here today on the off chance and found the info i needed. I was so anxious in advance of driving today, picking up friends across town and lots of unfamiliar routes and roads & not noticeably calmer once i was back home again afterwards. Good to know that it could be related to adrenals!

[jaycee444 in reply to Thirkelly]

Yes it really does help when you realise there is reason for it and knowing that you are not the only one.

[ab58sf]

I experience that anxiety on 5 mgs as well. at 2.5 mgs I was fine, but the pain was not fully controlled. Now, everything bothers me. I

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ab58sf]

Do I understand from that that you dropped directly from 5 to 2.5mg?

[ab58sf in reply to PMRpro]

No, sorry for the confusion. I was on 2.5 and pain was not totally removed and worsened. So I went up to 5 and it totally removed the pain. Now I am trying to reduce to 4 and it appears to be working fairly well. So, I will stay here a few more weeks.