My very informed friends, I have a question . I think I know the answer, but I would love input from the experts.
I am 2 1/2 years into my PMR journey. I recently reduced from 3 mg to 2 1/2 mg. It has been three weeks, and these are my symptoms. Nausea, weakness, fatigue, and depression. These symptoms are much worse in the morning. My body aches are minimal. Is this my adrenals waking up? How long should I hang in there?
Thank you in advance.
Very adrenal -like issues, but bit odd it’s worse in mornings - others don’t seem to specify particular times.
This link may help, and I’d stay put at current dose for a couple of months to let them have a chance to ‘catch up’…will help if you have gone slightly too low (your comment re body aches are minimal)..
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
In future VERY slow taper, plenty of rest, and patience - all of which will help adrenals and PMR…..
Thank you for your reply. I don't take my morning dose until 7:00 am. I am trying to take an hour earlier to see if that helps.
I’d say it’s your adrenals NOT waking up. If they are working you feel normal, if they are not the stresses on your body are overwhelming what little output you have plus what little Pred you have. What are you up to in the day? The only way I got through this was by changing my life to accommodate it which was a real bind. The only way of getting the adrenal axis to work is to constantly be presenting a deficiency in the hope the brain’s feedback system will notice and send the correct signals to the adrenals. However, and it is a big however, you must be wary of these symptoms because it can signal things getting out of hand and a pending adrenal crisis. Powering through is not to be recommended. My first step would be to take things really really easy and if that doesn’t work within a day go up by 0.5mg and see if you feel a bit better. If not do that again. Work out if it was just overdoing it on a daily basis or if you need to go up a bit and then cut down even more slowly than before. I had these symptoms as a general background often with peaks in the day. Getting up in the morning felt impossible and 5pm I was crying and felt I had nothing in the tank. Quite often I’d do a bit extra (go to the supermarket), feel mostly that it was doable, but next day feel dreadful.
Did you drop in one go? What have you been doing?
Do read the sections on adrenal glands in the FAQ’s, its important.
I was stupid and reduced right before Christmas. Everything was done for the holidays but we do some entertaining. I am a perfectionist which is impossible with this disease. My housecleaning is down the toilet. Only clean when REALLY dirty now.
I dropped by 1/2 mg. I was at 3 mg for 3 months or so. I have listened to you all and reduced very slowly. I read read up on adrenals again. Thank you
Not so much waking up as struggling to wake up! But yes - that's where you're at!
Yes, I thought my symptoms were adrenal related. Of course this morning not as bad as yesterday morning. You always feel better when you see the "doctors"😆 Thank you for your reply.
very little waiting time... and we are open all hours..😏
🤣
It was the fatigue that really got me but at around 5mg. Ideally you should not increase your dose if it is an adrenal problem, but I must admit I went from 5mg to 6mg as I was totally knocked out all the time. I did not reduce until I felt a lot more alive!!
I am fortunate I can nap during the day. I cannot increase because my bone health has gotten worse. The Dr. wants me on a very low dose for fear I will have bone breakage.
In my case it was not the napping it was the total fatigue in that I had trouble actually moving, even using the TV zapper was an effort.
There are other ways of managing bone density - it is all very well saying you have to stop pred but immobility and disability are also major risks for losing bone density and falling respectively
I had same reaction reducing to 3 mg. So tired, had to nap 5 times a day. It takes time to go away. I researched adrenal supplements and found one highly rated by Thrive and bought potassium supplements. It took two months but now no more naps ! I also every morning have an Orgain protein drink with 1/3 lemon including the rind and blueberries and greens. That really helped my tiredness and lethargy
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