Cold Weather

[Louiseiw]

Hi Everyone,

Is it normal for the cold to affect your joints etc with GCA, Methotraxate and Pred??

I dont normally get cold in fact I am the one still wearing short sleeves all through the winter! But recently I am getting cold and all my joints are hurting, in fact every part of me hurts, and waking up in the morning, I cant move until I warm up.

Or am I just feeling the effects of getting old?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Colder weather does affect most - with or without our issues..it's much more difficult for body to work, everything has to work harder, including blood which can become more viscous and doesn't move around body as well as it might.

"The answer is not linked to the cold temperature itself, but rather the change from warmer to colder temperatures. Sudden changes in temperature cause thermal stress for the body, which has to work harder to maintain its constant temperature. This type of stress has a profound, direct effect on the viscosity of your blood, making it thicker, more sticky and more likely to clot."

Edit - maybe ease up on tapering, some enlightened Rheumies tell their patients not to taper during winter.

[Louiseiw in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for the edit. I hadn't tapered for a couple of months until a chat with the consultant on Friday where he has said to alternate 15mg a day and 10mg a day but he has also increased the Methotrexate.

I will keep an eye on it. I am just not used to being cold

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Louiseiw]

What is it makes them suggest that - if you are on plain white pred, cut 5mg tablets to get 2.5 and take 12,5mg every day. alternating between 15 and 10mg is hard on the body.

[Louiseiw in reply to PMRpro]

They want to get me off the pred. I have managed with drops of 5mg until now

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Louiseiw]

On higher GCA doses you manage bigger drops, but even with MTX you need smaller drops once you get below 15mg… and why do they want you off the Pred in such a hurry?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Louiseiw]

There are no guarantees that being on MTX will get you off pred altogether. Some people it doesn't help at all. The top GCA guru in the UK for the last 15 years doesn't rate MTX in GCA at all.

And it depends how long you have been on pred - you have been at high enough doses for there to be no question, your adrenals are suppressed. They have to have time to wake up and start to produce cortisol to compensate for the pred being removed. That doesn't happen overnight, it takes time.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Many find that PMR/GCA upsets their body thermostat. Early days I was always too hot anywhere and then suddenly it swung round and I was cold! I did find that being in cold conditions made my muscles very stiff.

[Louiseiw in reply to PMRpro]

The last 2 mornings I have woken up almost completely unable to move until I have warmed up which can take anything up to an hour

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Louiseiw]

One way to help that is to use an electric over-blanket in the morning before getting up. Has it been colder overnight where you live? Add a blanket to the bedding.

[Louiseiw in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you that makes me feel better. Because I am menopausal as well like yiu I have been really hot. Even now its only I'm the mornings I am cold. Saying that I have 4 layers on today. I may need to find some pyjamas!

[Sharitone in reply to Louiseiw]

And wearing socks in bed helps a lot to keep your temperature warm. Also easy to get them off in a hurry when you get a flush.