I have always been good at getting my yearly checkups. As I approached my 80s I figured I would eventually get test results below normal. At nearly 81 all my bloodwork came back normal again and A1c down to 5.4. Woo hoo. Not sure about my cortisol though at 3.8 mcg/dl from fasting blood draw at noon. Test normal values are for AM and PM, not noon.
Then yesterday I finally ended my 5 month wait to see the pulmonologist for my shortness of breath. (Not serious, mostly a nuisance). He viewed my lung CT scan over and over and said my lungs look great, no emphysema or lung disease. He thinks my shortness of breath may come from exposure to air pollution, second hand smoke (I never smoked) etc. over the years. But I told him I first noticed it in Feb. 2019 the year PMR came for a visit and drove me to my doc in Sept. I recently finished a taper to 5.5mg. and yesterday took 5mg for the first time. Plan to do that once a week for 2 weeks, then every 5 days for awhile, etc. The reason for sharing this is because my breathing seems to have improved a bit since on 5.5 full time. Could my shortness of breath be PMR related? I can't even use inhalers because they affect eye pressure and because of Pred. use already have a problem keeping mine down.
I have been blessed on my journey to taper and have always slept well and other than a return to shoulder and arm aches a couple times and having to up my dose for a short time, I don't seem to have side effects. My energy even seems to be getting better. I'm praying I can eventually stop taking it. The great information and encouragement on this site is what has been instrumental in my success. My docs literally know nothing.
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