nausea & feeling panicked

[Maggie1313]

Good morning would like to know if anyone has felt nauseous and panicky while reducing. I am on 4th week of reducing to 3mg and feeling nauseous and would say anxiety comes and goes through out the day, no pain but have the dreadful fatigue. Could this be my adrenaline glands trying to kick in again 🙏

[SheffieldJane]

I recognise these symptoms. I am having a morning cortisol test in a few days. This will show whether my Adrenals have the capability to work without Prednisalone. I would put it down to your Adrenal system noticing the lack of cortisol. See your doctor, it is pretty text book, but you can be treated for anxious feelings and be referred to the endocrine Dept. Regular naps after lunch will help the fatigue to be less intrusive.

[Maggie1313 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for reply may I ask what dose are you on at moment 😊

[SheffieldJane in reply to Maggie1313]

I am tapering to 4.5. X

[Maggie1313 in reply to SheffieldJane]

could I ask My Dr for a cortisol test  and what does it entail please 🙏

[SheffieldJane in reply to Maggie1313]

I am expecting to have a cannula put in ( so that there is only one prick) blood to be taken, then the Adrenal stimulating substance given, then a period of waiting, then more blood taken to measure the effect. I won’t take my morning Prednisalone dose until the test is complete. It’s a while since I last had it but I remember that there was nothing to it. You should prompt your GP to send you for a test, it makes sense at your stage.

[Maggie1313 in reply to SheffieldJane]

thank you 🙏

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maggie1313]

The cortisol test is just done on a single blood sample taken in the morning between 9am and lunchtime. What SJ describes is the synacthen test but the first step can be done by your GP without sending you to a day clinic at the hospital. It shows what sort of stage your adrenal function is at. If it is normal (above 450) no more to do, if it is very low (under 100), you are definitely insufficient, and inbetween you can get an idea what stage you are likely to be and whether it is worth requesting the synacthem stimulation test.

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRpro have just left my doctors surgery after having my ESR & CSP bloods taken but Dr said would not do cortisol test 🥴 I am going to look and see if I can have it done privately 🤞

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maggie1313]

That is just silly - of course, he may not realise that a basal cortisol is just another tick on the sheet and doesn't require any special appointment but is a useful baseline. I'd want a good justification for NOT doing it.

journals.plos.org/plosone/a...

endocrinepractice.org/artic...

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

He said for me to mention it to the rheumatologist at my next appointment 🤔🥴😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maggie1313]

Show him the links - and explain it isn't a specialist hospital test.

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

he was running 35min late so I suffered 🤣🤣

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Ahh! I was sent straight for the Synacthen test, the result was 375 and I got myself an endocrinologist, in spite of a subsequent test at 3.5mgs showing a better function ( normal) than when I was at 5 mgs. He still sees me periodically.

[Maggie1313 in reply to SheffieldJane]

you are so lucky to have caring professional people to help you 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

An endo is a useful add-on, but at present, getting an idea that doesn't require hospital input is sort of useful ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Adrenals for sure -have a look at this -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Just stick with it -and tiny steps down…but could get anti sickness meds if really bad

[Maggie1313 in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you how kind you all are , I was hoping it was my adrenaline glands and not a flare 🙏

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Maggie1313]

If it were a flare, would have expected it to come on a bit earlier -say 2 weeks rather than 4.. but not always …

But sounds more like adrenals

[Maggie1313 in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you 🙏

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not so much they are trying to kick in but rather that they aren't doing so very effectively yet and their contribution is unreliable.

[SnazzyD]

Yes, these symptoms can indicate the adrenal glands not kicking in or not kicking enough for your needs. I had them all for months until my glands came back on line. I just slowed down my taper, slowed down my life and waited patiently. No that’s a lie, I was impatient. Have you read the adrenal section in the Mrs Nail’s FAQ section in the list to the right of this page?

[Maggie1313 in reply to SnazzyD]

thank you so much Snazzy 🙏

[Pixix]

Yes, nausea every morning, but it passes. My rheumy won’t do cortisol test until I am completely off steroids. Just for info.

[Maggie1313 in reply to Pixix]

thank you so much for sharing Pixix 😊