insomnia

[Bedwell]

I know it’s hot! But I’m having awful sleepless nights.. also bouts of sudden sweating in the day when quietly at home in cool room. Also sudden twinges in shoulders.. lower back pain.. and still throbbing feet at night. Difficult to function at all! Appointment with a geriatric specialist recommended. Am on 4.5 and staying there as dare not reduce as hoped. Any comments?

[Hidden]

Hello, ( I’m everywhere 👀). It sounds as if, one of the reasons for your discomfort may be that you may be on too low a dose of pred and have a raised level of PMR infection. A blood test to monitor the ESR rate might establish this. However, one of the Health Unlocked volunteers, who have medical knowledge, would give you a more informed answer, as there may be other reasons, such as problems with adrenaline etc. A geriatric specialist sounds a bit dire, but, there, that’s me.

[Bedwell in reply to Hidden]

I am. 85 and she has been highly recommended when several different symptoms ! Just done a short filming job so have the dosh!!

[Hidden in reply to Bedwell]

Sounds good. Glad the filming job went well. My sister is 89.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As we discussed before your acting job - think some may be adrenals (sweating) - but the shoulders etc could be too low a dose… so perhaps you should consider it could be flare. To that end it might be worth trying a slightly higher dose for a week (similar as you did before) -if it doesn’t make any difference you can drop back down to 4.5mg.

But have you tried painkillers to see if they help? It could be a hangover from your recent acting job….

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Could be poor adrenal function - especially in the context of the excitement of the recent work - or too low a dose to manage the inflammation which is what happens to me.

[Bedwell in reply to PMRpro]

I did do what often seems to work for people on this website.. went up to 9 fir 2 days and then back to 4.5.didn’t really work for me!! We are all different I know!!

Last day filming tomorriw and I only slept for about 3 hours last night. So..tonight it’s Nytol!! Luckily it says she looks tired and sad!!!!!

I was hoping to be off the pred after 2 years.. the side effects are so difficult to live with ! And I haven’t actually had a flare as such. Just exhaustion and sweating and insomnia .. (which is mainly caused by throbbing hot feet)..not a pred symptom I gather. Oh well ! Onwards!!!!have a blood test on Monday ..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bedwell]

All those can be due to pred. And if it were a flare - 2 days at a higher dose is rarely enough.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bedwell]

Yes but you only went up to 9mg for the 2 days you were working .....as PMRpro says not longer enough if t is a flare...

[Raewynne]

Hi BedwellI had really bad night sweats too when reducing. Also have had painful feet.I don't know if the awful sweating was due to prednisolone reducing or an infection that was happening at that time as well.Even after my infection was dealt with the sweating continued.Its stopped now thank goodness.I hope you improve soon.God bless.