Do I or dont I?

[jaycee444]

Have been home for two weeks now following my stay in hospital after a heart attack. Am on Apixaban, Bisoprolol, Atorvastatin and Ramapril alongside my Prednisolone. Not happy at this mixture of pills but needs must at present I am thinking…. Was stable on 6.5mg Pred before the event and didnt increase whilst in hospital. Have had some aches and pains but pretty sure these are caused by my medication as they aren’t following the usual pattern of a PMR flare up. My GP is saying I should now continue tapering my Prednisolone . Am happy to do so but I am thinking I will take it extra slowly as at this dosage I was already feeling very tired at times (adrenals?) before being admitted to hospital. With the new medications which have their own side effects - including muscle pains and tiredness I am a bit at sea as to what’s causing what. Never rains but it pours…. Could have done without this but could be a lot worse so Im not about to start a big grumble…

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If forced to do so, I would go VERY slowly - and keep detailed notes!!! But to be honest - you are in tiger territory in terms of adrenal function and you are still recovering I would have said ...

[jaycee444 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro. Yes I do feel I am in tiger territory so I will take things VERY slowly. I am realising more and more that our GPs are just that - General Practitioners so they simply cant be experts at everything and I do wonder at times if some of the advice we are given should be taken with a degree of caution. I am more inclined to listen to my body but to be honest at the moment it is giving me mixed messages. I do however know that at 6.5mg - and now moving down to 6 mg of Prednisolone I am in no man’s land regarding my adrenals. Was thinking I might reduce by 0.25 mg at a time for now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jaycee444]

But first give it a bit longer to be sure you are OK. Did they up your pred in hospital under Sick Day Rules?

[jaycee444 in reply to PMRpro]

No didn’t up my Pred at all. Seems to me that they are only concerned with their own departments. I did insist on monitoring my own steroid medication to make sure I got it when I wanted it so I guess I could have taken more but when i mentioned it they said I should stay on the same dose and with everything else that was happening I thought I had best comply.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jaycee444]

Better zip it - I'd be banned! The new red card was introduced because HCPs were found to be unaware of the risks to long term steroid patients. Doesn't appear to achieved much!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to jaycee444]

Was thinking I might reduce by 0.25 mg at a time for now

Probably a good idea -and obviously a slower taper -if not already…

[jaycee444 in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes already following DSNS

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I would be giving your body time to adjust to your new meds, and the stress of all that's happened before you even thinking about tapering...a month perhaps.

.. plus it will give adrenals time to catch up as well.

Hope you continue to improve after heart attack..🌸

[Nap1]

don’t taper now…………..