It is beyond me what makes any doctor think that long term Tylenol 3/cocodamol (paracetamol/acetimophen plus codeine) is safer than a low dose of pred. It is addictive - at the very least the body develops a tolerance for it so you need increasing doses. It is also a medication that should be avoided in the over 75s as the metabolites are more dangerous for them.
Is there no option for a different doctor? I know the situation in Canada is bad ...
I agree totally with PMRPro. You must be in agony. You really need a qualified second opinion. Please explore the options. Could an emergency room in the hospital sort this awful situation out?
I know wait times can be long in ER depts all across the country. Some folks wait till the wee hours in the morning on a weeknight to go as it is often less busy.
As far as your doctor refusing to give you pred because your bloodwork was “normal” , he (or someone else) did before when you were first diagnosed (despite having normal markers). If you disclosed that you took leftover 5mg pred daily for a few days and had relief, is that not proof that it is helpful/necessary? T3s seem to have caused some issues when trying to stop them….surely that would sway him to swap out his medication suggestions.
How long has it been since your last prescription? Did you taper down to “0”?
Hope someone listens to you and you get a satisfactory response that brings some relief.
"Some folks wait till the wee hours in the morning on a weeknight to go as it is often less busy."
According to ED staff I know, that is a mistaken belief - there are fewer staff on anyway. Plus no access to consultants for specific complaints - like GCA.
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