Help with "sick day rules"

[IdasMum]

Hello,

It's been a while.

I am struggling and need some dose guidance please. My normal dose is 10mg per day.

I delivered Mark to hospital on Sunday for a planned Total Knee Replacement which took place on Monday morning. He's doing very well, no pain (typical of him lol) and he was discharged yesterday morning (Thursday). We went straight for his 1st physio appointment plus a visit to the pharmacie to collect meds and dressings. It was a busy morning and I was at the end of my spoons.

I've been driving back and forward each day to visit, luckily he was only 15 mins away but it was still more driving than I normally do.

Physio is a longer drive, about 20 mins each way and I'll be doing that next week 3 times. Nurses coming in every other day in the morning and now we have an approximate time won' t need to be up as early as we were today.

So, I am exhausted physically, too exhausted right now to go up stairs for my stronger painkillers (will wait til bedtime). I have only just remembered sick day rules and think this situation falls into that category.

I take my steroids in the mornings.

1. How much extra should I take and for how long?

2. Add to morning dose or take before bed?

Thanks in advance.

The photo is of Mark who has just CARRIED the crutches we picked up today and placed them indoors before heading down to the post box and closing the gates!! He been walking unaided 90% of time. Nagging isn't working.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What dose are you on currently?

Men!!!!!

[IdasMum in reply to PMRpro]

Hi 👋

10mg per day

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to IdasMum]

SDRs say double up to a maximum of 20mg but that is a pretty high dose for this sort of situation. Maybe try adding 5mg and see if that helps.

[IdasMum in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I was thinking 5, I'd hate to go to 20 and deal with the later consequences.

I'll take 5 now and then 5 extra tomorrow and for the next 2or3 days.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to IdasMum]

Leave everything else - one of my joys is that driving doesn't bother me at all though daily hospital visits are knackering even when it was only 5 mins down the road.

[IdasMum in reply to PMRpro]

I love driving. It's just tiring right now. We have a new to us car, automatic for the 1st time. It's nice but now has a bit of a ding in one of the alloy wheels (oops).

Yes, the visits were tiring even though I wanted to be there.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to IdasMum]

Annoying though it might be, don’t worry about the ding in the alloy wheel. As my late hubby used to say, it’s only a piece of metal, it can be easily repaired-people can’t always!

Hope you soon feel better… 🌸

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to IdasMum]

I have my first automatic - love it!! Everyone said I would. It now has its winter wheels - steel hubs. Not wasting brand new alloys on the snow and salt. If I ding them, won't matter as much. I thought I would have when I picked it up and had to drive straight back here, 200km, and there were some interesting roadworks coming out from Innsbruck which made for narrow driving with a brand new VW bus!! But I can't see any holes ...

[PMRCanada in reply to PMRpro]

Enjoy the ride! ✌️🚎

[Blearyeyed]

It's a individual thing , and really based on whether you feel you are trying to prevent a flare or at the point that you need to treat increased inflammation .I would personally try increasing to 12.5mg first and see how was a a few days , if I still felt like I needed more I'd then go up to 15 mg. You could even start at 15 but then alternate between 15 and 12.5 , finally have a few days of 12.5 then drop down to 10 again.

It all depends on what feels right for you.

Get as much rest as you can between trips , don't feel you need to be dashing about with cups of tea and doing housework, you still need to be cared for as well as your hubby.

Keep well hydrated too .

Hope you both recover soon , Bee

[Bcol]

Morning, I can totally understand the ditching of the crutches even at this early stage. In the days of my op they wouldn't allow me out of hospital until I could walk unaided, on the flat and up and down stairs on my own. The good part of this is that it shows your husband is mentally and physically, completely trusting his new knee, which is a huge step for a lot of people. However, it is worth him bearing in mind that his mobility will still be compromised for a few weeks, maybe months yet and just carrying/taking/using a walking stick does make other pedestrians/road users aware that this person might not move as quickly/nimbly/easily as someone without a walking aid. It will also help remind him to allow a bit more time when judging gaps in traffic, crossing roads etc. Good luck with everything going forwards and hopefully an extra mg or two will help your energy levels.

[IdasMum]

Thank you. Good advice, I'll make sure he has something with him when we begin to venture out.