freezing and a biopsy for skin issues, raise pred?

[Mstiles]

hello all,

3 days ago I had two red spots about the size of a nicklel on my lower leg frozen off and a bump on my back shaved for a biopsy.

The spots on my leg were where I had had rough red areas that took forever to heal.

The red bump had recently appeared.

My question: this seems pretty minor but do I need to increase pred at all.

I’ve been feeling poorly for months and have been seeing doctors, which takes forever, to rule things out.

I’m on 9 mg pred. Have PMR/GCA. No biopsy results yet.

Thanks for your comments.

[SheffieldJane]

Are you feeling just generally unwell or are there specific symptoms?

[HeronNS]

Sorry you are feeling so under the weather. I suppose under the circumstances you've been checked for all the usuals, including basic causes of fatigue like low iron or thyroid issues? I'm not sure you're in the range where "sick day" rules regarding pred apply but others will know that. However my personal feeling is unless you have specific symptoms related to PMR or your pred dose it's not a good idea to increase. There are some conditions for which increased steroids would even be contraindicated. And pred does slow down healing from wounds.

Hope you feel better soon, and that you get some answers about why you feel generally unwell. 🌼

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I wouldn't increase pred for a small procedure like that - and really pred should only be increased for good reasons like a bigger procedure or PMR flare. It isn't a miracle cure for other things and at 9mg adrenal insufficiency isn't very likely.

[HarcHill]

I've had two exisions for biopsies under local anaesthetic in the last two years and was not advised to increase pred either time (first one I was on 5mg daily and 2nd I was on 2mg). I did ask about it beforehand both times

[Karenjaninaz]

I had assorted red spots on my legs; biopsie showed psoriasis. Prescribed a treatment protocol with ointments. Age 81

[Mstiles in reply to Karenjaninaz]

Interesting. He just “froze these spots. No biopsy. I’ll check it out. Thank you.