Pneumonia

[Paulagcl]

It turns out that I thought my extreme fatigue was due to having tapered to 4 mg, that I have pneumonia. So I have been on an antibiotic for two days and am much better. I had a cough but no fever but it was not improving so finally my dr did a chest xray. He told me to stay at 4 mg for the rest of the month so as not to stress my body further while recovering.

[123-go]

So sorry to hear you are sick and sending well wishes. It’s encouraging that your doctor is advising no reduction of pred just yet. Have a look at the following link found in FAQs. It may be useful to discuss the contents with your caring doctor while bearing in mind, “Content on Healthunlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors …….. nor the advice you receive from them.”

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Paulagcl in reply to 123-go]

Yes, my primary care doctor is very good about that. Not the rheumatologist, though.

[SnazzyD]

That’s a relief to be getting treatment and to have a doctor who is not stressing about the small dose of Pred you’re on but which could have consequences if you reduce it for now. I looked back to your post 2 days ago. There was no mention of cough. Did it come on suddenly?

[Paulagcl in reply to SnazzyD]

No. I'd had it with what I thought was an allergy and then it stopped. I am not supposed to do the Kevzara with any hint of infection so I had skipped a dose and then a few days with no symptoms, I took it, and then started coughing a lot and that's what turned out to be pneumonia. No way to know if the Kevzara is a factor but perhaps I didn't wait long enough to take it-- the dr had said when symptom free, and I thought I was.

[Paulagcl in reply to SnazzyD]

Neither dr is telling me to increase it, but both agree not to decrease it. At any rate I am much better so the antibiotic seems to be doing its work. And I am resting -- never have watched so many videos in my life!

[Paulagcl in reply to Paulagcl]

And I am flooding my system with chicken soup! My son brought a particularly delicious one from a deli yesterday. Thicker than usual, lots of veggies, some different flavorings -- I am thinking maybe a llittle curry. Maybe you've heard the joke that chicken soup is the Jewish penicillin!

[SnazzyD in reply to Paulagcl]

I’m sure I once read an article saying there was some science behind that.

[Paulagcl in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes, actually so have I. Some ingredient in the broth that fights infection. It has turned into humor among Jews, something to do with the mythical power of Jewish mothers, though humor is a tendency to do with a lot of things in life. A saving grace, one could say!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hope you soon feel better…🌸

[Paulagcl in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sorry to hear that - Sick Day Rules would have had you INCREASE the pred dose to cope with being ill and the demand for cortisol that would normally be produced. But if you are improving, that is possibly fine.

Get well soon.

[Paulagcl in reply to PMRpro]

I didn't reduce it while sick. I had reduced it a couple of weeks before.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Paulagcl]

No I know - but the increase was rather than you staying at the same dose.

[Paulagcl in reply to PMRpro]

Do you mean the suggested sick day dose, to increase it? Well, neither doctor wanted to do that in this circumstance, especially since I was feeling so much better on 4 mg than all year since this PMR journey started, and my adrenals seemed to be kicking in. I do feel much better as of yesterday afternoon, and another blood count showed the white cells are rallying, The rheumotologit is more rigid, but my primary care doctor is the opposite, so that's lucky. He handles several patients with PMR and GCA but he had never used Kevzara, and also he always consults with a specialist if he has any question about how to proceed. He recently sent me to an endocrinologist just to make sure that Prolia would be the right drug for me (I've been on Fosomax for a few years but DEXA scan shows osteoporosis now).

[Paulagcl in reply to PMRpro]

Well, I looked at the xray report today in my online chart, and I can see that he was not positive it is pneumonia given that the radiologist said it could be another kind of obstruction. I did see a surprised look on his face when he looked at the xray, but now that I've read the report makes me think he did not want me to panic and is first going with the possibility of infection since my breathing had not been affected. Since I am much better after two days on the antibiotic, that seems likely, but I have a return visit scheduled a couple of weeks from now, or sooner if called for. I did not have other indications of an infection, such as fever. We have not discussed sick days since this is the first time that came up, and the fatigue went right along with how I usually felt for a few days with tapering to the next level. I feel lucky to have him since he's extremely responsive and communicates with any other doctors if needed. Anyway, very grateful for this forum as well so thank you!!!! It feels good, too, that occasionally I can be helpful to someone and send a reply!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Paulagcl]

Glad you are improving.

[Paulagcl in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, thanks. I've stopped coughing at all today and had energy. That's a lesson -- that when I think I'm wiped out because of having started a new dose, be sure there's nothing else going on. This forum was great support to me!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Paulagcl]

I think most people are the same. You just tend to blame PMR and pred for everything. And doctors are even worse!!!!!!

[Paulagcl in reply to PMRpro]

Well, since we did not invite PMR to join us, might as well have a scapegoat!

[SheffieldJane]

Get well soon! 🌹

[Paulagcl in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks!

[piglette]

No wonder you felt rough, get well soon.

[Paulagcl in reply to piglette]

Thanks!