Tapering again.

[IdasMum]

Hi all 👋

It's been probably 18 months since I last dabbled in tapering. My rheumy has been keen for me to drop from 10mg per day to 9mg for months but I have had to resist during 12 months over stressful events.

I am now ready (as ready as I'll ever be). My CRP was 3.7 four weeks ago and is 5.9 this week. Apart from feeling pretty fatigued during our 2 week trip to UK and consequent constant stimulation and travelling, I have felt more active and especially now we're home with the trip behind us. Am not expecting more stressors now (fingers crossed).

I RA in my index fingers and ?thumbs, so hand pain is often an issue but not always. I think the Metoject is to address the RA. The steroids seem not to make a difference.

So, this morning I took 9.5 mgs, intending a very slow taper down to 9mg (all being well). It's at this point I become confused. Do I do 9.5mgs x2 next week if I've managed the small drop, or do I stick to 9.5 mg x1 per week for 4 weeks. I am not good at reading and understanding tables.

TIA

Whilst in Linclon we visited the International Bomber Command Memorial site. It was our 3rd time. Very moving.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

"I am now ready (as ready as I'll ever be). My CRP was 3.7 four weeks ago and is 5.9 this week."

What makes you think you are ready to taper when the CRP is higher now than it was a month ago? First you need to be sure that isn't a rising trend which is suggesting a flare in inflammation.

[IdasMum in reply to PMRpro]

It's never an easy decision to taper but I feel much better than I have for a long time and want to reduce to get on top of the Myofascial pain. I know when I've been on a lower level this has resolved. I am much more active now since losing some weight and avoiding gluten and sugar.

I am thinking my higher CRP may be down to the stress of travelling.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to IdasMum]

I would say give it another couple of weeks and test the CRP again. If it has gone down - fair enough.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Re taper -see this - might be easier to follow -especially if you look at picture. It’s called simple for a very good reason 😊

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

But as PMRpro suggests, maybe give it another week or so..

Have attached picture below

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to DorsetLady]

see this

DLST -5 weeks

[Missus835 in reply to DorsetLady]

This is the one I'm using at present. Very simple, but had to repeat Week 1. Finding 11 to 10 extremely difficult. 🙄

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Missus835]

As I always say -it a plan - adjust as you need. But there is a 7week and a 14 week version…so maybe try either of them, or only reduce by 0.5mg a time.

PMRpro and my tapers aren’t set in set… and we certainly won’t be round to smack your hand, threatened or cajole you if you don’t follow to the letter 😂🤣. You do what suits you and your PMR/GCA best…

[Missus835 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks DL. Just a trial. May have to switch up to the 7 week. 🌷

[IdasMum in reply to DorsetLady]

Very helpful, thanks.

[IdasMum in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you. xx

[ChinaWuntoo]

I find using a 28 day pill box much easier to manage than a daily chart. (But of course I use the chart when I full up!)

[S4ndy]

I've just used the Dorset Lady 7 weeks taper to go from 5mg to 4mg after 4 years at 5mg! So far so good.Confused the hell out of my pharmacist when I explained why I only needed 1mg pills on my latest prescription!

My Rheumy said to stay at 4mg for a few months before dropping again. My markers have always been raised and don't correlate to how I feel. My Rheumy thinks this could be my other conditions causing this rather than PMR.

So I've agreed to his suggestion. This coming week will be my first full week on 4mg a day. I feel exactly the same as I did on 5mg, so so far so good.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to S4ndy]

Good… fingers crossed it remains that way..

[Stills]

great picture, I shall visit it next time I’m there, I’m from an RAF family so keen to support this.

[AshPen9]

Lovely photo Idasmum. We were in Ypres 2 weeks ago for the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Good luck with your taper. I did a 6 month taper from 5mg to 4mg last year but had to go back to 5 in the end. Going to try again in a few months, but maybe just to 4.5mg as a start. You've got to have a lot of patience with this malarkey haven't you?!