Heading for a relapse?

[Lovebikes]

Having had a pretty textbook experience with PMR, pred and tapering to zero over a couple of years, I have enjoyed a return of energy levels and fitness over the next 2 years. However, I've felt quite fatigued for a few months. A blood test showed CRP 1 and no other obvious reasons for fatigue. The fatigue is a little less intense now but gradually I seem to have a different sort of DOMS in my muscles and occasionally feel a bit stiff in the hips. It feels as though I could be building up again towards PMR, although it's certainly not there yet. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of this and whether you can nip it in the bud with a short sharp course of say 5mg of pred for a week or two? Or whether it is just a wait and watch game and if it really comes back its 15mg and the whole tapering thing all over again?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Always worth trying a couple of weeks at 5mg, nothing to lose. Whether that’s the end of things though remains to be seen. You may find that a dose in single figures is enough, but one never knows.

Very often it’s around 6 months or so for a relapse/reoccurrence , but it can be longer. Others in similar situation have said a 2nd or even 3rd bout of PMR is usually different to the first.

Would say, the longer you leave things to develop the higher the dose you will need to get back under control.

Has anything happen recently that could account for a relapse/reoccurrence? Accident, operation, bereavement or a virus?

[Lovebikes in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for getting back. My old pred long since went out of date, and got taken back to the pharmacist, so I feel like I'd need to convince my GP that the 5mg trick might work. Quite possibly all sorts of triggers combining.... I had wondered whether the original fatigue was a virus/ Covid (didn't test positive but my other experience of Covid being overwhelmingly of fatigue and not a lot else). Then add in some crappiness that comes from time to time with caring for my father plus a big wedding. Who knows. Trying to get good sleep (easier said than done), eat well and keep the stress levels down with some yoga!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Lovebikes]

You might get away with 10mg if GP reticent about trying 5mg.

But do think you might need be prepared it’s is a return of PMR. Hope not.. but if it is, least you know all about it this time.

Please keep us informed.