Just this minute back from Italy (3.40am) a very stressful and sad trip (not a holiday). Temperatures were 39 degrees C, extreme weather warning was issued, difficult to cope but managed to get respite from Air Con at hotel and hospital.
Last 2 days I have had diarrhea (from something I ate, does not appear to be a bug) settled down this evening with the help of imodium.
Started getting aches in hips and buttocks, now neck ache. Not too intense but worrying.
I started on 20 mgs 7 weeks ago, reduced to 17.5 after 3 weeks, plan was to reduce to 16mgs tomorrow. All had been going extremely well until the last two days.
Advice re what action to take now, flare protocol, sick day protocol, keep going on 17.5 and don't reduce??? Hope to have a reply in the morning when I am due to take my pred.
Many Thanks, feeling disappointed but know I need to do something about it.
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Fatsiajaponica
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Good morning, I certainly wouldn't be considering dropping whilst you have a return of your symptoms. You have also had, been through, a stressful few days. Two options, either go back to 20mg for a week or two weeks if it needs it to get things under control. Or, use the flare protocol and add 5mg to your present 17.5mg for ten to fourteen days. Not really a lot of difference, so if 20.0mg worked well previously I'd probably go with that. A 2,5mg drop works for some but not everyone so you might want to consider coming down in 1,0mg reductions every four of five weeks when you start reducing again.
Agree with Bcol I’d be inclined to return to 20mg - and give that a chance to to get you back on track. Properly back, as you say here and in previous post a stressful time even before the gastric issues.
Plus 1mg reductions after that… Hope you soon feel better.
I've found it's really not possible to reduce in the midst of physical / emotional stress. You end up in worse shape.
A middle path if you're not comfortable with an increase could be to take the smaller dose, then decide in an hour or two if it makes sense to take the rest.
Definitely don't reduce yet - I wouldn't recommend a reduction so soon after travelling anyway without the reason you were away. Bear in mind the release of the stress of the trip is as stressful as the trip itself. And you also need to adjust the drop in temperature I'm only just getting to feel less cold after 2 weeks!
Even the journey will have been hard with an arrival time like that - so with a bit of luck it is that and not a flare. Fingers crossed.
Following on from the advice above, I notice that stressful/difficult/frustrating events tend to knock the stuffing out of me energy wise compared to pre PMR/Pred. One can still stop bullets with ones teeth but at some personal cost afterwards! Modifying my behaviour accordingly has not been a natural fit. Ditto managing the expectations of others.....🫣. I hope some R and R will make you feel better.
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