Feeling tired and low: Having been diagnosed with... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

20,884 members39,328 posts

Feeling tired and low

Pinkcuffs profile image
8 Replies

Having been diagnosed with PMR a few years ago and starting on 15mg I was pleased the report to my rheumatologist that I had reduced to 2mg a day and she wrote to my Dr saying how pleased she was and that she was surprised I had achieved this as she had doubted I could ever get off Prednisolone.

I have spent several months reducing to a 2-1-1-2-1-1-2 regimine but I'm now feeling very very tired and low.

Is this because of the reduction in steroid, or do you think it's something else, please?

Written by
Pinkcuffs profile image
Pinkcuffs
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD

Often people get to low doses and feel dreadfully tired because their adrenal glands are slow to start working again. Do read through this, it is essential reading for those under 10mg. If you have any more queries about it, just ask 🙂

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Could be reduction of Pred or adrenals struggling or a combination of both.

Might be worth requesting a cortisol test from GP surgery to see what your adrenals are up to.. have a look at this -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

diana1998 profile image
diana1998 in reply to DorsetLady

I requested a cortisol test from my surgery and they hadn't heard of it 🤔GP requested help from endocrinology dept at hospital and they said it can be done once down to 4mg. I'm on 1.5mg at last but it's a struggle.

Answer just now....Attend surgery at 9am for the test.

Surgery has learnt something.

And there are 12 in the practice.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to diana1998

Remember not to take Pred for 24hrs before - so take a snack so you can take after rest…and well done for educating surgery 😊

diana1998 profile image
diana1998 in reply to DorsetLady

Yes, will do. Luckily surgery is only 10 minutes from home and we have a late breakfast anyway.The gp I spoke to (not mine) was quite aggressive when I requested the test but eventually she agreed to research it which was good. I was past caring by then!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

As already mentioned I think the most likely answer is that your body isn't keeping up with the reduction of corticosteroid dose by producing its own corticosteroid, cortisol. Too little is a common cause of fatigue at this stage.

agingfeminist profile image
agingfeminist

also worth asking doc for blood tests for all the usual culprits...thyroid, anemia, diabetes etc...

PMRnewbie2017 profile image
PMRnewbie2017

I would say it's because your days on 1mg are a 50% reduction! Therefore if your adrenals are still not fully functioning that is why you are feeling as you do. Plus of course there's the need for the Hypothalamus and Pituitary glands to also funtion optimally. Perhaps you should try 1.75mg? You can achieve this by cutting a 2.5mg in half and adding half a 1mg tablet. (1.25 + 0.5)

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Dose increase

I have always been on a split dose of methylprednisolone and my latest was 4mcg at breakfast and...

Looking for typical Prednisone reduction schedule new on Actemra

Haven't been around much lately. This has probably been the worst, six months of my seven years...

Slight Pain has started after 5 months

I've been on methylprednisolone since March 2024. Started at 64mg per day and reduced successfully...

Covid and a hive type rash

I’m Day 3 of having Covid (got it from hubby who’s today thankfully tested negative 😃) I’m not...

Symptoms recurring on 3.5 pred.

I have had PMR for two years now and struggled with flares but felt OK and more active again at...