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?
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 🙂
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...
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.
Remember not to take Pred for 24hrs before - so take a snack so you can take after rest…and well done for educating surgery 😊
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!
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.
also worth asking doc for blood tests for all the usual culprits...thyroid, anemia, diabetes etc...
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)
Feeling low and trying not to spoil Christmas.
Rheumy appointment
Feeling scared and low
Tired and weak
Feeling very low 
