Next step of reduction,DLs slow taper.: Morning... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Next step of reduction,DLs slow taper.

Angelsmummy profile image
32 Replies

Morning everybody and hope the bank holiday is finding everybody well?This is mainly for DL and PMRpro.About 11 weeks ago,I asked for advice regarding pains in head and neck and was advised to up pred for a while in case if was a flare.Diagnosed with GCA with left sight loss in Dec 22.Anyway,have completed the 8 to 7 mg,and now in the fifth week of 7 to 6.Rheumy is phoning me in a few days regarding my taper and I know he is going to say,drop another milligram over a month( I have not told him of my brief increase nor the 5 week plan!) Am I right in thinking that once I reach 5 mg I should be dropping by increments of 1/2 a milligram over 5 weeks as per DLs plan?I need to tell him what I want,not go with the hurried regime they seem to expect?Felt quite good but fatigue days a little more frequent over the last 2 weeks but guessing it is body /adrenals adjusting??Regarding the pains I was getting which made me contact the forum,I think I might have the answer!About four months ago,I turned over in bed ,heard a loud click,very ,very painful which warranted getting up and taking paracetamol and a lot of massage and by next morning,pain gone.Over the last few weeks,have noticed a lump on my right shoulder,quite “ sticky out” Hurts to lay down .Done a bit of detective work ,termed a bony spur,which can make ear,neck ,eye pain,so hopefully this is the problem.Can put up with this discomfort pain if this is the case,though it does make my opposite temple hurt a bit too.Sorry this is long winded but needed to get everything in !Sincere wished to you all,xx😜🌼

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Angelsmummy
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32 Replies
PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

The steps down should be as near to 10% of the current dose as possible - at 5mg that would be 1/2mg and as you get even lower it would be even less. But the slowed tapers also help in that respect. But basically - it is what works for you. Some people manage 1mg with a slowed taper. Some struggle with 1/2mg even with a slowed taper as early as 10mg.

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toPMRpro

Thanks PMR pro,shall do the 1/2 mg reduction,best be safe than sorry.Sorry you are having awful weather in Scotland!💨💨💨☂️Warm but a bit of wind in Suffolk,more bearable to sit out in!x🌼

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toAngelsmummy

It is utterly disgusting!!!! Barely a glimpse of the sun ...

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toAngelsmummy

You can always extend any slow taper... and definitely only 0.5mg from now on. If rheumy queries it then say it's going to help with tapering successfully with your GCA - and help the adrenals to be nudged into life again. If they don't understand that rationale, then they don't know much about either 🤦‍♀️

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toDorsetLady

Did send you a reply but it has not appeared!😱Reckon it has gone into the clouds somewhere!x🌼

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toAngelsmummy

If you leave the page by accident before clicking firmly on Reply - it goes AWOL. It's happened to me once this morning though not on this forum!!

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toPMRpro

Thanks for that PMRpro.,Guess that is what happened.Sitting under apple tree in dappled light so must have missed the button!Just basically said that I would start on 5.5 on Sunday,and TELL my sweet little Rheumy man that I am going to do it very slowly,using the words that DL said.And if he brings up the TCZ again,a firm NO.As I was told by somebody very knowledgeable on here😉why introduce it when I am so low on pred?Fingers crossed for my next steps!xx💐💐💐

Sophiestree profile image
Sophiestree in reply toPMRpro

another forum! Where do you find the time!!!!

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toSophiestree

Probably getting up at 5.30,,cleaning out parrot,then feed dogs,then husband,then housework ,oh,and gardening if aches and pains will allow,then after that a mooch around this site to get all the info that I can!😜

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toSophiestree

Sorry Sophie’s treee,think I replied to you when it was your message to PMRpro,many apologies!x🌼

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toSophiestree

It is the forum that predates this one and was set up by the NE of England PMRGCA charity so I was a member there long before here even existed, As people slowly switched to here, we are now a group of maybe 8. One lady set up a daily post for every day of the week and we all "meet" like a coffee group, sometimes we post a few times in the day having a conversation, sometimes it is literally Good Morning, But now PMR is almost never mentioned and it is just a nice little haven for a chat. No moderators to mind - so not entirely 2024 PC ...

Sophiestree profile image
Sophiestree in reply toPMRpro

Ah I like the sound of that. If you are in the vicinity would you meet up while you are in the UK or too tricky re travel etc.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toSophiestree

We are all over the place - west London, Devon, Cumbria, East Anglia for a start. And a few don't drive. It was set up originally by someone in France!

Sophiestree profile image
Sophiestree in reply toPMRpro

Ha.... you mean originally you were all in the NE and now spread out. Makes sense.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toSophiestree

No not at all. The NE charity was the first English one set up and involved 5 ladies who "met" on the original forum on what is now the patient.info EMIS site. One organised the NE support groups, one the Chertsey group. Cumbria patients came to Gateshead hospitals. Others on the patient.info forum from other areas joined in with us and then the lady in France offered to set up the forum to reach out to people who were unable to get to real live support groups - she couldn't.

Sophiestree profile image
Sophiestree in reply toPMRpro

Well it clearly was well supported all over and certainly has ended up saving many, me included

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toAngelsmummy

It happens - even to the most experienced on here😠!

iPad/iPhone usually - laptop reminds me I haven't "sent" a reply when I go to close page.

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toDorsetLady

That’s good!Thanks for all your input!x💐😜

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy

Sad seeing as you are on holiday,never mind ,when you go back home you will probably be too hot!Never a happy medium is there with British weather!😱😜

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toAngelsmummy

I came now to miss the awful heat in July and August at home but I didn't expect it to be this bad!! Would have been about right if I had stopped in Yorkshire!! And usually it is improving at home - but next weekend is forecast to be over 30C there again!! At least nights are cooler up a mountain!

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toPMRpro

WOW could not tolerate that now,gone are the days of sunbathing in the heat of Goa or Kerala,get sweaty when it is about 23 degrees,must be old age and pred!🤣😜Guess the winter woolies will be back in storage again when you go home?Still,at least you will get some decent ice cream,unlike our “Mr Whippy”,though it is tasty!x🍦🍦

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toAngelsmummy

Been having good icecream - vegan variety - here, I brought my very venerable icecream maker over as part of a clear out and now my daughter has a house large enough to keep such things! And loads of good Italian icecream makers here in Scotland - bit pricey though!!

I saw in our local online paper this morning that they have clocked up 30 tropical nights this year so far in the lower valleys, that's where the night temperature doesn't fall below 20C . These houses don't have aircon ... It is why we chose to live where I do - up a mountain!

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toPMRpro

Must be beautiful,never been to Italy,too late now!Everywhere is SO flat in Suffolk,but beautiful never the less.Surrounded by farmland,and not too far from coast.Regarding ice cream,vegan variety,might just give that a try,good for my lowering cholesterol diet I guess?Been living on baked and stewed apples as we have a veritable mountain of them again this year.Soon be time to put my stall out for surplus of veg and fruit,a few bob for charity.Wrap up well and PLEASE don’t send your artic conditions down here will you?xx😱💨😱☂️💨💐

random901 profile image
random901 in reply toPMRpro

South Wales valleys great for Italian ice-cream although sadly many now closing. I, too, find any heat over 22/23 degrees hard to cope with now.

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply torandom901

Hi Random,love your name!🤣Somewhere else I have never been to,only North Wales.,Love your singers too!What voices!Today will be 25,just about to go and edge the grass around flowerbeds,wearing my Mexican sombrero!Keep cool!xxx😜🌞🌞🌞🌼

random901 profile image
random901

Was "christened" Random by friend on account of being aging hippy with no sense of direction. Miss Wales, but lucky to be in England with superior NHS facilities, particularly access to good rheumatologists for my GCAPMR.

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply torandom901

Oh dear,definately got my pred head on today,mistook “Miss Wales” as you being a beauty queen until I re read post!🤣Maybe you were,who knows!….Glad that you have great help with your GCA etc.And thank god we have this forum ,especially for ignoramus like me!😱🤣😜xx🌼

herdysheep profile image
herdysheep in reply toAngelsmummy

🤣

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toAngelsmummy

Don't worry - that was how it read to me first off!

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toPMRpro

Well,I have conjured up a picture of Random,looking lovely in a tiara and evening gown,please don’t spoil my illusion,and Random,I am NOT taking the mickey,just thinking nice thoughts of you !xx😉😜🌼🌼👑👑👗🧤😜

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toAngelsmummy

:) 😅

Angelsmummy profile image
Angelsmummy in reply toPMRpro

😜👍🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌼xx

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