Feeling 'rough ' after starting to reduce.

[Booge_15]

AS you may remember that this is the second time I have had PMR . it started in my 60's and after about 4 years or so I reduced using the slow regime you use here, ( at the time I was part of PMRGCA SW so picked up my knowledge of the condition from the nurses who came to meetings and the visiting doctors and Professors. ( I was also a nurse for 44 years) There were no hiccups with this I just took my time and eventually was off Pred. I have now been on Pred again for about 3 years ( during covid Pmr came back!) I decided to once more reduce in the same way. However I started to feel not at all well at about 6mgs. So went back to 8 as I was ok there , I originally thought it was my Adrenals playing up so have kept at 7.5/8mgs .However 2 weeks later I still feel awful ,a bit breathless a bit whoozy and very stressed over this and feel I cannot walk too far. I have seen my GP who says she cannot say what it is until she sees some blood results. (I cannot have blood taken now until nesxt week) . As i went back up to the dose at which I was ok do you consider that this could still be adrenals or I am just not well for another reason. My GP did say that you can feel unwell like this if you have been taking Pred for sometime. Is this correct. - I have managed both episodes of PMR myself. I am 80 in October, I just wondered if you have any thoughts on this. many thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Would say some sound adrenal related -feeling woozy and stressed… but not necessarily the breathlessness and not being able to able to walk far.

If it is your PMR then an increase to previous dose isn’t always enough, so following the flare protocol [see link] would be a good idea, but as you have blood tests next week that is likely to affect the blood results so might wise to have them first before you think about trying that.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Just for info have you tested for covid?

[Booge_15 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for your reply . I am not sure it is a flare as I have no PMR symptoms that is why I started to reduce. I think it is more than likely stress! I will await my blood tests . I have an appointment. Next week Thank you for listening

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Booge_15]

Stress can cause a flare without all the normal aches and pains. As you know from previous time, very steady tapering will also help adrenals - so no rush once you’ve got this current blip sorted.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd be inclined to feel poor adrenal function may be much of the cause - our adrenal function does fall away as we age and sometimes even when it came back easily in a first episode of steroid use, 10 years or so later it may struggle rather more.

Did the GP do all the usual sensible checks with regard to the breathlessness and fatigue when walking? I'm not sure what she means by her comment - you can feel like this after being on pred a long time if you need to reduce the dose to adrenal territory but just being on pred per se shouldn't be a problem really.

But as DL say - could it be something else? Covid is rife. And if you don't feel 100% you do tend to worry about it and that just makes you feel worse!