Feeling sick

[Missbisous]

On Monday I went for a ct scan which involved the dye - the radiologist said I would get a warm feeling but I just got a very itchy scalp and couldn’t wait to scratch after !!

I’ve been on 40 mg Pred for last 4 weeks and it’s been dropped to 30 mg now for next 2 weeks, then 20 mg for 2 weeks after that. taken first thing in the morning

I’m beginning to feel very sick after lunch - my mouth waters and I have to keep sipping water and eating mints and my body gets very shaky - is this just another glorious side effect of Pred ? Or am I still doing to much - I’m not one for staying in all day !!!

[123-go]

Hello, Missbisous. I think it’s ‘normal’ for some people to feel nauseous after CT with contrast but I would advise you to report your symptoms incase you might be experiencing something of an allergic reaction. See this: dgft.nhs.uk/leaflet/ct-and-....

Also, your pred reduction seems fast: others will comment on that. I hope you feel better soon.

[Missbisous in reply to 123-go]

Thank you for reply. Didn’t even think about it being related to the scan.

I haven’t had a a consultation with the rheumatologist since the letter 2 weeks ago confirming I have GCA - expect he is waiting for latest scan results but did think after reading others experience of taking Pred it’s quite a drop from 40-20 in the space of a month.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Missbisous]

It might be in guidelines... but as we say ad infinitum - it doesn't suit everybody and it should be adjusted to individuals...

Personal opinion, every 2 weeks is too quick [can take that long for a flare to materialise] and once at 30mg, 5mg a time is best.

As you say 40-20mg within a month is too fast - if you flare at 20mg you don't know what your best dose would have been to return to. It could have been anywhere in between so you go back to the beginning - which is sometimes more than you actually require. Defeats the object of tapering!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

That is a common reduction plan on the part of doctors - especially if you start at a high dose of pred for GCA, and by that I mean 60mg or more. 40mg is the starting level for "simple" GCA with no jaw or visual symptoms. Unfortunately, for many patients it is simply too big steps, even after a month or two of pred and in the early days of GCA the disease activity is likely to still be relatively high and you just need more. In our view, the 10% of the current dose recommended by top experts is better and even safer, although at this level 5mg at a time is usually OK even though it is above the 10%. Two weeks at a new dose is not long enough to know if the new dose is still enough and you might be on the next dose before you realise you have overshot - but WHERE did you overshoot???

What do you eat for lunch? The nausea after lunch COULD be your blood sugar getting to too high a level. Pred makes your liver release random spikes of BS from your body stores - and if you then eat carbs at a meal and the increase in BS due to that coincides with it already being high due to the pred may make you feel unwell. Or, that all triggers a rush of insulin and it falls suddenly to a low level. Either is possible.

And although some gentle exercise after eating is a good idea to help moderate BS spikes like that, it may be too much if you overdo it.

I think you need to speak to your GP and get their opinion. Though some communication with the rheumy might be nice!!!!

[random901]

Hi Missbisous! I was very nauseous after my recent scan with dye. Also need to rest after lunch to prevent same.

[Missbisous]

thank you for reply. Hopefully it will pass when out of my system !!

[Pixix]

I felt nauseous after a scan with dye. The hospital (I was an inpatient, following a car crash) made me drink so much water to get rid of the dye quicker, & that helped flush it out of my system I think!

[Missbisous in reply to Pixix]

Yes I have been drinking a lot to try to flush it out !!

[Pixix in reply to Missbisous]

Good news!!

[Missus835]

The itching could be a reaction to the dye. They always ask me prior to an enhanced scan if I'd had any itching or nausea. I have not, but you may have. Worth asking. Not a fan of that "warm" feeling either.

[AtopicGuy]

The CT contrast dye is stored in a fridge, so they are doing us a favour when they warm it up to body temperature! I know from experience that, if they over do it, the warm injection can make you feel like you've peed your pants!

[Missbisous in reply to AtopicGuy]

Ha ha I didn’t get that feeling thank goodness just a very itchy scalp !!