Cut a long story short, I've been on pred for PMR since Nov 2023 starting on 35mg and am now tapered down to 4mg.
I have unfortunately now developed a tooth infection that requires either root canal or extraction.
My dentist prescribed Metronidazole 3 times a day. My tooth is still painful to bite on but the pain has subsided a bit. I do, however, I alo feel absolutely grizzly, diabolical in fact. I have been sleeping constantly and feel I have a temperature and am completely run down, drained and exhausted.
Just wondering if this is linked to my PMR or Pred use and if anyone has any advice or thoughts as to what I should do.
At this point I'm thinking of just having the tooth pulled and hopefully bringing all this to a close in terms of the tooth pain bug wondering if that has downsides too.
Anyway, that's me! Off back to bed now!
Paul
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Paulx222
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Ouch - sounds like a really severe tooth infection and that alone could cause all that.
HOWEVER - given your dose of pred currently you cannot rule out the possibility of adrenal insufficiency, verging towards and adrenal crisis, and I would suggest you take 10mg of pred asap and call 111 to ask for further advice, saying you are concerned you may be developing an adrenal crisis because you feel so ill.
Are you alone at home? If someone is there, tell them what I have said so someone else knows about the possibility. If 111 is too slow in reacting, call 999 directly and tell them what I'm concerned about. If you are alone - call someone immediately to be sure that someone is aware.
Sounds as if adrenals are really struggling…. Add in tooth issues and no wonder you feel really grotty… PMRpro has given good advice, so please follow that.
Not impressed by 111 then though they probably thought it was a "worried well" and you couldn't wave the red emergency steroid card at them over the phone. But I feel better about you having done that!
As DL says, probably OK but no harm going via 5mg until you are really better.
I’ve read that the 111 service is so overwhelmed right now as people are calling it because they can’t get a doctors appointment, or they have read that A&E is overwhelmed. They are employing retired doctors for call backs as they just can’t call back the number that request it/need it, & employing a lot of extra staff to do the first stage. Some people are ringing 5 times or more & the phone call times out (don’t know how long that is) before it’s answered. They are asking people to limit the use of the service if at all possible (but if you can’t go to A&E, & you have not managed to get an urgent dr appointment, or it’s the weekend????!)
I quite agree! But having come a bit closer to adrenal crisis, & just seeing our doctor in time…if I was like that again, I’d be at A&E, I think, 111 could be too slow. When David was sick last year a Dr from 111 phoned within ten minutes…but I think it’s now more like 2 hours. Just not a time to get sick or injured! S xx
The algorithm obviously needs a tweak - but I suspect simply saying long term pred and adrenal crisis straight away might move things. But if you know that, then you should call 999 anyway.
I think so. Normally, I’d say 111 is excellent, now I’ve used it three times, & each time they called the ambulance for me. But one time they were angry as they weren’t told it was bad chest pains, & they came from Dorset & their satnav took them all through the lanes of the New Forest!! S x
Oh, no, they were very apologetic,but admitted anger when they saw how much pain David was in. All the crews we had were lovely, & out of six ambulance crew, only 1 man, an Army vet. S x
Not sure on the relative nos these days - was still very male dominated when my daughter started which was still something of a problem for young women going in. Especially the graduates.
The endocrinology nurse added the potential for adrenal insuffiency to my nhs records so that it will come highlighted at the top as a caution if ever I call 999/111 or check in at hospital.
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