thank you Dorsetlady

[dogmum58]

thank you dorsetlady and others who posted info for me about tapering .

I’ve learned a lot reading through replies and posts .

Mostly I have learned Iam not alone and you can’t rush the process .

10mg seem to be working still stiff initially but that becomes less so during the day coming back evening though quite bad and during night .

I take all my prednisone at about 5.30 -6 am can’t wait any longer when I was on 15 mg I had my meds 5mg am 5mg teatime and 5mg bed but read to take whole dose at once is best . I suffer from insomnia so not taking it at evening was a good idea .

I will continue now on 10mg for a month then I have blood work done to see how Iam doing then I think I will drop by half mg .

I need to get mobility back for heart’s sake and also to care for my parents so I want regime that will enable me to do that.

Great advice about leaving tapering if I have something stressful going on .

So glad I joined this forum not feeling so alone and desperate.

Thank you 🙏

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Thank you, and good to hear. Best of luck

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If the antiinflammatory effect isn't lasting the full 24 hours and you need it last longer because mornings are too painful, taking about 2/3 in the morning at a convenient time and then the rest later enough to extent the effect is a good compromise. Taking it at lunchtime may do the trick and not keep you awake at night.

Taking the whole dose at once is the recommended approach rather than as smaller doses through the day but splitting as I describe is also a good approach when mornings awful.

[Papa267]

I have tapered more that once since 2021 and have found, for me, the 10mg range the most critical and have learned to proceed very slowly from that point on. Splitting the dose between breakfast and dinner was helpful. I work with a great Doctor who ‘s approach is “everyone is different” along this journey and he has never required a set rigid routine. it is always try “this” and see how you feel. Note I usually am very slow to up the dose. Sometimes my system needs another day or two at the new dose to adjust. Good luck on your journey.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Papa267]

Wish he'd go and teach his colleagues!!

[dogmum58 in reply to Papa267]

Hi thanks 🙏 after talking to doctor Iam now on 12.5 mg I take 10mg about 6.30 -8 am and a further 2.5 mg about 3.30 -4.30pm .

The pains are much muck better and now I can also sleep I have 1 Cocodomol and phenaghan tablet which seems to work so far .

The doctor said to reduce by 1/2 milligram every month from now on.

I have also stopped pushing myself resting when I need to after reading another comment on here that it takes muscles longer to recover from exercise when been on steroids.

Over exercise can cause micro tears in the muscles making things very painful.

So my talkaway from all advice given is to do this very slowly and eat rest and exercise sensibly.

Now I need loosing weight tips on steroids please gained stone and a half so quickly and nothing I do seems to shift it.

X

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to dogmum58]

Cut carbs drastically - especially processed carbs, and added sugar and limit fruit and root veg. No potatoes, rice, pasta for a while.

Normal healthy diet stuff doesn't cut it with pred weight. How much you need to cut carbs depends on the person but a few unlucky ones like SnazzyD and I had to get down pretty much to keto diet levels to actually lose weight, I find maintaining a lot less difficult.

I like this website:

dietdoctor.com/low-carb

You don't need to join anything, it has some suggestions and recipes but you find low carb recipes all over the internet and it is relatively easy to adapt to real life if you have to cook for others. Cook for you and add carbs on their plate.