Are things improving?

[ponai]

I've just got back from a walk- a few miles in a bird reserve- that I've done a few times a year since I got PMR in 2016, with varying degrees of difficulty. Today was better- still needed a few rests, but not demolished by the end.

Is it because I've lowered to 5mg pred and my adrenals are working better? Has 8 years been long enough and disease activity is reducing at last? Was it the Ibuprofen I took before I left? Or is the weather going to improve in a day or two and I'm reacting to a change in air pressure (it is def a factor). I'd like to try 4 1/2 (slowly) in a few weeks if it's safe- but will be very sad if it isn't. I know- there's no way of telling except trying...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Lot of ‘was it’s’ there.. no easy answers, maybe a combination of all scenarios… but good that you feel an improvement- long may it continue…😊

[SnazzyD]

Could be any one of them!

I found sometimes a reduction didn’t go well not because it was the ‘wrong’ time but because other unplanned factors came into play. All you can do is get to a reasonable place and try gently. You are giving it a few weeks instead of getting too excited and diving into the next drop. When everything comes together it’s so uplifting!

[ponai in reply to SnazzyD]

'Everything coming together' is a very cheering if maybe unrealistic thought!

[SnazzyD in reply to ponai]

It sounds from your post like it did for a moment 🙂. I felt things were improving at 5mg. The run down to 5mg seems very much on the some of too much Pred for the adrenals to get the message but too little to get through a day. 5mg was still suppressive as evidenced by my Synacthen test, but it’s when the gentle good times happened occasionally. Go gently.

[ponai in reply to SnazzyD]

Ha! Quite stiff today... but thanks for all the comments.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At 5mg I doubt the adrenals are working much yet - though never say never. But spring IS in the air - well, it smells like there is a change here! I think our change in a day or two might involve a bit of snow not too far away but not in the village, I'd suspect the ibuprofen didn't do any harm either - I managed to ski with PMR before and after pred by a good application of Voltarol and a decent oral dose - it didn't help the muscle pain a lot but removed other distractions and once I was moving the PMR pain improved considerably!

[ponai in reply to PMRpro]

That's another good thought, that getting moving helps the pmr. Usually I feel punished for activity... so maybe that's also progress.