Hi everyone
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to prevent infections or sickness while on prednisone? I've only been on a month and feel like i'm getting a cold. My temporal artery biopsy wound doesn't seem to be healing and I'm starting to just feel unwell. Are there any vitamins or things to take to help with colds?
Thank you for any advice
Appreciate it
Bekah
Why do you think it's the Pred that's making you susceptible to infections?
Hi Nadine,
because I have been reading up on prednisone and everything i read says that you are prone to infection on prednisone.
Thanks NadineI'm new to prednisone. Just trying to take in this new normal for me. And trying to get as much information I can on how to take care of myself with a suppressed immune. I hope your husband is doing ok
When I was on Preds, the worst of it was not sleeping well and having a huge appetite.
What worked for me was naturally boosting the immune system though diet; high in a variety of plants, fruits and nuts (30+ per week), and high fibre(both soluble and insoluble), avoiding ultra processed foods. I ate fermented foods like natural yogurt, blue cheese and kimchee (be cautious - this depends on how strong your immune system is initially to take these). I also exercised; walking is good which you can build up over time. I went from less than 1/4 miles to over 5 miles.
Thank you for those strategies eh66 I will incorporate that as much as possible. I find I'm very tired on prednisone. And walking is hard but will take it slow and build up. I am not physically fit to begin with.
I was pretty fit before Vasculitis, but at it's worst I was unable to walk and had to be wheeled into hospital, and couldn't climb stairs. I have built it back up since then.
Fitness is mental as well as physical effort. You have to listen to your body but also not talk yourself out of doing anything. 100 metres one day can become a mile over time. Also look a gentle calisthenics to strengthen your core which will help with long term independence.
If we give it a chance, there is hope for us all.
I've been on and off various levels of prednisolone for many years. I don't worry too much about infections but if you get a sore throat or an abscess then see your GP surgery telling the reception that you are on steroids.
Like eh66 I have trouble controlling my appetite and have to ration my intake of food on higher doses, and I always make sure that I do weight bearing exercise to keep my bones strong. Good luck!
Have you been on the Vasculitis site?? Vasculitis.org.uk for loads of info
There is a dedicated GCA forum on HU
where all of us are longterm pred users and have either GCA or at least PMR. we look forward to meeting you over there where everybody will have some help to offer.
Actually, most of us find that once we settle on pred, the adverse effects also improve over time and as we reduce the dose. Supplements really don't have much to offer though many swear by vit C. A good healthy diet that is also fairly low in carbs is helpful when you are on pred.
As you are in the USA, are you on any other medication for the GCA?
When I was first prescribed Prednisolone I was also prescribed Bactroban, (a nasal cream inserted into the nose with a cotton wool bud) to be used 2 weeks on & 2 weeks off. I have had very few infections over the years under this regime.
I can talk to my rheumatologist about this, thanks Budapest!
Like all corticosteroids, prednisolone works against autoimmune diseases by suppressing the immune system. The higher the daily dose, the greater the suppression. However, it is important to keep things in context. The increased risk of infection while on prednisolone is nothing compared to what recipients of organ transplants live with, year after year. To avoid organ rejection, they can sometimes take a cocktail of methotrexate, cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine, or azathioprine, etc. as well as steroids.
I've been on prednisolone for a total of about three years in the last five, with starting doses up to 30mg/day. I took no special measures and didn't notice any increase in infections: not even more colds or cold sores than usual. I've had covid twice: in the summer of 2022 and spring of 2024. The first time it was like a nasty flu, and the second time a moderate flu (I'm fully vaccinated against both, of course).
Thanks AtopicGuy. I read your bio and wow what a long, hard journey you have had to finally find out you have PMR. I hope you are doing well!
Thank you. Unfortunately, I still don't have a diagnosis! PMR was the working hypothesis from 2019 until 2023. Now the evidence is mounting up in favour of myasthenia gravis (MG). Both are autoimmune diseases and respond well to prednisolone. One comes under Rheumatology, the other Neurology. I've been refused any further treatment for as long as the doctors are undecided.
That is what makes these diseases so difficult for us to manage, and the treatments can be extremely different. Like me, some doctors say FMD(you take a daily aspirin) and TAK(prednisone and biologics). I'm trying to find out if the daily aspirin route has caused more damage because it didn't address what was actually happening. I really hope I can get a straight answer at some point. Now I'm on prednisone and scared that it's going to cause different damage in my aleady damaged body.
Hi, one thing I would add is about blood sugar. I have been on prednisolone continually for 3.5 years now, I've been on 30-40mg for the past 6 months. Pretty much as soon as I started on pred (on 60mg) I had really high blood sugar and was then diagnosed with steroid induced diabetes. High blood sugar can also mean that wounds don't heal well, so if your wound continues to not improve, it might be worth checking your blood sugar. Good luck!
Thanks for that info Blackburnbint. I will be getting an A1c test soon. I am already pre-diabetes and diabetes runs in my family, so I'm sure I will be getting that.
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