Terrible Fatigue from lowering dose??? | Arthritis Information

 

I have got down to 7mg and have NO pain or stiffness after a week on the lowered dose (I have been coming down by 1/2mg every 2 weeks). But I have been struck down with shocking fatigue (tiredness, sleepiness). It actually came on quite suddenly  and has persisted day after day for a week now. some days I feel convinced I am incubating a bug or virus, it's that sort of "malaise" and unwellness. But it never actually turns into anything, just continues on with the fatigue.
I have just recently had my 3 monthly doctors check-up and full blood tests (just 2 days before the fatigue started!!), and all is normal, so I am sure I am not "sick" as such. So is this prednisone related? It feels like the same sort of profound fatigue I had when I first got PMR. So which one is rearing its ugly head? Pred or PMR?? Or both? Anyone else having this terrible tiredness? I should be SO grateful I don't have pain! - and I am, I am, but the fatigue makes it so hard to function.

You described the fatigue I experience to a tee! With mine, there's never a pattern to it...just strikes out of the blue and only lasts a few days at most. Really does feel as though you're coming down with the flu! Then it leaves (in my experience) as suddenly as it came. At times, the fatigue I've experienced has been so bad that I wouldn't get out of bed for a shower. (Please don't tell my mother...she'd need a bag to breathe in for sure!) Seriously, even the simplest things are just too much when this fatigue strikes.

Another thing...I've been shocked to find myself waking up during a t.v. show. My head has actually fallen straight back and it's the pain in my neck that wakes me. I never even napped as a child! This disease...it's something else!

Perhaps others here have a better understanding as to why this happens and have advice to offer. I can only offer you my good wishes for this to leave you and fast!

That's the same experience I am having. Tapered 10- 7.5 just over 2 weeks ago, no pain to speak of but about a week ago I became very tired.....I was too tired to do an errand after work. I get up very early (4:30) and start work at 6 - 3 but I have been wanting to go to bed around 6 which is much to early. I also felt this way just before the pain from the PMR hit. I'm afraid I can't help with knowing the cause but I can tell you you're not alone with this symptom. I also get up every AM thinking I am coming down with a cold but it seems to go away.  Try to keep your head up and just take one day at a time.  If it happens to be a good day - RUN WITH IT!!!  debiI saw in earlier posts that the fatigue seems pred reduction related - For me
when I reduce, I have 1 bad day, then am ok for 3 days... but on the 3rd day
I hit the wall you describe (fatigue and cold symptoms) and can't move for 3
days... the 3rd day I start to be able to be up for an hour or so, then I am ok
again on the 4th day. It seems very predictable. I lowered from 17.25 to 15
yesterday. I will let you know if this follows the pattern.

DebiA - that sounds like such a high dose... do you have GCA? How long
have you been on that dose?

Off to work.. Have a good one!Thank you all! Guess we are all feeling it. Sigh. It helps to know it is "normal" for us pred-heads to feel this way. Me too.

 I went from 5 to 4 1/2 mgm prednisone last mon. I have the methotrexate tues. A little tired tues, then wed went to my swim squad.

  Only got out of bed at 730am, swimming was 830am ,and all I could do was close my eyes and I could not lift my arms out of the water. Consequently I got out of the water after 15 mins, and nearly went to sleep in the shower.

Went home to sleep for 3 hrs.  Recovered somewhat to mind grand children Thurs and fri, but I  am still fatigued and a bit teary.

The week before I was swimming for 50 mins and going really well, but not walking well, my lower legs were, and are like cement.

I know the swimming sounds a lot, but I have done 2 squads a week for 22 years, and when the PMR was in the first year, it gave me somewhere to try and go and achieve, even if i could only do 10 mins.

I think the only answer is to rest our mind and bodies and give in to sleep or rest during the day, but it is easier said than done. I find one of the hardest things ,I just can not be bothered to think about meals for my husband,and it is no good leaving it to him because he would just have meat, meat , meat!

I have to look back and just tell myself that I am way better than last year, and way better than 6 months ago.

 GOOD LUCK ALL  from australia  big hugs     Zali Zali,
I find if I do absolutely nothing... just sit in front of the TV, for 2 days when I
get that way from decreasing then I begin to regain energy on the 3rd day.
Two days of meat when you decrease may be worth it if you can recuperate.

I also try to time the decrease so the 3rd day of decreased dose is a day I
can do nothing.

BTW, that comes from someone who hasn't eaten meat 30 years.
pgr
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