Diclofenac really upsets my stomach, even though I take Protonix along with it to protect my stomach.
LouAnn
Hi Louann. After reading your reply, I'm thinking that our doctors read from the same text. I sometimes can't understand their logic or lack of. Mine thought that I could reduce the pred 1mg every couple of weeks. I choose to reduce .5mg every couple of weeks and if I wasn't able to achieve 1mg a month....then so be it. I believe the slower the better and after reading so many stories on this site and others, nothing is accomplished by going to fast.
I'm taking 20mg Prilosec first thing every morning and so far I haven't had any stomach problems.....it is just this very high bp. This afternoon it was 190/90.....scary, and my head was killing me. I called my Internist and he told me to double the heart meds that I'm already taking. This morning worked pretty well....it went down to about 140/80, but by late afternoon it was way up there again. I hope I can make it through the weekend....these doctors do not make themselves very available.
It sounds like you have a great attitude.....this is one tough, pain in the butt wretched disease we are dealing with.
I hope your blood pressure has settled down, Susan. PMR and prednisone are hard enough to deal with without adding side effects from other meds which are supposed to "help".
I think I committed the cardinal sin when I questioned my rheumy about some things I'd read on the internet. Some doctors, especially the older ones, seem to be opposed to us doing our own research. Thank heavens I was seeing a young Physician's Assistant when this all started. The first I had ever heard about PMR was on a fibromyalgia discussion board.....when I mentioned it to him, he was very quick to get out his reference book & read up on it. He ordered blood tests, started me on prednisone and Bingo!
LouAnn
You are so right about doctors not wanting us to be pro-active regarding our problems. I once had a doctor that would enter the exam room and say,"Well Susan, what is your diagnosis?" He was a good guy and not full of himself. All of this reminds me of the lawyer that wants complete control regarding YOUR divorce....never works out well. If I hadn't researched the dangers with prednisone and these anti-flams I would not be where I am today. Knowledge is a good thing.
Friday I began my reduction from 75mg of dicoflenec twice daily to once daily....bp still high. Saturday morning my bp was 190//95 and I decided I would stay home and rest. I had company from out of state and we had plans to play golf......their feelings were, I could stay home and have high bp or go play golf and have it. I decided to play golf. By mid afternoon I felt really good and knew that the bp had gone down. Checked my bp again when I got home and found it to be 140/75......wow! Took my second dose of dicoflenec that evening and this morning my bp was 135/73.
I'm not feeling any more discomfort on a lower dose of the dicolfenec than when I took the larger dose. I ask him to reduce it a couple of weeks ago and he didn't want to. Now I will call him Monday and TELL him I want a LOW RISK anti- inflam. Excuse me, but who is paying my bills......ah, me?
Anyway, I'm feeling really good and hope it continues. I think these anti-inflams are risky, as are the steriods. Maybe we should start out with the lowest possible for our situation......we can always increase a little at a time.
I've had two doctors in the past tell me to stay away from Rheumys....this was way before I ever had problems. I always wondered why? Could it be because they are nortorious for pushing lots of dangerous pills? Good Grief!
Susan
Hi Sue,
I developed an elevated BP as a result of the Medrol I am taking. I am currently at 8mg after dropping down from 24 in late December. The rapid decent almost broke my spirit. But, because of the development of Glaucoma the rapid decrease was necessary.
I take a very BP friendly medicatin called Cozaar and combined with Diazide three times a week the BP is controlled. Glaucoma is controlled by medication also. I've seened to work my way though almost all of the side effects in the year since diagnosis for PMR. I truly , have a bad case of it. I asked to be weaned off the medication entirely, but my rhemy said if he did, I would have a poor quality of life until this disease burns itself out. Time frame, he said could be years. At the lower doses, functioning is difficult. But, I drag myself along like the other's on here.
I was sent for an echo cardiogram and an an abdominal cat scan to rule out other issues that PMR can cause that could contribute to the high blood pressure. I take Ultram for the pain which helps and have Arthrotec to take only if I can't stand the constant ache I get in my lower back.
It seems like a never ending battle with the medications. You take steroids to help function, and then end up taking five other medications, all to counteract the side effects of the very medication that allows you to function. To think, 13 months ago, the only medication I was taking was for high cholesterol.
I hope your BP evens out. My doctor's care, and are quick to respond to the never ending list of new issues that seem to crop up between visits.
Donna, NY
I stopped taking dicoflenec and my doctor prescribed a new one called Mobic. I took one pill, but didint' feel it helped me and I noticed that bp was on the rise again. So now I'm only taking Tylenol twice a day and find that it works well and has no side effects. My bp is back to normal. I saw my Internist and he explained how these drugs work with the kidneys causing the blood sugar to rise, increasing bp, etc. I'm a little sore, a little stiff, but nothing that I can't deal with. I'm so much better than one year ago. If I continue reducing the prednisone I will be at .5mg by May. I think I'm on my way to recovery.
Best to all.........Susan
Susan: While working as Materials Manager my bp was very high and I ended up in intensive care, strangely enough is was the launch of bp product that caused me a great deal of stress.(deadlines, inventory for launch, etc). I tried Mobic (for mild to med bp), but had to be put on meds for med to high bp.
My goal is now to get off Pred. I have been on it since July 2007. I was down to 20mg daily, but had a PMR flare up two weeks ago, now I am taking 25mg daily. My doctor did mention Methotrexate. I did some research and came up with the following:
I found it very interesting. Has anyone been on this med and also or previously on Pred?
You are right, dealing with PMR is bad enough, but the side effects of the meds is so hard to live with.
This is a great forum.....and the people on it are real troupers! (Do I date myself using that term)?
Blessings
sheilab
Sheilab.
Received a message from a friend that also suffers from PMR and has for about a year. She says that bp is an issue with the use of Prednisone. BP can elevate on steriods and she is now on anti-hypertensive drugs also. She said that a few years ago she never took any more than two aspirin per annum and now has her own pharmacy. She is thankful that she lives in this century and not a day earlier and finds it a very useful tool to remind herself how she was a year ago.
I'm still taking 2mg of Pred, Tylenol twice a day and this morning added Turmeric Force for inflammation. I was stiff and sore earlier, but feeling much better now.
I have heard that those trying to reduce Pred, do better when taking Methotrexate.
My best to all, Susan
Thanks, SusanM. I am going to discuss this possibility with my dr. I have to get off this Pred.
Happy Easter All.......
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