PMR, Pred and Antibiotics | Arthritis Information

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I've reduced down to 2.5mg of Pred for sometime now.  Tired a few months ago to reduce, but it didn't work and found myself back to the 2.5mg.  Due to a recent dog attack and bites to my left hand I was put on antibiotics for ten days, but recently noticed that the area where I was bitten was inflammed and painful.  I had an infection in my tendons and once again put on antibiotics.....this time I was already taking something called a Z pack, 250mg once daily for a bacterial infection of my throat and now added to that 500mg four times a day of Keflex.  After a couple of days on the antibiotics I felt wonderful....no pain or stiffness in shoulders or knees.  In fact I felt so great I dropped .5mg of the pred.  I continued feeling great and two weeks later I tried 1mg drop, putting me at 1mg daily.  Still no pain or stiffness, but did experience feeling dizzy in the morning.  I decided to add .5mg taking me back to 1.5mg daily and although I feel a little sore when I first get up from a sitting.....doesn't last long.....I'm feeling pretty good.  I had to stop the antibiotics....way too much for my body and ended up with a ton of hives which I still have.   Anyway, I was wondering if antibiotics could help fight this illness.  It sure seemed like it helped me while I was taking them.  Has anyone else experienced this or has there been any research on this?

 
Susan

Hi Susan

Shortly before my PMR disappeared I had a urinary tract infection and was on antibiotics.  It was not even a month later I had a flu-like attack at 4 am and I swear within 2 or 3 days I knew the PMR was leaving my body. I saw my Dr. 2 days later because I had severe pain in both thumbs and elbows and she sent me off to a rheumy thinking it was RA.  His dx was no PMR, no RA but I now have fibromyalgia.  I did have 3 glorious weeks where I kept saying I had been  misdiagnosed because I felt like a million bucks but it was short lived. I now am in worse pain than PMR.

Sorry for going on but I did find it very curious that both of us had a similar experience.  I know a few on the RA board swear by antibiotic protocol so nothing would surprise me.
 
You are so close now so lots of luck the rest of the way.  I'm sure you will know when it is gone. 
 
Pat
ps.....Since this first happened I have tapered from 7.5 down to 2 mgs and will be at 1 mg next week with no problems.  Some of the side effects are gone like the moon face, some of the bloated tummy, swelling from wrists and knees and facial hair.  Still have a lot of work to do with the extra weight.
Recently met someone who had been diagnosed with PMR. She was miserable with all the classic symptoms, put on prednisone, etc. At the beginning she had been checked for Lyme disease as well. Tests came back negative but she went to a new doctor quite sometime later who was sure she had chronic Lyme anyway and put her on antibiotics for quite a period of time, The PMR symptoms totally disappeared, she reduced her prednisone to zero with no problems and feels completely well. I think she's still on antibiotics for awhile longer. Interesting, no?
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