Do you still get real tired on Pred? | Arthritis Information

 

Hi Everyone,

I have a question.  I'm taking Pred and it has made wonderful improvements in my life since I was dx'd with PMR.  But I still get so very tired very quickly and then I just want to rest and sleep.  Do you think this is from the PMR, the lower dose of Pred I am taking now (down from 30mg to 10 mg) of from stress or maybe all three of the things?  I really would appreciate hearing from some of you about your opinions.  Maybe I'm just tired and don't know it.

Have a good day to all of you and thanks.

 

Mariellen,

When I was on prednisone, I felt so good and had lots
of energy. Didn't make me tired at all. I got tired at
the lower doses, and then being off prednisone, I seem
to be really tired. Part of it is from waking up at
night with aches (or hot flashes) so not getting enough
sleep.A couple of years ago, my primary care doctor
tried to tell me the tiredness was symptom of
depression. I told her that IF I were depressed, it was
only because I had been hurting for such a long time.
Was not depressed to begin with!!! I have read that
inflammatory diseases do cause a person to become
tired, especially at mid-day or evening. Hope you find
something to help with that.

Reni Hi Mariellen,

I am also taking pred. down from 30 t o 10.   I am also very tired....
I do not think it is the pred that is making me tired I think the PMR is the reason.............but I also have to take into consideration my age I am 68.............One of the big complaints that I have always had since coming down with the pmr has been the fatigue......Some days I only last till 12 noon and I have to rest.....and if I do extra activities I am beat.............Good luck to all, Georgiana

Hi Mariellen,

I am down to 2.5 after more than a year, and I think thatīs the reason I feel tired even at small physical activities. When I had more prednisone I felt great. I am 69

Ragnar

Hi MPat, I'm just the opposite from the others .  When I first started prednisone, 20 mil., I was so dragged out all the time I couldn't even do things like rake the yard.  I'm at 9 mg now and still have a few days I just go to bed, but not many. 

I've heard lots of people say it takes about 6 months to get over the prednisone withdrawal when you finally are off it altogether.  What I'm trying to figure out is how do we know when we're well. ????? The symtoms are the same.  Do you just wait 6 months and see.  Have a great and painfree day to all of you.

Thanks for your replies.  As I have posted before I am 70 years old and have been the caretaker for my disabled husband for the last 10 years as well as working full time until June 2005 when I quit work to take care of my husband 24/7 and because of my failing health.  I guess I expect too much from the meds and expect them to work faster than they usually do.  I do appreciate your replies so much.  They help me put my problems in prespective and to remember I am not the only trying to cope with PMR and otherr ailments as well as just plain getting older.  Thank again.  I hope you all continue to get better as fast as possible and have as little pain as possible. 

Have a good day and my God bless each of you.

Love ya,

 

MPat, I'm 66 and PMR has severely limited my work and other things I need to do even though I fight it like everything.  I lost my husband about a month before this pain started.  Somday's it's a little frightening. We can't give in to it.  Remember, it's supposed to go away.  I will be so mad if it doesn't.  We just have to keep doing the best we can til then.  And pray, that's key, I think.  Bless you and your husband. 

Hi Mariellen

At present I'm on 20mg prednisolone. At first (three weeks ago) I was so full of energy I didn't need/want to sleep but the last week I am feeling almost like the old fatigue has caught up with me.  Last night I had 11 hours' sleep and today I hurt all over and just want to fall back into bed. It probably didn't help that i had to drive nearly 200 miles yesterday for a business meeting, having to leave at the crack of dawn!!!

I'm sure this disease is responsible for the fatigue and not the prednisolone. I just hate what it does to me.

Hope you are having a better day today.

Love

Mariellen and Betsy,

Just rereading a few of the posts. My goodness, if I
were 70, working full time and taking care of an ailing
husband, I would be tired - without having PMR!!
Seriously, though, it is most likely the PMR that is
causing your fatigue. I've been doing a lot of reading,
all the info says that inflammatory diseases do tend to
make one very fatigued, tho I don't really understand
why this is so.   

Yes, they say this disease IS supposed to go away, and
I really do think mine has!!! I have other aches, but
think they are the tendonitis, strained muscle, "just
getting older", maybe some arthritis, kind. Feeling so
much better these days!!! I know someone made a comment
a while back about not hearing from anyone who has been
"cured" of PMR. Well, I will keep posting to keep you
all informed and hopefully give you some encouragement
that there is an end in sight, even tho it's sometimes
hard to see one's way through after such a long time
with pain. Hang in there!!!

Reni

Having had fibromyalgia for many years, dealing with fatigue has been a big part of my life.  Prednisone has really pumped my energy level up, but it's not been easy to have my heart pounding all the time......even now that I'm down to 15mg, I still have trouble relaxing for a nap.  I need a sleeping pill at night (Ambien CR), but that only allows me about 5 hours and I'm wide awake in the wee hours of the morning. 

I wonder if sleep problems are common with polymyalgia, as they are with fibromyalgia......or is my system just all out of whack?  Sometimes I feel like I'm driving my body with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake pedal.

Judy

I just finished my morning duties...and came to the computer to sit and rest...low and behold there is a post on being tired.  All I have done this am is laundry and make a big pot of stew.  I am exhausted.  I am taking 10 mg pred, down from 15.  I felt great at 15, lots of energy, etc.  I have mild stiffness and soreness @ 10, but I can deal with that, cuz I want off this pred.

I don't kinow if it is the PMR that gives us the fatigue or the weaning process from the prednisone...I see my rheum in Dec. I will ask him. Before I was diagnosed, my symptons were only pain and stiffness, no fatigue... I am 53, and used to be VERY active and on the go constantly....slowing down really irritates me...so I try not to give into this.............it will go away....

Reni, thanks for posting your condition...it gives us encouragement.  Glad to hear that you are better! 

 

It took three months in the fall of 2005 before I was diagnosed with PMR.  At first I suffered the pain of shoulders and hips (including a frozen shoulder) and the difficulties getting in and out cars, going up and down stairs.  But then I began to get exhausted.  Some days I had to come home from work in mid-afternoon to take a nap.  When I mentioned this to the doctor, he said it was normal to be fatigued when one had inflammation.  And, of course, inflammation is what PMR is all about.  The prednisone made me hyper, not tired.   In fact, it was the fatigue that persuaded me to go on the prednisone because otherwise I could not have continued to work.  I hope the prednisone will make you feel better.
Adrienne34
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