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can any one explane something to me i'm started at 30 mg for three days fell a little better but not 100% far from it but some better then 20 mg for three days started to felling worst then down to 10 mg a lot worst in no time hard to get out of bed and stay out of bed all i do is work and come home and want to go to bed because i hurt so bad in tried any way my question is if wahat i read about is prednisone is to stop the pain that's what the internet said i should not be in pain or tried or welling like crap all time or i'm i missing something or will i have this pain the whole time i have pmr or will the prednisone start working like they say

vicki

Vicky I don;t understand that your docter tells you to go one day 30 than 20 than 10. IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY!. Are you seeing a reumatologist?

You have to go down slowly. Very slowly. you can go from 30 to 20 pretty quickly but only by reducing 2.5mg every 2 weeks at the time or so. From 20 to 10 you can try going down 2.5 mg only every month. Than from 10-1mg you have to go down by 1MG every month or so. This is the only way it will work.

i go monday to my first reumatologist appointment my gp doctor been tring to help

thank you

vicki

The rheumy will tell you you can't taper nearly that fast. Sometimes the GP's will just try prednisone like that to see if it helps, then will refer you to a rheumatologist. Then, others just don't know any better. Hopefully, the rheumatologist will get you on the right regiment and you will get some relief. It is very discouraging, Vicky. I am still in pain like you can not believe, this weekend I am miserable,. but like the girls said you are going down on the pred too fast, hopefully the rheumy can help you. Good luck Georgiana I am glad to hear you are going to a specialist. Most MDs do not know how to handle this.Hi all, My rheummy has me decreasing from 10mgs to 7.5mgs 1 day and 10mg the next. Do this for 2 weeks then 7.5mg for 4 weeks then give him a phonecall to let him know how I am going. I did this approx 6 months ago with major flare so was put back up to 10mgs a day. Its been 5 days now and I can feel the difference, aching all over, flu like symptoms. I am determined to keep on reducing ... here's hoping. Has anyone been decreased this way and was it a good result?? Luv to all. Lyn

Dear LynM, Australia, Did send you a private message some weeks ago, did you get it?

Re the reduction of prednisone, it seems that many have their own way of doing this, but if it is not working for you, it is just not right. Get in touch again with the Rheum.

It does seem that reductions must be slow, and my Rheum seems to agree with Marianne1952. And under 5mgm it has to be really really slow. Unfortuneately it seems that PMR does run its course, and we do get flare-ups, but they are worse with fast cortisone withdrawal.

Hugs Zali

I'm trying to reduce my preds also. I have been for a long time taking it every other day. It seemed to be alright. I am now down to 30 mgs a week and the next 40 mgs. I want to take myself down to 30 mgs in my 40 mgs a week. I have notice it has effected my eyes, has given yeast infections and the fatigue is unreal. I also have a breathing problem so even if I wanted to do exercise that's a no no. Have any of you had yeast infections and how often. This sure is not a fun thing. Neither is my eyes. Even tho I can read the puter without my glasses.

My big question, all these side effects and probably many more, caused by decreasing preds?

thanks for the info

Anna

Anna,

My eyes bothered me, and it was found I had glaucoma. No yeast infections. I am currently at 7mg. Down from 24 since Decemember.

Please, if your eyes are bothering you, have them checked by your eye doctor.

Donna, NY

Hi Vicki,

I hope things are going better for you--you will get a lot of help and support here.

It seems as if you have just been diagnosed, is that right? I have to agree with those who have said that your dose of prednisone and the quick decrease is not good.

I am really glad for you that you are going to a rheumy today (is that right?). I wish you well with your appointment--chances are you will get some good advice and you pain will stop. You are in my prayers!

Wildflower

Vicki,

Any updates from your visit to the rheumy? Hope all went well.

Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time. If you're on prednisone for any length of time, you should visit your eye doctor to be checked for glaucoma and cataracts. Also, I found even at 15 mg/day my blood sugar swings were affecting my vision - I have extreme myopia, and found that my eyes would be "normal" (for me!) in the early morning, but as the day wore on, they would get worse & worse, so I had to pack 3 pairs of glasses with me and by the time I drove home from work, I was wearing some that were much stronger than my "normal" ones or I couldn't see to drive. Neither my doctor or an optometrist could figure out what was happening, so I asked an eye-specialist forum (Yahoo or Google, I can't remember which) for help, and someone said it could be from blood sugar swings.

As for the irregular blood sugar, prednisone depletes the chromium from the body. I had to take chromium picolinate supplements (500 - 600 mcg/day) with biotin supplements (250 mcg/day) and that really helped reduce the blood sugar swings so I could go back to wearing my normal glasses all day. (Also helped with the appetite!) You might want to see if that helps your vision. Chromium picolinate is available at health food stores, biotin at health food or drug stores. If you want more info, google "chromium picolinate and corticosteroid induced diabetes".

Best of luck!

Hi Everyone,

It certainly is nice to know that I am not the only one who has problems with their medications complete with the usual side effects...trouble is, I can hardly stand this anymore. Haven't felt like myself in so long and I feel like the treatment is worse than the disease. My coping skills are really down today.

Hi Trustee, I was diagnoised in April 2007 with PMR. I also thought the side affects of pred was worse then having PMR. I could not stand the sweeting all the time. so bad I could not go out of the house, my clothes were soaked. So I started reading some of the way back messages and found this anti inflamatory diet and nosugar diet. I started in Oct of 2007 and knew within 3 days that was my problem. I was able to get off the pred and say off. Maybe my PMR burned itself out. The Dr thought I had it for a few years before being diagnosed. So there is hope for everyone. I still get stiff and have some pain, but not like it was with the PMR. I am still not eating tomatoes, green peppers or potatoes and no sugar. You can find this anit inflamatory diet on the web under wellness diet, Dr Whiel or Wheil. I am not # since Oct of 07. Hugs to all and I hope you all find releif. Geri
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