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Tapering during a cold a bad idea?

Posted , 5 users are following.

karenjaninaz
karenjaninaz

Before this cold I had'nt a cold for a year and a half; this is my first one with PMR on pred.  I am slowly tapering from 10 to 9.75 and well underway. The second week after the cold I have so much think phlegm, at times, I nearly choke bringing it up. I am using guafenesin. My breathing is worse; I have so many issues with my lungs normally: less lung room from chest approach to reduce scoliosis, residual chest deformity, reactive airway disease and all this worse with PMR/ pred. 

Maybe I should go back to 10 until I am over this or alternate 10/ 9.75.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • mary_49929
    mary_49929 karenjaninaz

    Posted

    I would lean towards staying on ten, but to make sure ring your dr and just check..I know when I first started reducing from twelve tablets, (60mg) to ten, I had dreadful headaches and went back up to twelve the next two days till I saw my nurse from the polymyalgia rheumatic clinic, and tried again and was fine... but definately check, as these steroids have such dreadful side effects, and also your eyesight is presious...

    Take care ........

    Mary

    • karenjaninaz
      karenjaninaz mary_49929

      Posted

      Mary, I do not have GCA. I am reducing 1/4 mgm not from 10 tablets: from 10mgm to 9.75 mgm.
    • mary_49929
      mary_49929 karenjaninaz

      Posted

      Right, sorry I read that wrong... still think you should check it out, and possibly ask for a lung funtion test, which I m sure you've had before.. I realize its a small reduction, but just to be on the safe side, please check it out, ring 111 and askto speak to a practrist nurse or Dr they will ring you back, and it will put your mind at rest.

      Mary

  • Anhaga
    Anhaga karenjaninaz

    Posted

    Have you been to the doctor?  Maybe you have an infection which could be treated.  Take care.
  • EileenH
    EileenH karenjaninaz

    Posted

    I wouldn't try to reduce while I had even a mild cold - never mind one like that! Stick at 10mg for the time being - this isn't a race!

    Get well soon!

  • catherine34621
    catherine34621 karenjaninaz

    Posted

    I had a chest infection last year and have scoliosis too, I was choking almost in the morning coughing, I had never had this before and it was quite scary, I got some antibiotics from my G.P. and my blood results shot up later on testing, I stayed on the same dose till the infection had gone.
    • karenjaninaz
      karenjaninaz catherine34621

      Posted

      I saw both my pulmonary and rheumy on Tues. plus my markers are great. I suspect the stress of a cold, which is really mild, requires a halt in tapering as Eileen suggested. I have not had any colds since I started the PMR . The chest phlegm portion of a cold's ending affects my breathing. That's a stress in of itself.

    • mary_49929
      mary_49929 karenjaninaz

      Posted

      You sound as if you have a plan now, and I hope you recover from your cold quickly...

      Mary

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