30mg Prednisolone - a high dose?
Posted , 4 users are following.
What a relief to see I'm not the only one with PMR! Symptoms suddenly started last June, Dr seems quite certain of diagnosis, am going to see specialist end Feb. Dr started me on 30mg Prednisolone, blood pressure shot up and now on pills for that! 30mg seems high compared to what others on this site are taking. Have tried reducing gradually and managed to get down to 15mg, but since Xmas have been feeling really rough, aching muscles in arms, back, shoulders, neck, tiredness, sweats, weepy, headaches and now back up to 30mg. Could I be reducing them too quickly and not giving them time to work. Hate taking pills, hate the moon face and facial hair, fed up with people saying how well I look when I feel the exact opposite. I'm generally a happy person so sorry to be negative on this my first posting - positive responses needed please!!!
0 likes, 7 replies
Lizzie_Ellen
Posted
I've just read your first post on this site and we seem quite similar in some respects - same age for a start and our PMR started almost the same time. However our dosage etc. is a bit different. I had all the symptoms of PMR but my bloods were almost normal so my Doctor referred me to Rheumatology. As the waiting time was over 6 weeks I decided to invest in a private consultation. Best money I've ever spent! My Consultant started me on 15mgs Prednisolone immediately regardless of my blood results. For the first few weeks I could happily have doubled the dose but she was absolutely insistent on 15mgs and after about a month I had to agree with her as the worst of the symptoms had almost gone. One of my best friend's is a GP and he said he always starts people on a higher dose but now agrees that her advice was good as I've been able to reduce to 12.5mgs without much trouble and going down to 11mgs on 1st Feb and 10mgs on 1st March all being well. She insists I reduce very slowly and everyone on this site seems to agree with that advice. I don't think any of us like taking pills, but for me anyway, the relief from the pain and stiffness and the fact that I can now function day to day outweigh the side effects of the steroids. I agree with you Yvonne, the comment 'you look really well' when you feel awful is difficult. I don't like my round chubby face either but I seem to be the only one who notices it! I think maybe you did try to reduce the dosage a bit quick and I wonder if this could account for the headaches, weepy feelings, sweats etc. I'm sure there will be someone on the site who has reduced successfully from 30mgs and will be able to tell you how they did it. A lot of people have commented that the cold weather has forced them to up their steroids, so perhaps this has contributed to the return of some of your aches and pains. I do hope you get a good Rheumatologist, mine's a treasure - its a long time to wait but I'm sure it will be worth it. It will get better but I do understand how you feel. Keep well and keep us posted with your progress.
Lizzie Ellen
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
One very important symptom you have mentioned is \"headaches\". Are you having any eye symptoms such as blurred vision? There is a linked condition called Giant Cell (or Temporal) Arteritis, which has a risk to eyesight and which requires high dose therapy and this is why I was started on a very high dose. Some GCA sufferers start on 60mgs. GCA has to be treated urgently, as you can imagine, so I would check this out with your GP immediately as your rheumatology appointment is not until the end of February. Hopefully, this will not apply to you, and the cold weather is not helping.
Keep in touch, even it it's only to \"get it off your chest\" - we've all been there and do so understand all the feelings you describe, especially the one where everyone keeps telling you how well you look! :roll:
yvonne11dickens
Posted
Yes I have seen an opthalmologist who said everything is ok. The dr seems to think because my blood pressure was getting high - :oops: result of steroids! - this was the reason for the headaches. Since taking the bp pills, touch wood, the headaches are not so frequent.
Does anyone know of a support group in the Kent area? :run:
Mrs_G
Posted
mrs_k
Posted
No, there is no support group in Kent as yet .
But Pammy, JustJayne, Kate, Morwe and mrs K (ex-pmrfighters) who met on this site in 2007 are now part of a brand new charity \"PMR-GCA UK\".
We are down in London on the 11 March and are hoping to meet people who we have been in contact with us via this site and by email over the past years from London and the Home Counties.
Look under support groups on this site and contact us.
or visit www.pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk.
Alternatively email me on this site. Its easy click on My Space at top of the page. For where and when.
But most of all, keep on visiting this site and asking the questions. Some of us old hands might be able to help.
:hug:
bubblybronch
Posted
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
You have replied to a post from 3 years ago - just thought I'd better mention it in case you're wondering why you don't receive a response. Hope you're doing well with PMR or GCA?
MrsO