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another flare?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Susanne_M_UK
Susanne_M_UK

I was tapering quite nicely and got to 18mg when it went haywire. Went back up to 20, but slowly over a week, my symptoms of temple pain, lethargy and generally feeling unwell, increased.

My rheumatologist is away and I'm due to see a stand in rheumy on Tuesday. However, today, having slept all afternoon and feeling absolutely wretched with fatigue and temple pain, I called my GP to ask for an urgent blood test. As luck would have it, she is away, but the young duty doctor wanted to see me as his last appointment.

I went through the potted history and he has told me to increase to 40mg and has requested an urgent blood test for tomorrow morning.

I'm so fed up being back at 40mg! There is no end in sight at this rate.

Will wait to hear of the blood results tomorrow eve. If they turn out to be ok, the 40mg will have been a terrible increase. If the markers are up, well, who knows I did ask him whether I should wait for the bloods before increasing to 40, but I suppose him being young, he wasn't going to take any chances. On the other hand, I'd rather have a GP who takes the condition seriously unlike my last surgery.

2 likes, 48 replies

48 Replies

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  • LisaCACO
    LisaCACO Susanne_M_UK

    Posted

    okay, this sucks. glad to hear you're feeling better, but the jump in prednisone is not nice. keeping my fingers crossed you get back down quickly but safely.
    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      Hope Rheumy, if a bloke, is good looking, good listener and open minded.

      If a Lady, same thing.

      Do let us know how you get on - I hope brilliantly.

    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE LisaCACO

      Posted

      MInd Lisa

      I do have a not so good looking Rheumy and he is brilliant.  I just love his ugly mug to bits.

  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK

    Posted

    Ha, ha. He was good looking and very charming! Sort of aging hippy type with a ponytail. Not the usual rheumy type. Very easy to talk to and great sense of humour. Anyway, before I get carried away..

    having discussed my history and flare, he said I could try to taper down by 5mg every couple of days until I get back to 20, which is where the flare occurred. Then stay on 20 until my next appointment on 10 September. He said he was in favour of slow reduction generally, but in this instance I should be able to manage the quick taper, but to give him a call if there were any blips.

    So, here we go, will do 35 for the next two days etc

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      Susanne, better to stop for a while just above the 20mg where it all went pear-shaped, as that dose obviously failed to hold the inflammation.  21mg would be wiser if you were comfortable at that dose previously.
    • Susanne_M_UK
      Susanne_M_UK MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      It was at 18 when I had the flare though. Anyway, I could do a slower taper between 22 and 20. Or do, 22, 21, 20 and stop?
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      Oh, yes of course, memory has gone AWOL.  In that case, ignore me - 20mg it is!  See what the rheumy then advises - he has already said he is in favour of slow reductions, so he sounds spot on, and will probably advise a slower taper from the 20 to the 18mg point.  Fingers crossed you won't need to give him that "call".
    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      Too fast Susan, do the no more than 10% at a time - do the math and wait at least 3 days between each drop.
    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      Susanne

      Do  you want the two Slow Reduction Plans, they are free and you can take them to the Rheumy next time?

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      Susanne, if we don't manage to chat before the guest speaker slot (it looks like being a packed meeting and 3 are newbies), then do give me a nudge afterwards.
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