Burst of energy?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hello there, I was diagnosed with PMR on 10 June. About a month earlier I couldn't move my neck and went to my osteopath rather than my GP. Rather than improving though, another part of my body would seize up during the following treatments. I was also exhausted. Having googled, I had a good idea what the problem when I finally saw my GP. I began the Prednisolone on 2 July, 15 mgs. My ESR was 44.
Maybe I should add I'd reluctantly been on Simvastatin for 15 years and stopped it to see whether it could be responsible for the PMR. The jury's out!
The thing is though since starting the Prednisolone, I feel so much better in every way. I'm doing chores I've been putting off forever and have much more energy.
Is this fairly normal? I really do think it was coming on for quite a while as I'd seen my GP in March when blood tests proved inconclusive.
I would welcome comments.
0 likes, 31 replies
philoso4 linfran
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I don't know how 'normal' the effect is, but on first starting medrol I felt like a 20 yr old. And I'm 82 this month.
linfran philoso4
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renee39320 linfran
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I too stopped taking simvastatin and started on magnesium thinking that was the problem. After finally being diagnosed only one month later I was put on 20mg prednisone. Miracles! Unfortunately, after being off simvastatin for 7 months, my cholesterol went up. I'm back on it and my cholesterol is normal. I'm now down to 1.5 mg of pred. I have some aches and pains, but certainly livable....probably because of weight gain, age (65), lots of tennis! Hang in there! It will get better.
Have you seen a difference without taking the simvastatin. After 15 years, you probably won't!
linfran renee39320
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It was a junior hospital doctor who asked if I was on a statin. My GP then suggested I stop them in an effort to see if they were causing the PMR. As I said, the jury's still out on that. I'm now down to 12mgs Prednisolone. You ask if I see a difference, all I can say is I'd forgotten what it was to feel well, which I do now whatever the reason. Keep up the tennis!
ptolemy linfran
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linfran ptolemy
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ptolemy linfran
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linfran ptolemy
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That's interesting. Was the reference to Simvastatin causing problems that meant people having to go on steroids or advice against being on statins and steroids at the same time? Or even possibly both?
ptolemy linfran
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linfran ptolemy
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ptolemy linfran
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linfran ptolemy
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We'll blow me down. I didn't know that. Yes, there's our answer.
linfran ptolemy
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I do have a query. I've gone from 15mgs Pred to 12mgs, due to taper to 10 in a couple of weeks. At what point do my adrenals play up? I've read that uf functioning normally, they produce 7.5 mgs Cortisol daily.
ptolemy linfran
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I hope your reduction to 10mg goes well, the rule of thumb is not to reduce more than 10% at any one time.
linfran ptolemy
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I had to do that going from 15 to 12. GP says Prednisolone doesn't come in halves. Thanks very much for all your advice.
Sheilamac_Fife linfran
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ptolemy linfran
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linfran ptolemy
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In the words of Victor Meldew, I don't believe it. I've just looked at the pills and the 5s at least are scored so obviously I could have gone from 15 to 12.5. I hadn't even looked because GP said they didn't come in halves. I'll be pointing that out next time.
linfran Sheilamac_Fife
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thank you Sheilamac. The 5s are scored and obviously could become 2.5. I hadn't checked as GP had prescribed 12. It's pretty hopeless really.
ptolemy linfran
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linfran ptolemy
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I've checked. The 5s are scored but the 1s aren't.
ptolemy linfran
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FlipDover_Aust linfran
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I have warning for you linfran! You are dropping pred VERY fast and you have only been on it for a month - I hate to say it but I don't think it's going to work in your best interest!
Please do some more reading/research and get your head around how long and how slow you have to take and reduce pred when treating PMR!
With PMR you can't just take a few pills and get better - it doesn't work like that. You have a chronic illness, one that will take at LEAST a year - more likely longer - for you to recover - some people still have it 10 years later.
linfran FlipDover_Aust
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Hi FlipDover, I'm following the template from my GP. I have done an awful lot of research into PMR, believe me. I understood that the general idea is to be on the lowest dose for the shortest time but that if symptoms recur at any stage, you should return to the dose at which you were symptom free. I'm sure I have yet to reach that and realise I am no way out of the woods.
Thank you for your advice though.
ptolemy linfran
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FlipDover_Aust linfran
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I need to apologise - I was really unwell yesterday and shouldn't have been allowed to talk to anyone! lol
linfran FlipDover_Aust
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You didn't need to apologise but apologies accepted. Better day today for you, let's hope.