cant understand too much about PMRiI
Posted , 6 users are following.
I was on 15mg for about 6 months ubtil i saw it was too long on here, 2 weeks ago i started 12.5 mg, i told doctor, how long shall i stay 12.5 please, then what do i do please, also doctor gave me a weekly bone tablet but not taking them at moment because he not gave me a bone scan although am 79 so i suspect my bones not good . Has any one had loose bowels on steroids and i still get very tiredbut no pain atmoment
0 likes, 18 replies
EileenH mary238
Posted
The tiredness isn't really improved with the pred - the tiredness is due to the underlying autoimmune illness which the pred does nothing about. The pred is being used to relieve the pain and stiffness which is due to inflammation. Pred relieves the inflammation so helps the pain.
What other medications are you on? I've never heard anyone find that the steroids themselves cause loose bowels but other medications the doctors often hand out when you are on pred can.
mary238 EileenH
Posted
MrsO-UK_Surrey EileenH
Posted
Many blood pressure tablets can also cause a loose bowel - I have recently had to stop one BP pill (Diltiazem) for this very reason. Still not quite back to normal on the remaining pill but much better.
Yes steroids can induce diabetes but it can help if we avoid eating too many refined carbs such as in potatoes, white bread etc - as well as incresing steroid-induced weight gain they turn to sugar in our bodies and could add not only to steroid-induced weight gain but also the the risk of steroid-induced diabetes.
Trying a reduction of just 1mg a day after another couple of weeks at 12.5 should prove successful for you - if you experience any returning pain immediately following the reduction that can just be due to withdrawing the steroid and should disappear within a few days. Just be sure to take things very easy around the time of the reduction to give your body chance to get used to the new dose. Good luck!
MrsO-UK_Surrey EileenH
Posted
mary238 MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
MrsO-UK_Surrey mary238
Posted
It is difficult to answer your question about how many weeks you personally will take to get from 12.5 to 10mgs as our bodies are all different and therefore can respond differently to the treatment. But if you try just a 1mg reduction after a couple more weeks and find that works, then you can repeat with just a 1mg reduction another few weeks later. In this way you can easily spot at which point the inflammation might start running away again and quickly return to your previous dose. It will very much depend on how you feel, and if you had raised blood test markers at the outset, ideally these should be repeated before each reduction. I hope that helps.
EileenH mary238
Posted
debbie27473 mary238
Posted
If you read through some previous discussions on this site, you will see that everyone who has tried to reduce preds too quickly has terrible problems with returning pain. 1mg drop per week sounds horrendous! I am now on the slow reduction programme that Eileen recommends and so far so good. This involves taking a 1mg drop on day 1 then taking your old dose for 6 days then new dose on day 8, then old dose for 5 days, then new dose on day 14, old dose 4 days etc. Before I started this I could not get below 13.5mg. I am now on 12.5 and starting my next decrease to 11mg. The tiredness flares up if I overdo it for a day or so. Pacing your activities comes very hard but seems to work. Do what you have to do in small chunks with plenty of breaks. This means things take longer to get done but a bit like the pred reduction you get there without the pain!
I too have high blood pressure and I have definately noticed looser bowel movements since starting medication for this. I am currently on Furosomide and Lercanidipine.
Unfortunately gp's do not seem very informed about the progress of this disease and it's effects on patients. They focus on getting you off of steroids and can't understand when we have problems with this. Keep posting on this website and read other peoples posts as often as you can. For the rest of us it is a lifeline. Only other people who are going through this can truly understand. There is always someone who will read your query who has been through exactly the same thing and will offer you their support and advice. Good luck, Take care, Debbie
mary238 debbie27473
Posted
EileenH mary238
Posted
christine26681 mary238
Posted
I had loose bowels when I first started on pred. Things normalised when I was down to 12. I wasn't on any other medication. It is listed as a potential sode-effect
MrsO-UK_Surrey mary238
Posted
Many blood pressure tablets can also cause a loose bowel - I have recently had to stop one BP pill (Diltiazem) for this very reason. Still not quite back to normal on the remaining pill but much better.
Yes steroids can induce diabetes but it can help if we avoid eating too many refined carbs such as in potatoes, white bread etc - as well as incresing steroid-induced weight gain they turn to sugar in our bodies and could add not only to steroid-induced weight gain but also the the risk of steroid-induced diabetes.
Trying a reduction of just 1mg a day after another couple of weeks at 12.5 should prove successful for you - if you experience any returning pain immediately following the reduction that can just be due to withdrawing the steroid and should disappear within a few days. Just be sure to take things very easy around the time of the reduction to give your body chance to get used to the new dose. Good luck!
blodwyn mary238
Posted
I'm sorry your feeling unwell.I'm afraid that with this condition you are likely to feel tired.I find I have to adjust any activity accordingly and do things in small doses.
I'm concerned that you think your bones are not too good but you are not taking your weekly medication.I think you probably need to push your GP for a bone density scan to determine your bone condition.I've just had one and to my horror have found that I have a loss of bone density in my spine although my hips etc are fine.
I've now decided to stop climbing up ladders to decorate my kitchen and to take the weekly medication I've been given plus my vitamin D and calcium medication as I realise a fall could be devastating and could ruin the rest of my life
I'm just glad I found out as I've recently moved house and have been doing a lot of DIY up stepladders etc.
My GP says that how you feel is more likely to determine your dosage of Pred rather than an ESR level and allows me to decide for myself.Try to get your GP to explain to you what's going on.
Just because you're 79 doesn't mean you shouldn't be helped to understan as much as possible about your condition.
I hope this helps.
EileenH blodwyn
Posted
The main reasoning behind the "avoiding devasting breaks" is directed at hip fractures in later life which often are devastating because many elderly ladies (and gentlemen) in the past just gave up exercising - that is one of the biggest risk factors. They are also rarely outdoors to keep vit D levels up - though in fact by 70 we don't make much in the skin anyway and really need supplements. And they drink very little, both because as we age our sense of thirst fades and because many don't want the bother of having to get up to go to the loo, especially when they are frail. AS a result they become dehydrated.
Studies have shown that the most effective ways of avoiding a broken hip include keeping muscle tone good by simple exercises, many of which can be done sitting, drinking sufficient through the day andkeeping vit D at a good level in the blood (this alone is one of the most effective measures). These, plus removing trailing cables and loose rugs, making sure lighting is good (the eco-friendly rubbish bulbs that aren't are a menace) especially on steps of any sort and wearing well fitting SHOES not "carpet slippers" will achieve a safe environment in the home. And of course - no standing on chairs as one of our 90 year old members on another forum did! A sturdy step ladder with a hand rail is best if you must go up one to hang the curtains!
blodwyn EileenH
Posted
The biggest danger in the home is carpet slippers so I never wear them although I always wear shoes as I am diabetic.I try to keep my vitamin D levels up as I'm mixed race and dark skinned.I have a very good decorator and from now on he'll be doing any decorating for me.
Once again,many thanks for the advice.
EileenH blodwyn
Posted
Retiring for the third time? The first attempt at semi-retirement is doing us both just fine! Nothing would entice me back to employment ;-)
Enjoy yours!
blodwyn EileenH
Posted
Yes of course I understand that our comments and observations are to benefit all.
Not everyone is well informed and I think you are doing us all a good service.
Mny thanks