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changing flare symptoms/issues?

Posted , 10 users are following.

TheRaven
TheRaven

I've been on prednisone for almost 11 months for PMR, had a few painful flares along the way, and so far have never gotten below 15 mg.  Over the last 2 months I've really felt pretty good and have been at 15 mg for the last 4 weeks with only the pred side effects to deal with.  I've worked full weeks at the job both in office and the physical demands - no problem.  I've even had a lot of stress from work and home (family issues, father-in-law death, etc) and have sailed along great - until late last week.  Past flares have always been very painful, forcing me to increase the prednisone dose.  Currently I'm having a little pain these recent days, but am experiencing a LOT of fatigue.  I haven't run into fatigue at this level before and am wondering if this is another flare but in a different style?  I spent the last 4 days doing virtually no physical activity and lots of sleeping but could just as easily go back to bed right now instead of being at my job.  Much as I hate to consider it, maybe I need to dial back my work load?  I abhor the idea of that, especially when I've sailed along so smoothly for so long, but just maybe I'm being my own worst enemy?  Thoughts and opinions sought.  FYI, previous flares (except one) happened when I would come down with a cold.  One coincided with a reduction from 15 to 12.5 mg.  I know, toooooo fast a reduction.  That was an early lesson learned.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH TheRaven

    Posted

    Most of us just look at those of you who have or choose to work - and boggle!!! People who work tend to need more pred to be able to keep up. Work on its own is a big stressor and if you add in other stresses then you are very likely to be fatigued at the very least and possibly have a flare sooner or later.

    But are you sure there isn't something else going on? Could you be sickening for a bad cold for example? Or has there been something else extra happening?

    • TheRaven
      TheRaven EileenH

      Posted

      What you said about needing the pred dose to be enough to handle the work/stress level makes sense.  I could see where added stress or a cold or something extra could be enough to make the pred dose not enough all of a sudden.  I'm not aware of any other illness or problem unless it's a sly bugger that's still hiding and waiting to make a grand appearance.  Naturally, September and October are my busiest work months but I'm going to try and back off a bit.  If I have to increase the pred for now, so be it.  Once I get to mid-November and winter, work goes down to a crawl for 5 months and I hope that'll help make dealing with it easier.  A week from Thursday I get to meet my new rheumy for the 1st time - hoping he's a sane one!

  • Rimmy
    Rimmy TheRaven

    Posted

    Hello

    well as Eileen says it sounds like you have been doing pretty well coping with work with such equanimity - as well apparently with lots of other stressors. i am just wondering if this extreme fatigue isn't 'just' the PMR 'peeking through' - after all this is one of its main components and cannot be controlled by the Pred. i would think a bit of a 'rest' might just help - well as much of one as you are able to get under your demanding circumstances. Your reluctance to 'slow down' is pretty clear though - and as Eileen also says to lots of us we need sometimes to REMEMBER we have a serious illness and treat it as such when need be.

    All the best

  • Michdonn
    Michdonn TheRaven

    Posted

    Raven, fatigue and a little pain, PMR pain? Do you normally have a little PMR? Or are you normally PMR pain free? Are you tapering using the DSNS method? If you are I would hold on the old dose for a few days and see you feel. No change, bump up 5 mg for a few days, see you feel. Good luck, think positive. 🙂

    • TheRaven
      TheRaven Michdonn

      Posted

      Yeah, familiar pain but minor, in the usual spots - thighs, shoulders, biceps and knees.  Normally very little little fatigue but over the last week a lot.  That's what threw me.  Went from 17.5 to 15 mg almost 5 weeks ago with no issues and feeling great until now.  Still at 15 and will give it a few more days.  Last evening the fatigue wasn't as bad so that was one good day.  My intention has been to be strictly on DSNS from now on.  Next reduction is probably the 29th when I see the new rheumy, but if he says more than 1 mg down I'm not okay with it.  

      I'm afraid Eileen and Rimmy probably have it right - I need to dial the work and stress back and not try go at "what I used to be" levels.  Reality sucks but it sure gets your attention! lol  

    • Michdonn
      Michdonn TheRaven

      Posted

      Raven, your change in active may have been too rapid also. I think on this journey we have to increase our level of activity very slowly. When ever I do something more than normal I feel the discomfort. Good luck hope the rest of your journey is smooth. Think positive. 🙂

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