coming off steroids
Posted , 4 users are following.
hello. and a late happy new year. i often pop into this site with interest, i am coming off steroids and will finish in two weeks time, will wait a month then have blood tests to test the reaction.
pain levels have increased, head pain, face pain, and all over body pain, very lethargic. the reduction is to test if i have actually got giant cell, and or poliymigia or not. gp says yes, cocnsultant is unsure as i have underlying medical conditions that could be masking it. the steroids have certianly helped a lot, so maybe i will be put back on them, people say i look better than i did, but i dont feel good. margaret e.
0 likes, 4 replies
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
MrsO
mrs_k
Posted
Whilst I am not so worried about the split diagnostics on the PMR.
GCA is a worry. You say you have headache which does not go away and tends to be on one side and face pain. Is your jaw aching? Do you have difficulty in chewing? Do bright lights bother you? How are you at watching the TV. Does your vision blur occasionally?
These are classic symptoms of GCA and should not be dismissed lightly.
Nobody and I mean nobody can mess around with a diagnoses of GCA. Go to this website www.pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk and read up the symptoms on GCA. Also visit the NHS website and read up on them there and furthermore the British Society of Rheumatologists has guidelines on their website.
GCA left untreated can lead to loss or partial loss of vision. Do not take the risk.
margaret_edwards
Posted
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
It really surprises me that having started on 60mgs last April (I started on 40mgs in March 2007) you have already got down as low as 2.5 - this seems an exceptionally fast reduction. Have you been having ESR and CRP blood tests prior to all the reductions from the higher doses?
I do agree with your experience of the body taking a few days to adjust to the new dose before settling down. However, in the case of GCA it is very important that you don't ignore the symptoms but get an urgent blood test because if there is increased inflammation showing in the tests, it is then vital that you have the correct dose in order to reduce that inflammation from the artery feeding the blood vessels at the back of the eye in order to protect your eyesight. I really hate to be a scaremonger like this, but it really is a risk not worth taking. Do let us know how you get on. My very best wishes to you.
MrsO