Damned if I do, damned if I dont!..

Posted , 6 users are following.

Yesterday I responded about this bon a thread about mtx, but can't remember even on which forum it was!

I'm into third week without mtx, just starting my second week of DSNS taper 7/6 mgs ( I'm rounding off the decimals ). I had DOMS for 3 days but it has turned into classic PMR- shoulders and girdle pain, in fact, my symptoms have never been this clear even before DX.

The logical thing would be to go to my GP or call the rheumi nurse, but I know it would be a waste of time. I'm not sure whether to go back on the mtx or just go back up to a suitable dose of prednisone. If the latter, how much shall I go back up? I, know, you are probably all thinking that I should know this by now but when it happens to me, I'm completely at loss😵

Sorry for asking for help on a Sunday but it's not an emergency so I can wait till tomorrow.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    You just have to increase the pred to the level that manages it - but you won't be the first to discover that the mtx really WAS doing something! REally you shouldn't change more than 1 thing at a time - stop the mtx and stay at the pred dose that you know has been OK. You're changing both, how can you knw which it is?

    Try 7mg first, it may NOT be the mtx, it may just be the 6mg days are causing the problem. But from about 8mg you are at a pretty low dose that most doctors don't panic about. And sometime soon you are going to get to the objective: the lowest dose that manages the symptoms, if you haven't already reached it.

    • Posted

      Thank you, Eileen.You are so right about changing more than one thing at a time. I am going through a lot of stress, too, right now. I know all the rules about handling someone with MCI and I am getting better at controlling my emotions but the last few days I've gone off the wagon, so to speak.😤😤.That, combined with the fiasco day at the gym plus stopping the mtx, has brought on this flare.This happened to me when I tried to reduce while in great pain from the broken pelvis and having to travel transatlantic.. I should have known better.

      I was feeling great at 7.5 for about three weeks before trying the reduction.Ill try at 7.5 again although when I felt the flare, I had been on 7.5 for 48 hrs. Hopefully, learning to manage the stress and going up to 7.5 will do the trick.

      I will cherish being able to be active again, as I was few days ago, and not do anything stupid again!

    • Posted

      You might need a few days at 10mg say to sort things out - you can go straight back to 7.5mg if it is only a few days.

      One day you'll get the hang of it ;-)

    • Posted

      OK, thank you. I will do that...I know, I'm a slow learner. You gave me this same advice twice before and it worked fine, although mtx wasnt involved.

  • Posted

    mimi1950, try the Predinisone dose that you were comfortable with, if that does not get the PMR undercontrol, start the slow march of increasing till you reach the proper dose.

    Good luck! 🙂

    • Posted

      Thanks, Michdonn, hope the PMR behaves at 7.5, but ill keep increasing if it doesnt .

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