Fatigue beyond tiredness

There are quite a few people who take their thyroid medication at night - there is research that shows it not only makes little difference for most but also that for some it works better. Possibly worth investigating?

Not mess. Should read meds. ( Freudian slip)

My pharmacist said it doesn’t matter when you take but you have to be consistent.  May have a chat with him to see if he thinks it might make a difference to fatigue. 

It made s difference to me (hope I didn’t already reply to your post about this).  When I tried to go from 5 to 4 1/2 mg sbout a year ago the fatigue was flattening. Went back up to 7 and started dsns again. Now one year later I’m at 5 mg once more.  Still have fatigue but it’s not the bone crushing type.  And I’m able to be a little more active. I’m staying at 5 for awhile to see if the fatigue eases over time; then I’ll try 4 1/2 again.  Looking forward to your test results; wishing you the best in this journey.

I’m hoping whatever test results are I can get to 5.  About 4 years ago I was at 5 for months and on my own just quit.  Of course it came back so bad I had to start again at 30.  I didn’t know about this site then and didn’t even know enough to discuss it with my doc.  

Great sight. Everyone is so helpful and encouraging. 

Hi eddylynn, I believe to key is to stay ahead of the inflammation, when I did not I got in trouble. I try to listen to my body is that pain PMR, if so up the dosage. So far I have been lucky and avoided any bad flares. Back riding the bicycle again and get pains after laying off for two years, get ibuprofen, so far guess have been correct. Good luck on your management program, stay active, positive and try to smile. ☺️

What are we talking about? Thyroid medication or steroids? If it is steroids the recommended time is early morning - and it DOES make a difference to managing the symptoms. In PMR the fatigue has to be managed with pacing and resting. 

Eileen thanks so much for your advise regarding Thyroid meds. I shall take them at night. 

I still have to get organized with all my meds. 

This week at the rheumatologist she advised me to get my calcium from yogurts etc. what do you think ?

I am also taking vitamin D as I was very low. 

Does the prednisone make one perspire more than usual ?

Thanks in advance. 

I’m sorry for confusion.   I was talking about the thyroid med not prednisone. Should have made that clear. 

My dilemma was that I had no pain.  Just this debilitating fatigue  after a few days at 5.5 pred.   Going back to 7 helped a lot and will stay there until test results come back.  

There's been a study (sorry, I don't have the reference) showing that calcium is readily absorbed from yoghurt, so your doctor has made a good suggestion.  In general, fermented foods and probiotics are very good for us.  As well as the Vitmain D3 consider taking a Vitamin K2 supplement (there's good info on the internet, just google health authority vitamin K2).

I was worried when I read about how we need plenty of calcium/ and d3 when on Prednisone..I started taking a good supplement to cover both..however . after 2 weeks I had several muscle spasms in my calves and toes.. did some research  and have started also a generous intake of magnesium to go along with extra calcium and D3/k2..

It has stopped the spasms..for anyone who might also experience the same.

I also take thyroid medication... best to take on empty stomach. For whatever time of day you decide to go with.  I need to move away from first thing  in day since now I take prednisone -low dose.

It's true when we take extra calcium the calcium/magnesium balance in the body can get upset.  I believe in this situation it's best to take the magnesium at a separate time from calcium as the calcium can actually interfere with magnesium absorption.  As we also have to take calcium at a different time from pred, and in your case have to take thyroid med at yet a different time, it gets quite complicated!  I get my extra magnesium from an occasional soak in a bath with Epsom salts.  🛁😊 

Ok thanks...   I am taking separate mag at a different time..    that is good to know.. yes I was just reading today about how you shouldn’t take calcium at same time as Prednisone😀

It is generally accepted that patients on corticosteroids need calcium/vit D supplements to make up for the fact pred causes us to lose more through the kidneys than normal. I have taken such supplements and my bone density has not fallen more than a couple of points in over 7 years - no bisphosphonates at all. If you have a very high calcium intake in your diet I suppose it might be superfluous - but I wouldn't rely on just a yoghurt or two a day! Cows milk isn't a wonderful source of calcium for humans! Even if you are on bisphosphonates you may need calciumvit D - because unless both are available the bisphosphonates don't work. There are plenty of patients who have taken them only to find their bone density was poor and the drugs hadn't worked. You need a dexascan though - without that you don't know what you need. 

Yes, prednisone can lead to sweats, especially at high doses. 

Thanks so much Eileen. You are a star. Your info has been so helpful and believe me a great comfort to a person such as I am, who is very very new to this debilitating disease pmr.  

On the 22/6/2018 I have a bone scan so I should know where I stand regarding calcium etc..

Again thanks

Di