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First flare this morning, can cold make it worse?

Posted , 14 users are following.

jancorb
jancorb

Good morning

I'm now one week into my first taper from 15 down to 14 preds, for the last 3 days I felt really well, in fact began to think my diagnosis was wrong.

Silly me, woke up a 3 am feeling sore, by 6 am I was at 7 out of 10 on my own pain scale, so depressed but now certain I do have a problem.

Just wondering if cold could spark a flare? before the diagnosis I suffered aches and pains when the weather changed, this week I've enjoyed pottering in the greenhouse with the lovely sunny weather making it a joy to be outside, yesterday back to really cold weather and I got very chilled. Is their a relationship with temperature and PMR?

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • jeanne333
    jeanne333 jancorb

    Posted

    When the weather is colder, I definitely have more pain and also have trouble breathing along with fatigue and depression. I'm going thru a very bad flare now, after a very bad upper risportory and sinus infection. I can barely walk because of the pain and lack of muscle weakness. I had to up my steroids to 30mg 2 days ago and it is slightly better, but I have to use a walker, when I attend my Grandson's graduation from college today. There is one plus thou, with my chipmunk cheeks, my wrinkles are basically gone. You have to learn to roll with the punches, and keep a sense of humor. *** DON'T LOWER YOUR STEROID DOSAGE FAST *** follow the advice you get on this site .. I was just diagnosed last July, so I'm still learning ..
    • jancorb
      jancorb jeanne333

      Posted

      Thank you Jeanne for taking the time to reply, sorry for my whinge, I'm obviously lucky in that most of the time I can get around quite easily.

      Have a great day at your grandson's graduation, I'm sure he'll be just as proud if his beautiful grannie.

      Jan

    • karen48559
      karen48559 jeanne333

      Posted

      Love your frame of mind Jeanne. We have so many dark days with this disease, it's important to enjoy the lighter moments. Every cloud has a silver lining eh Jeanne? I'm sorry to hear of your pain but oh! no! wrinkles! is wonderful! I'm dreading what my face will look like when I finally lose my cheeks! Have a fantastic day at your grandson's graduation.
  • Daniel1143
    Daniel1143 jancorb

    Posted

    The aches and pains associated with PMR are most acute in the morning hours, the they tend to dissipate as the day progresses.  Weather, in my experience, can influence certain old injuries and such, but PMR has a mind of its own.  Note that when you taper, it can take a few days to weeks for your body to adjust to the new level of prednisone 
    • jancorb
      jancorb Daniel1143

      Posted

      Thank you Daniel

      I'm improving as day goes on, this PMR is a slippery customer and I appreciate the help from this forum on living with its ups and downs.

      Jan

  • MaryPat
    MaryPat jancorb

    Posted

    I find that things like the weather and colds, sinus infections and such like defo have an effect on my PMR especially when I've got to the lower doses of pred. Twice I've got down to 4mg and both times have picked up colds which have led to flares. I also managed to fall off my 2 inch high front door step a while back and fractured my foot which again led to a flare...PMR doesn't seem to like upsets
  • faye______00403
    faye______00403 jancorb

    Posted

    This site if for asking questions no matter how trivial they may seem

    That's how we learn about this disease.   I don't think I would be in

    a very good place right now if I hadn't found it.    I've learned so

    much.

     

    • iellen32
      iellen32 faye______00403

      Posted

      Hi Faye.

      You are right more we visit the site. Read the posts more we get to know about our illness, our symptoms and above all the importance of the tapering!!!

      Slowly, slowly!!!

      To you and to all who are posting today , wish you stay well.

      🌺🌺🌺

  • EileenH
    EileenH jancorb

    Posted

    Yes, an infection can mess up a reduction, and are you sure you haven't simply done more than you should have? Your body remains intolerant of acute exercise - that must be manged by lifestyle changes.

    And did you reduce from every day 15 to every day 14mg? - for some people that is simply too much and their body objects. That's the purpose of the slow taper schedule, spreading it over a much longer time.

  • Mrs_CJ
    Mrs_CJ jancorb

    Posted

    Hi,

    i have had PMR for about 3 1/2 years and I feel much better when I am warm. On warm/hot days I can do more strenuous chores in the garden and my shoulders are fine with that. But on colder days I am more achy and have to be careful about what I do.....and I need to make sure I wear layers to keep warm. 

    I used to to think that the winter was the best time for me to reduce more easily but I've concluded that the summer is better because my muscles are happier.  This is just one long experiment isn't it!

    • jancorb
      jancorb Mrs_CJ

      Posted

      Thank you,

      I have put the thermal vest back on today, I'll try to avoid extremes of temperature in future. I'm finding also that I need to rest after lunch, if I don't I'm to tired in the evening, so nod off watching TV then can't sleep at night.

      So we will have to alter routines a little, at least being retired we don't have worry about work any longer.

      Those of you who are still working must find it very difficult.

      Jan

  • bri21
    bri21 jancorb

    Posted

    Found really interesting what you said re cold ,thought it was in head for about a week now felt much better ,then just nipped out friday shirt sleeves ,weather much colder ,last night started with pain shoulder hips all the places had a bad day today ,fits what you say re cold will be more carfull thank you ,
    • jancorb
      jancorb bri21

      Posted

      I certainly won't be risking getting cold if I can help, its a simple life style change that I think could make a real difference. No extremes, good diet, moderate exercise and plenty if rest.

  • VickieS
    VickieS jancorb

    Posted

    Since I got PMR 2 1/2 yrs ago, I've become a human barometer. I can tell you when the weather is going to turn cold and/or stormy because my fatigue increases, my thigh muscles and upper arm muscles start to ache for no reason, and I just feel ill. We've had a couple of weeks of really nice, warm weather, and I was feeling the best I've felt in a long time, and thought I actually might be getting better,THEN, a storm system & a big temperature drop moved in one night & I could barely get out of bed the next day. It's totally amazing to me what an affect the weather has on me now...and it sucks! frown
    • jancorb
      jancorb VickieS

      Posted

      Agreed,

      But after feeling rotten for months, having a few days respite from the pain has given me hope that when this thing passes I'll have a good chance of a reasonably pain free old age. Everything crossed.

      Jan

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