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Getting below 7.5 mg Prednisone

Posted , 12 users are following.

paula63201
paula63201

After being at 7.5 mg Prednisone from the beginning of December, 2014, and with a short burst of 10 mg on account of an infection, I began a reduction on February 14, from 7.5 mg to 7.0 mg. On March 1, I took my first dose of 6.5 and then, 7.0, 7.0. 7.0, etc. am hoping to get to 6.5 by March 15 and to stay on that until April 1, when I will start reducing to 6.0 by May 1. My rheumy expects me to be at 5.0 on May 1, but she will be disappointed, as I do not share her expectation.

My ESR has been normal for over a year.

Here are some issues.

I feel fatigue.

I have a pain in the ball of my right thumb, when I try to write with a pencil or pen or when I knit or when I try to lift things, like a dinner plate, for example, using the thumb. It feels like there is a knot in the muscle of the thumb and it hurts to press. I am right handed and use the right hand to use the mouse. I have been using a mouse for over 12 years constantly as I use the computer to write and click the mouse the whole time. Never experienced this before the last 3 weeks. The left hand does not hurt.

My eyelids are swollen and red and have been burning for about 2 weeks. I could explain this by saying that it is on account of the dryness in the air caused by heating in this (for us) long and unusually cold winter. But it has been cold for several months.

So here are the questions:

Fatigue: how long does it take for the body to adjust to the lower dose of Prednisone, and how soon does the fatigue lift? Should one wait until fatigue lifts before going to a lower dose?

Has anyone experienced similar hand and eye symptoms?

My ophthalmologist recommended me to an eye surgeon for cataract evaluation. I hope the surgeon, whom I am seeing on March 18, doesn't turn me down on account of the irritation to the eyelids. The cataracts have been growing for a while and they are really a bother-- am practically climbing into the computer when I write and can't see to drive at night as all headlights of oncoming cars and streetlights have rainbow halos around them.

Thank you in advance!

Paula

 

1 like, 36 replies

36 Replies

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  • twigjean
    twigjean paula63201

    Posted

    Being a non-crier, I found that crying is good for dry eyes. One of the side effects of prednisone.

    Recently I have discovered that I am grieving my old body. The one that could do yoga, bend and just feel good without all the naps.

    My prednisone dosage is at 6.5 mg and I'm still tired.

    Now onto the thumb, I've beaded for serval years.(small needles and tiny beads)

    two weeks ago, my right thumb started hurting enough that I looked in to and bought a splint for my right hand. Thinking of tendinitis, I researched it and there is a tendinitis of the thumb with the specific name which I have forgotten, my symptoms fit it perfectly. Because there is also slight pain in my left thumb same place, I'm  to mention this to my rheumatologist, with whom I have an appointment in a couple weeks.

    I don't know if all of this chatter has been of any help to you. I guess we all just have to hang in there.

     

    • paula63201
      paula63201 twigjean

      Posted

      Yes. VERY helpful. Good to know one is not alone in this heckuvamessyannoyingpmrnonsense.

      Does the splint help? Is it like a brace that goes from wrist to top of thumb?

    • twigjean
      twigjean paula63201

      Posted

      It's black 3M Futuro (USA). Yes it helps because it restricts movement. Does not encase my thumb which I wish it did. I have not beaded in two weeks - for a rest, use ice packs, and 3 (200mg) IB with almond milk before bed. (Hope the almond milk helps coat my stomach)
    • EileenH
      EileenH paula63201

      Posted

      I used a splint for a long time - yes, it helped me.
  • twigjean
    twigjean paula63201

    Posted

    For my dry eyes I use, Systane gel drop. USA
    • paula63201
      paula63201 twigjean

      Posted

      Thanks. I'll check it out at the drugstore.

      Oh yes. The Yoga thing: Me too. I do yoga and feel limited, also. Can't do handstands or headstands or backbends. At least am afraid to, so as not to pull something. Groan.

    • paula63201
      paula63201 twigjean

      Posted

      Hi Twigjean,

      My response got removed. Weird. All I said was which form of yoga I do. Never mind. I have had to give up a number of poses as I am afraid I MIGHT hurt myself. Used to doing a yoga known for alignment and strength. I miss my usual yoga, also.

      I'll go check out the hand brace. Our drugstore (unnamed) carries them/ I am in the DC metro area. Northern Virginia.

    • twigjean
      twigjean paula63201

      Posted

      I just ordered a new brace which will enclose my thumb. My drug store ony carries the ones for carpel tunnel. The one I ordered is for de quenvains which is what I have self diagnosed.
    • paula63201
      paula63201 twigjean

      Posted

      Yep. Dequervains. Sounds like what I have. thanks for the thumbs up (!!)
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy paula63201

      Posted

      I thought de Quervain's syndrome was actually pain of the tendon tunnel on the wrist by the thumb not on the actual ball of the thumb. Although I may be wrong.  Do you have any swelling? Also do you have pain when you press the area? I am sure having a brace will help, as it will let you rest it whatever it is.
    • twigjean
      twigjean ptolemy

      Posted

      When I read Mayo clinics article, I fit. The test Find... fits perfect with my thumb. And, yes, I was swollen, now after all the icing and rest it doesn't hurt when pressed.

      question for you UKers, what medical websites do you use? Just curious, the questions I wonder about is how our medicine is different. Not on a good/basis,just we differ. I hear all kinds of stories as you all probably hear about good USA.

      barbara

    • paula63201
      paula63201 ptolemy

      Posted

      It hurts in the area just at the base of the palm of my right hand, at the base of the thumb side. It hurts to press in that area. My wrist does not hurt.
    • tina-uk_cwall
      tina-uk_cwall twigjean

      Posted

      Hi twigjean, I assume we have all the same medical sites as you do given this is the internet. We most certainly have the Mayo clinic sites and other American sites and I assume you have English sites too otherwise you wouldn't be using thus forum which is a co.uk site. Christina 
    • EileenH
      EileenH twigjean

      Posted

      I source stuff mainly from medical journals to be honest and the Mayo and Johns Hopkins sites are reliable too. In the UK we have this site - it isn't just a forum, it was originally set up by a couple of doctors to provide a place for medics to source medically-based info that had been well moderated. There are different levels of article from professional down to patient-orientated. The NHS also has a site with information on most things medical. Many diseases have support charities with excellent information about the medical aspects. 

      The way things are managed differs from country to country and there is a massive difference between my care here in Italy and how things go in the UK - but there are also great similarities too. There are international meetings in all fields and the research project on PMR that I am involved with is a truly international group with biannual meetings held all over the world - OMERACT, look it up and read about it. The group within it that I am involved with has video conferences with participants in Scotland, several places in England, the Netherlands and me in Italy - all with our own experiences of PMR.

  • margaret22251
    margaret22251 paula63201

    Posted

    Hi Paula, i cannot really comment on your experience, as i have not been on pred for long, but my doctor reduced me from 10mg to 7.5 in onw go and i experienced some changes in my body. Perhaps this does happen, but i am sure some of the ladies on this forum will help you better than I.

     If i use my laptop for a while i do have the feeling in my hand also, i think this is part of PMR.

    Sorry icould not help any more. Regards Margaret

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