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Gradual return of symptoms...

Posted , 8 users are following.

Cyn1965
Cyn1965

Hi everyone I have been on 10mg prednisone used as a diagnostic tool with PMR being the suspect.  I was exhausted, felt like my life was no longer my own, severe stiffness and swelling of hands with bilateral carpal tunnel.  After the second dose I was back!  I had more energy less stiffness and the swelling was down.  I felt like my symptoms were 80% better.  Now 2 wks later I have a sore throat that comes and goes everyday, nausea, and the swelling a tingling is slowly returning.  Has anyone else experienced this at the beginning of treatment?

Thanks!

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy Cyn1965

    Posted

    Hi Cyn, if you have a sore throat it is more likely you are getting a cold. There seem to be a lot of them around at the moment. 10mg is actually a pretty low starting dose, most people start at around 15mg. It may be a good idea to ask your doctor if you can increase the dose during the trial. 
    • Cyn1965
      Cyn1965 ptolemy

      Posted

      Yes I was thinking that too.  Do you think that the sudden return of the swelling in my hands is because it is possibly too low?
  • priscilla23271
    priscilla23271 Cyn1965

    Posted

    I also developed severe Carpal Tunnel in both hands but it was months after I had been taking Prednisolone, and my dose had reduced from 20 mg to 7.5. It may have come about because I was prescribed blood pressure tablets which can also cause Carpal Tunnel. My doctor put me back up to 15 and it took months for my hands to get back to normal.  I certainly think your starting dose should be more than 10! 
    • Cyn1965
      Cyn1965 priscilla23271

      Posted

      I see the doctor in 11 days (and counting!) so I will see then.  Thanks for the help!
    • jennybshaw
      jennybshaw Cyn1965

      Posted

      I agree, 10 mg is very low starting dose.  I started at 20mg.  I felt fantastic for a week or two but not as good some weeks later, however much better than I had been.  Am now down to 9mg.  Definitely tell your doc that everyone else starts much higher.  Hope he responds, if not find another doc.  Good luck.
  • EileenH
    EileenH Cyn1965

    Posted

    Ten mg is a very low starting dose for PMR - but the symptoms you describe could either be a cold/flu which is making the current dose not quite enough (that does happen) or it may be that the PMR was the first symptom you showed for GCA as sore throat, nausea and worsening of other symptoms can be part of GCA. 

    If they continue to worsen do please contact your doctor before the next scheduled appointment.

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