I just started prednisone, 60 mgs for 3 months, then 50mgs.

Hi Eileen,

thanks for your quick response, and an apology for the rather foggy explanation of my dilemma.

after some labs, and CT scans of the neck chest and abdomen, I was referred to aNephrologist, Whom I saw last week. Of the number of possibilities, in which she mentioned that I had A suppressed parathyroid hormone, hypercalcemia, chronic kidney disease in the background history of sarcoidosis, and felt this was suspicious for sarcoid flare up.

I weanedoff 1/2 mg of prednisone several months ago, for PMR ( i,d been on that dose for a year)and she seemed to think that was pertinent.

Her recommendation was a high dose of pred (60 mgs, for at least a month, then taper to 50mgs, etc, to takecare of all the possibilities.

My concerns included, high dose, my age, and the possibilities of the initial problem of hyperparathyroidism being the culprit, andwant to follow it through.

I had already taken 40mgs, last thursday, and wanted to rule out the other possible cause with an endocronologist.

i took 30 mgs, the next day, and doc didnt return my calls.

i had 20mgs, yesterday, and today.

i recalled you mentioning this on a post, years ago, and hoped you would respond.

i would like to avoid prednisone, atthis stage of life, if possible.

i appreciate if you could joggle this addled mind.

Thanks for being there.

Barb

Eileen is probably still asleep .. In a mean time, the answer is yes you can taper/stop prednisone quickly IF you were on it only since last Thursday. Basically you don't need to taper if you had short treatment of steroids for less then a week ( some say less then 10 days).

Thanks so much, Nick!

Now i can go on to the next challenge.

i appreciate it.

Barb

Sorry - it's been an interesting day here in the EIleenH household. I'd have said the same as Nick!!

i’ve been having a lot of symptoms, not related to PMR. i have Lots of different auto immune deficiencies, Possibly due to the rituximab chemo combination for lymphoma.

I have pulmonary sarcoidosis, which really hasn’t flared, but the mayo clinic doctor felt that 60 mg tapering to 50 mg Etc. would take care of anything that was wrong.

I also have hypercalcemia, accute renal failure,and hypogammaglobullinemia, which just means I’m finding a lot of things at one time and I am immunodeficient. So let’s just say I’m a little sensitive at this time, About taking prednisone since it’s sending me deeper into the hole.

I Requested copies of all the doctors notes, and saw that another doctor had recommended a parathyroid test, Which showed my parathyroid is quite suppressed

that could explain the hypercalcemia and renal problems, and more importantly, give me a chance to survive. The doctors ordered another parathyroid test, for February 25, and in the meantime, were giving me High dose prednisone,In case it was something else.

at least that’s how I read it. It was like putting the cart before the horse.And that’s why I was desperate to get off the prednisone.

right now, they very angry with me for breaking protocol.

well now you got more information than you needed or wanted.