Lesson learned.............again.
Posted , 15 users are following.
Sometimes I think I'm my own worst enemy. I've been doing pretty well in recent months, only having to deal with a few relatively minor issues. I take Prednisone doses at 6 am and 6 pm each day, usually +/- an hour or so. Have some Prednisone side effects to deal with but that's really just part of dealing with PMR.
Yesterday evening I finished a long day at work and was pretty fatigued. We had dinner about 7 pm and afterwards I relaxed in the recliner watching TV. I did my very common routine of falling asleep about 9:30 and woke up about 3:00 am. What was different was waking up with sore shoulders and thighs. I first thought that maybe it was from work but then started wondering about the Prednisone. Did I take it at dinner at 7:00 pm? I must have - I never miss taking the Prednisone! That can't be it. Or could it? Did I take it? I struggle out of the recliner and go check the pill box. Darn, I didn't take it!!! I immediately took the Pred dose but knew I was going to pay for being 8 hours late taking it. And I was right.
By 4:30 I was as crippled as badly as I've ever been since having PMR, barely able to get out of the chair and only able to take 1 step at a time on the staircase. Was feeling very miserable. Even laying in bed was too painful. At 6:00 I took my next dose of Pred and by 8:00 am the pain and other issues were retreating. By 10:00 I was feeling very well again but worn out of course. I worked from 10:00 to the end of the day but kept myself to desk work as that was the most I could handle.
I'd like to say this is the first time I've done it to myself but I did the same thing about 3 and 6 months ago. I think the evening dose is the hard one sometimes when you're busy into the evening and more so because I've never had to take pills in the evening before now. My only question is if the pain, swelling, etc is from a quick, short flaring of the PMR or is it the adrenals? I have a hard time thinking it'd be the adrenal glands after only 8 hours missing a Pred dose.
Just feeling a bit dumb about this self-inflicted pain episode. Thanks for letting me vent here.
0 likes, 27 replies
celia14153 TheRaven
Posted
Nasty experience- so glad you're feeling better. What is your dosage and how long have you been on it? I know some people split the dose but have always been told to take all of mine in the morning. Feeling so bad without Pred makes you realise the difference it makes, side effects and all We are so lucky.
TheRaven celia14153
Posted
Have had a couple flares that forced me to higher dosages a couple times. Currently have been at 15 mg for 6 weeks I think - my original starting dose in November last year. Seeing a new rheumy in 2 days and hoping he'll agree with a slow reduction schedule at no more than 10% per time.
After my first flare up taking just one dose of pred wasn't effective for a full 24 hours. I'd go through a milder version of what just happened to me, but every morning from 4 - 10. Splitting the dose makes the difference for me. Currently take 10 mg morning and 5 mg evening. You are right, we are so lucky to have Pred. Life would be totally miserable without it.
Michdonn TheRaven
Posted
Raven, I would think it was PMR, Pred has a short life cycle. And the main adrenals side effect is fatigue. Unfortunately we all do it to ourselves, but we live through it promise not to do it again, till the next time. Think positive, smile and don't do it again, till the next time. 🙂
TheRaven Michdonn
Posted
Heck, I'm really good at not doing it again until next time!!!
Michdonn TheRaven
Posted
Yes, Raven we all are very good not doing it till the next time. Welcome to the human race! Smiling 🙂
margaret89358 TheRaven
Posted
Glad you got through it, and hopefully you are feeling better. I take all of mine in the morning, I think I would struggle to remember evening dose, I forget my Adcal in the evening. Can you not take your Pred as soon as you have eaten, and put the med on the table so you don't forget. Take care and keep as well as you can.
TheRaven margaret89358
Posted
karenjaninaz TheRaven
Posted
TheRaven karenjaninaz
Posted
Yes, I imagine your brother in law would take all sorts of steps to avoid missing a dose! That's got to be critically important I'd think. My brother is a diabetic and has a modern insulin pump plumbed and wired into him. Once in a while when I'm visiting him, I'll jump when he starts beeping! I guess it's his pump letting him know that it's getting low on the insulin supply.
diana21296 TheRaven
Posted
TheRaven diana21296
Posted
I have a bulky old "flip phone" that's a pain to constantly have in my pocket. I use the alarm but not with any regularity I'll admit. Usually the old phone gets left in my jacket at the end of the work day. Maybe it's time I moved into the 21st century and updated to a smaller, lighter cell phone. Thanks for the reminder about phone alarms.
Twopies TheRaven
Posted
Sorry you went though this. I'm quite addlebrained...so here's what I do (don't have little grandkids running around though)...I take out the pills and sit them on my calendar. The MINUTE I take them, I write on the calendar day: "pred 7 mg.".
On the calendar I keep track of exactly when I need to go to the next dose because it's marked. Would go crazy on the dsns method without it. Also It's a handy log to look back and see where I was dose wise on any given date. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Blockhead TheRaven
Posted
Dont know about adrenals but you have the exact effects I have.
If I miss the night dose, its like a total relapse and the pain is so severe it lays you out flat!
I'm hoping that one day this PMR goes as quick as it came.
No releif of hand issues yet. Doctors think its someething in addition to the PMR In Both hands, mainly the 2 middle fingers being numb, more so on my left hand. Unfortunately I'm left handed. I would love to have the normal feeling back in my hands. Almost 4 months know with this and PMR.
Anniecurd Blockhead
Posted
Hello Blockhead,
carpal tunnel was my first PMR symptom. The neurologist that I went to told me that he thought I had PMR and as soon as I get on pred the pain will go away. He was right. I'm not sure why you still have pain if you're on an adequate dose of pred.
Bethune TheRaven
Posted
Dear Raven,
Please don't feel dumb. It's very hard to keep up with all PMR sends our way. One of the hardest for me is never knowing what is causing what... in the last year I never know is the problem a pred side effect? Or not enough pred.,? Or PMR flare starting? Or need a new add on medicine... did I feel this yesterday? Am I a bit worse every night, or just tonight? Is this another new joint pop-up? Is it here to stay, or going to go back down? Its impossible to get it all right! Please Give yourself a pass and just hope it's a quick turn around .
Twopies Bethune
Posted
Me too...you said it so well! Ahhhh, I'm not alone....I too battle with the mental demons, everyday. Not enough pred? Side effect from pred? Too much exercise/movement? Not enough? New disease I should worry about? Another body part falling apart? Thanks for making me feel a little better....