Pmr and MOHs surgery update
Posted , 6 users are following.
last week i went in for a simple MOHS procedure--a teensy tiny spot on my temple that was supposed to be a snip-snip, bandaid and done. 18 stitches later, i have a diagonal scar that extends from the corner of my eyebrow up into my hair (which they shaved off). i look like igor. needless to say, my pmr is ramped up wildly, which i knew it would, even from the predicted simple procedure, never mind the actual one.
i was at 5 1/2 mg pred and struggling with DF and lethargy and all kind of things before the surgery, so i went up to 10 mg. pred following the procedure. today is my 5th day at 10 mg. i still feel pretty awful--weak, fatigued, lousy. plus i think im reacting to the tylenol theyve had me take for pain--some people do. (i react to everything, long story). here is my question: what do i do now with pred? go back to 5 1/2? stay at 10 for few more days? (i get stitches out thursday) reduce by 1 mg day? im just afraid that 5 1/2 isnt gonna cut it. thank you.
0 likes, 9 replies
missmagwumps Twopies
Posted
Oh dear...poor you ...MOHS surgery is not meant to be like that...it is supposed to be minimally invasive and conservative - slow to test and remove tissue as they go but they obviously needed to go big to remove all the offending bits...and lets hope all your margins were clear. Your scar will soon fade and your hair grow back but be sure not to get any sun on any fresh scar as you will have a permanent brown line and it will never fade....I can also highly recommend a product called kelo cote....you can get it cream, spray or what ever and with sun block but don't use it until the scar is healed....it is a miracle product and especially in more visual places - it has worked wonders for me and my body is like a patchwork quilt! My nephew almost scalped himself when falling down the stairs and had a huge skin flap sewn up...the product did wonders for him too and it just looks like a 'sleep crease' on his forehead....
Can't help you with the Pred Dose though...think you should up it to the level you feel most comfortable with to get you over this hurdle and get back on-track and reduce again....hope all goes well for you...xxxx
Hope this doesn't get blocked for the recommendation but if it does I will send you a PM instead...x
Twopies missmagwumps
Posted
thank you so much for your thoughtful remarks. yes, margins were clear right away which is why i was shocked with what followed. and thank you for recommendation, too. i think the doc will give me a silicone cream to speed healing and reduce scarring. i form keloids so expect ill look like igor forever. (not that im vain or anything!) otherwise ill try your suggestion.
EileenH Twopies
Posted
You have another 5 days or so before you would have to think about tapering. If you don't feel significantly better I would be inclined to say don't reduce too far. But maybe 7.5mg would be enough?
But for me - quality of life is all. I don't care about the pred dose. I need what I need.
Twopies EileenH
Posted
thank you, that helps. makes me feel better. was worried about reducing tomorrow when i still feel rotten.
do you mean reduce from 10 to 7.5, and stay there awhile and then start dsns again fron 7.5? or do you mean go to 7.5 for few days and then back down again, say maybe 6 or 6.5 this time?
Michdonn Twopies
Posted
Twopies, when I have a flare I believe and it has worked for me. Increase quickly, decrease quickly double 3-4 day, no relief triple 3-4 days decrease same amount in same amount of days. Once back at orginal dosage stabilize before starting taper. Good luck get the inflammation under control. 🙂
Twopies Michdonn
Posted
i sure thought about your method. if i didnt go so crazy on the higher doses of pred, i might have tried it.
Michdonn Twopies
Posted
Twopies, I do go crazy on high doses, when I was on 30 mg I could not stand myself, believe me I am Mr Hyde, it is scary, but if I get the inflammation under control quickly , I not Mr Hyde again. See I was on 7mg 2 plus years ago, my Rheumy was rushing me off Phed. I had a flare, she up my dosage a couple of mg, for a week or more. No help in fact getting worse and I when through this up to 20 plus mg. Then I got to the point I could not walk, 6 weeks or so had gone my since the start of the flare. My wife got me another appointment with the Rheumy and had the wheel me into the appointment in a wheelchair. She finally up the Prednisone to 30 mg, which I stay on for 6 weeks. It was during that 6 weeks I found the forum and Eileenh and others helped me get back on my feet. When I had the flare I just finished up a season of working as a ski instructor. My Rheumy did not want to increase my dosage too quickly I would have had too much Pred in one year. I ended up having helluva lot more, I still tapering from 30 mg, for not getting the inflammation under control quickly. Now is that everybody, NO that is my experience. And each flare since, I always do something to cause another flare, that my approach to handling it. Good luck do not let the inflammation get out of control. 🙂
Twopies Michdonn
Posted
thank you. im already crazy on 10 mg. sleeping 3-4 hours a night, gained 1 1/2 pounds, starting to bloat, etc. but doing better energy wise and soreness wise. im never pain free, even from the beginning. glad your plan works for you!
Michdonn Twopies
Posted
You are welcome hope you feel better soon. 🙂