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Reducing pred

Posted , 6 users are following.

angelcake61
angelcake61

I have had a lot of stress lately and avoided reducing for quite a while. You may remember my sister died suddenly, I got rushed into hospital with gallstones, the funeral was on Monday which is the day I started to reduce from 6mg each day to 5/6 alternate days. I've been a bit achey and have noticed just above my wrist is swollen an area that did swell when I was in the full swing of PMR without pred.   Do you think the lowering of pred has caused it ?

advice please.

2 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • linda82701_USA
    linda82701_USA angelcake61

    Posted

    So very sorry for your loss and gallstones.  Stress can play a powerful role in anyone's well being.  Please take care of yourself.
  • muirkelsi
    muirkelsi angelcake61

    Posted

    I am so so sorry to hear about your sister. I have been there, and know how you feel.

    Maybe you should not try and reduce when you are stressed, and wait until you you feel a bit better. I was told never to reduce until I was a comfortable stage and not stressed out.

    Thinking of you,

    Grace

  • TIsser
    TIsser angelcake61

    Posted

    Sorry to hear of your sisters death, I list my sister and I am sure the stress was responsible for my health troubles, I had carpal tunnel op, ops on my ankle and to top it all shingles all in the last test.  Currently on 10ml preds hope to reduce in the near future, I hope you feel better soon.
  • EileenH
    EileenH angelcake61

    Posted

    I think you need to wait a bit longer before trying to reduce and recover from the whole thing. This is also a level where going very slowly pays - your body is having to learn to produce its own corticosteroid again. You need even more when under stress - and you have been and it won't settle down overnight. Don't upset your body any further just yet - this is a low dose and really not so high you need to worry about putting off a reduction. Often when you try to force a reduction you end up with a flare and having to go right back up to a higher dose - exaclty the opposite of what you want.
  • Mrs.Mac-Canada
    Mrs.Mac-Canada angelcake61

    Posted

    Hi Angelcake,

    My sympathies on the loss of your sister.  

    You certainly have been through a lot and I totally agree with Eileen that it may not be the best time to continue your reduction plan.

    I was at 4mg and went through minor surgery, travel and Christmas with family and a couple of weeks later I thought I was fine to continue a reduction to 3 1/2mg.  I got to the 3rd week on the DSAS method and had my worst flair yet and I'm still trying to reduce from 10mg alternating between 10 and 9.  Sorry for being so wordy but thought you should know this can happen with some people.  

    Take good care of yourself and don't rush the reduction.

    Hugs, Diana🌸

  • angelcake61
    angelcake61

    Posted

    Thanks everyone for your kind words, I'll take the advice and stick to 6mg.  After my gall stone operation I'm going on the waiting list for a bunion op,

    at the moment my feet are swelling badly too.

    Perhaps it will be a very long time before my next reduction takes place, but I feel much better about it after reading all the advice you lovely people have given me. THANK YOU 

    • EileenH
      EileenH angelcake61

      Posted

      Well in that case set yourself up for not having to worry about reducing until well after the bunion is done! Sore feet is very stressful!

      But truly - hanging around at this sort of dose WILL pay off in the long run. A top rheumy likes his patients to stick at 5mg for anything up to 9 months before continuing with their reduction  to let their body catch up. 1mg is neither here nor there in that context.

    • angelcake61
      angelcake61 EileenH

      Posted

      That's good to hear, I have took it slowly reducing from 15mg to 6mg over 15 months, I would hate to have to mess it all up.   Thank you
    • EileenH
      EileenH angelcake61

      Posted

      Thats pretty speedy - it took me over 2 years! Over 4 years from the real beginning but I had a major flare and am now taking it from when I went about it properly. With a VERY slow reduction! 
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