Reducing Pred and flu shot
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi am reducing down to 3 1/2 mg of prednisone next week. I was diagnosed with PMR October 2013 started out with 15 mg and now down to 4 I can say not without any pain. I believe that you will have some pain till this PMR goes into remission. What I want to know is what can you take the days that you are experience pain and stiffness ? I will be seeing my doctor on Friday and would like to know what can she give me to help me with the bad days I'm experiencng. I am also a diabetic and prednisone has done havoc on my numbers and that is another reason why I want to get off the Prednisone. Also I am due for my flu shot and I am worried about getting a bad flare. As I know someone who did. This PMR for me all started 10 days after my flu shot last year. I am afraid that I will go back to the beginning of this PMR if I get my flu shot. Has anyone had a flare after receiving their flu shot this year ? Also I never gained any weight while on the higher numbers of prednisone and now that I'm on 4 mg I'm gaining weight and my diabetic numbers are up and down what could cause that ? I think my body is so messed up from being on prednisone for a year. I live in the US and they seem to do things alot differently here where PMR is concerned they went you off prednisone as soon as possible. Need advice.
0 likes, 17 replies
Nefret janice01811
Posted
I've been having a flu jab for the last 20+ years, 14 of those on steroids, never any problems. It doesn't impact at all. However, there have been others who feel a flu shot triggered PMR, but others who feel it might have been a virus (possibly flu) so this has to be a very individual thing.
From what you have written about the pain and stiffness you are having, I think it would be said here that you are not taking enough steroids to keep the PMR inflammation at bay. Is your doctor not concerned about the inflammation you have putting up the blood sugar levels? It can do so. To me it seems to be contradictory to take the steroids for PMR, but not enough of it to give any benefit. The downsides without the upsides! The benefit was what I wanted as I had no quality of life without it.
I never found any painkiller which had any effect on PMR pain. The only thing which is effective is Prednisone, and on my own behalf, I don't think anyone either ought to, or need to, take additional painkillers while on steroids.
davidmelville Nefret
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Whether it's the Rhummi getting stroppy and trying to force MTX as a steroid reducing agent, because still in pain, or a kindly GP prescribing Naproxen to help with the pain, my experience is that any additional pills are preferable to a little extra 'Pred'. I'm not a medic, expert or the like but everything inside me says if it's just PMR then control it and give the patient a life with the right amount of Prednisolone. I can't see the point in reporting a reduction in Prednisolone if one is in pain and covering it with pain killers. I've done it . . . It's madness.
Nefret davidmelville
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EileenH davidmelville
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At least my medical consultants here take pain seriously - and since there is like NOTHING I can take safely alongside my other medication they are a bit sprightlier about investigating the cause of the pain and trying to deal with it not cover it up!
janice01811 Nefret
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janice01811 davidmelville
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Oregonjohn-UK janice01811
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janice01811 Oregonjohn-UK
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EileenH janice01811
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To be down to 4mg in barely over a year is excellent progress - but I will dispute the statement that suggests there must be pain. Some people have very little pain, the majority have minimal pain and if you aren't at least reasonably comfortable it probably means you are on too low a dose.
If the pain you have is due to PMR then the only real answer is a bit more pred I'm afraid. I know very few people for whom pain-killers have achieved much, possibly they took the edge of severe pain but were certainly no total answer. If it is happening during the time you reduce from one dose to the next then slowing the reduction down often helps. There are a couple of reduction schemes on here that seem to help a lot - but when push comes to shove and you are at the dose that is JUST enough to control the inflammation and therefore the symptoms then no reduction scheme will help. That dose is what it is.
I had my flu shot last week - this year not even a sore arm, certainly no flare. Many people claim they "get flu" from a flu shot - that isn't true. PMR flare? I don't know, I never have.
For some people pred leads them to gain weight, for others it stops them being hungry and they lose weight. It didn't make me gain weight, the weight redistributed to my face and midriff. But it is also possible to lose weight when on pred but you do have to be very disciplined and keep the carbs low - and that also helps with blood sugars. We have several ladies who were diabetic pre-PMR and they say that you just have to be more careful about what you eat.
But for your basic question: what can my doc give me for the pain and stiffness I'm afraid the answer is that if it is PMR that is doing it then only a bit more pred is likely to do the trick. But if the other pain is osteoarthritis or other muscle problems that may not be the answer. However, the only painkiller that is OK alongside pred is really paracetamol - acetaminophen to you - and even then you must be careful as it too has side effects.
janice01811 EileenH
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heather39822 EileenH
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Because we can't get a dose less than 5mg here, I was thinking of a variation of your reduction plan: alternating 12.5mg and 15mg daily. Do you think that is too fast?
Sorry to bother you - but I fear you are the font of knowledge on the subject and mentor and advisor to us all!
EileenH heather39822
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Just as a reminder - here's the link to the thread it is written out in, in posts 4 and 5:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/pmr-gca-and-other-website-addresses-35316
heather39822 EileenH
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kern44 janice01811
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I'm in the US and had my flu shot this year on Sept. 30. PMR symptoms started Oct. 13th. First couple weeks I thought it was Lyme, now I'm starting 40 mg of Pred a day. Off to the Rhummi tomorrow. I'm planning to ask the same question
janice01811 kern44
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