Suspected PMR & Prednisolone dosage query

Hi missmagwumps

You will find that preds will suppress your immune system and you will be susceptable to infections so take Vit C every day. Also, get the flu jab if you want it i never had it as i got flu and colds all through winter so it did me no good. You may get dry eyes and a condition called blepharitis or Sjorgens Syndrome dry eyes and dry mouth. I had all these things. Also, are you Type 1 ot Type 2 diabetic if Type 2 and taking Metformin along with Omerprazole these will stop Vit B12 from absorbing into your system. If your B12 vits low you will get extremely tired and lethargic and low mood and if it goes very low you could get Pernicious Anemia which is dangerous, so get your B12 checked regularly. I am Type 2 diabetes and get B12 injections every 3 months as i take metformin. I had sweats, palpitations, breathlessness, dizzy spells and very bad headaches back of skull and front. Just took painkillers for that. I went to doctor about my dry eyes and dry mouth. I was sent to Opthalmologist for my eyes who prescribed artificial tear drops it was also discovered i had cataracts caused by the pred, and given an artificial saliva spray for dry mouth by doctor. Not everyone gets these side effects as our individual bodies deal with preds differently. I'm off pred now and all the side effects are now a distant memory. Hope this has been of some help to you...

Hi missmagwumps! I too have (or have had) all your same "lovely" side effects. Currently, waking up EVERY am w/horrible headache, mostly in back of my head and neck and across my forehead. I sweat profusely, again, mostly on my scalp and face....my hair gets so drenched I look like I've just had a shower! Sooo embarrassing! I get muscle spasms in my abdomen and back (to the point I literally can't move), I'm an emotional wreck, tear up at the drop of a pin, and last (BUT NOT LEAST), I've gained 13lbs in past 2 wks!! I KNOW!!! I'm a delightful person now-a-days!😁. I don't have any quick fix answers, because the flip side to this all is the prednisone has seemingly done it's work on my joints. I'm new to this (3mth) and currently on 16.5mg due to start tapering next wk to 12.5, so we'll see. All I can offer right now is an ear and a shoulder and alot of compassion. I FEEL YOUR PAIN! Lynda

You aren't going to drop overnight from 16.5 to 12.5 are you?  Recommendations are only 10% at a time, and that would be closer to 1.5.

Whoops! My mistake. Just checked my calendar and supposed to drop to 15mg next wk! But then, 2 wks. later, she has me dropping to 10mg!!!! She'll still be on vacation till the following wk!?!? Oh, boy....that doesn't sound like a good decision to me.😱

You might be ok with 12.5mg from 15 but I wouldn’t drop to 10 from 15.  Personally I dropped 1mg at a time from 15 every 3 or 4 weeks until I got to 10mg. Now I only drop by 0.5mg.

I agree. That sounds more reasonable. I think I'll consider the drop from 15 to 12.5 until my doc. gets back from her vacation. She'll just have to be ok with it!

My dose was 15mg, 12.5mg and 10 mg for 4 weeks each dose but don't do what I did when reducing from 10mg and expect to be ok on 1 mg a month ha ha....I am now going back to 5 mg (which is all I have) until I can get clarification and a new prescription fom my GP on Monday...good luck every one....x

Low vit B12 doesn't CAUSE PA, it is the effect of PA which is an autoimmune disorder that stops your body making something called intrinsic factor which you need to absorb vit B12 from your diet. If you have PA you need vit B12 injections. But you can have low levels because of your diet or medication so it is important to make sure you have enough.

I and a lot of others have felt we had fewer infections while on pred - or maybe they just didn't cause as much inflammation! The flu jab doesn't stop colds - it is aimed at specific variations of flu but it is important to have it, especially when you are on pred.

Strictly speaking the response to pred ISN'T diagnostic as other things will respond to pred too - especially if the GP uses too high a dose. Some people's PMR will respond to 15mg, others need up to 25mg, and some will respond in hours - it took less than 6 hours for me - while others need several days, especially if they would have been better on a higher dose. What is typical is that no other paikillers work more than to take the edge off the pain while pred has a far better effect, especially on the stiffness.  

Up to 20% of patients have completely normal ESR and CRP levels - I did for the 5 years I had PMR symptoms before being put on pred - and this is more common in younger patients.You actually had a pretty raised ESR - the top of the normal range is these days accepted to be 20 and anything above that whatever your age suggests something is going on.

What other musculoskeletal problems do you have? Myofascial pain syndrome can cause very similar problems as well as tight and even spasmed muscles - it is caused by the same inflammatory substances as PMR just they are concentrated in the muscle fascia (the transparent skin you will be familiar with from joints of meat or poultry) and in trigger points - which coincide with some of the trigger points in fibromyalgia (which never responds to pred or raises the inflammatory markers).

You can help the weight gain by cutting carbs - especially sugar, simple and processed white carbs. Pred changes the way your body processes carbs. Cutting them a lot helps keep weight gain down and reduces the risk of developing steroid-induced diabetes. I even lost 35lbs by doing that. It really does work - a lot of people will vouch for it.

As your dose falls the side effects do usually reduce too. Poor sleeping is common at higher doses but it is something that has never been a problem for me - it was worse with PMR and its pain and sweats!

Your muscles remain intolerant of acute exercise - and that and the fatigue are due to the underlying autoimmune disorder that causes the symptoms we call PMR. Pred has cured nothing - but is managing the inflammation to make live less difficult while waiting for the autoimmune bit to burn out and go into remission. For about 1 in 5 that may happen in under 2 years but the median duration of pred management for PMR is just under 6 years - the vast majority take maybe 4 or 5 years.

As I said in the other reply - many of us don't find we get more infections and I've never taken vit C in my life I get it in my diet with loads of salads and above ground veg. Root veg and fruit should be limited - too many carbs and even if they are "healthy" carbs they will still tend to put weight on!

This

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/pmr-gca-website-addresses-and-resources-35316

is a link to what we call our resources post - loads of links to reliable useful information about the world of PMR and GCA.

Hi EileenH

I was told by my diabetic doctor and have researched it (B12 and Pernicious Anemia) that our Intrinsic Factor Protein and Paletial Cells decline as we age over 55yrs. Intrinsic Factor and our Paletial Cells in the gut are needed to absorb B12 through our gut and ilium through to our system. Not just through food containing B12 but via supplements. The only supplement that absorb are sublingual B12 tabs under the tongue, or B12 mouth sprays and B12 patches. As well as Intrinsic Factor declining and our Paletial cells, certain medications stop B12 absorption such as Metformin and PPI's such as Omerprazole. If B12 gets very low Pernicious Anemia can ensue this is what my Diabetic doctor told me hence i get B12 injections every 3 months due taking Metformin. I have B12 injections not because i HAVE Pernicious Anemia but because i take Metformin. As well as having regular B12 checks for elderly and those on certain medication that prevent absorption, ferratin, iron and folate should also be checked also. Regarding flu jab whilst on pred i had flu jabs and still got the flu virus on two consecutive winters so i didn't get the jab after that because i was very ill. I still do not have it and have not had flu for 2 years. The flu virus in the vaccine is not always the same flu virus around at the time hence it just doesn't always prevent you getting the flu.

Think he's oversimplifying - low B12 is BECAUSE of PA or metformin, that's all I was saying. 

Interested that anything above 20 ESR indicates something going on. Where did I read that the calculation was chron. age over 2, minus 10.  That would make 33 ok for me, a big difference.

Very interesting Eileen - you have a wealth of knowledge! I don't take Metformin for my diabetes - I couldn't get on with that at all - it was diet controlled but my sugars all seem to have gone to pot since the Pred....I will take your advice and cut down/out as many carbs as I can as I have put on 12lbs in 2 months ! Annoyingly I had lost over 3 stone in prep for a total Knee replacement last Christmas and don't want to put all that back on! My other pains are facet joint problems in my lower lumbar (I had a disc removed in late 80's) and I have recently developed 2 fractured vertebrae but my bone scan was within normal range and they have checked to make sure there is no metastastis from my previous breast cancer! So no idea whats going on there either. I had a very successful procedure called a Denervation on my spine - which cauterised the nerves sending the pain signal to the brain - worked an absolute treat and stopped the 3 monthly steroid injections in the spine - not a permanent treatment as the nerves will re-grow but it had given  me relief for almost 2 years. I also have severe arthritis in my ankle but Pred seems to have knocked it all on the head and I know that as it reared its ugly head wen I stopped suddenly....really my only blip - apart from all the awful side effects (mainly sweating) - was stopping the Pred so suddenly which made me feel so poorly...my own fault I think for not reading the letter properly but i feel they should spell it out for patients as we don't all have a lateral thinking capacity when in B&W from the specialist!  Neither did my GP when I queried  it. I am feeling slightly better now I have started taking it again - albeit a small dose until I can get new script this week....

I do take Vit C every day normally and also take a high dose Vit D twice a month as my evels were very low but don't think my B12 has ever been checked...will ask GP about that and I am told you can't have the flu jab if it is a live vaccine while taking steroids....!

Having said all that and probably said before I am not conviced I have PMR...as you say Pred will deal with any inflammation - the consultant agrees that the distribution of my symptoms is somewhat Atyplical....he trialed Pred for 10 days and as I reported I had less pain, stiffness and fatigue he concluded it probably was !

How long had you been on Pred Mary and when you came off it had all your previous symptoms disappeared ? I hope so....it means there is hope for us all...lol.....I had an eye test recently and was diagnosed with cataracts and I assumed that often happened to people in my age range  (70's) but had no idea it could have been caused by Pred and certainly not only after 3 months !

SO pleased all is well with you now though and suffering all those side effects was well worth the effort....BW Maggie

It's becoming more accepted that increasing ESR with age simply means there is more likelihood of some inflammatory process going on in the body, NOT that higher reading is normal.  I was told by my former (useless) doctor that my inflammatory readings were normal.  A new doctor ran the tests again and told me the readings were somewhat elevated, although not unusually so FOR MY AGE.  Meanwhile I had spent over a year  undiagnosed in increasing pain and growing disability.  It took about two years before my CRP was back to normal, and because they'll only do one test at a time I can only hope that ESR is also normal - it had come down with pred.

I believe any flu shots administered to adults are from killed virus.  In fact it's usually recommended we receive this annual immunization as our immune system is compromised to some extent and makes us more susceptible to catching the flu.  That being said I've only had a flu shot a couple of times and do wonder whether it's worth it if it isn't covering all the possible strains, including the most dangerous one this year.  

It does seem a bit like the weather forecast, doesn't it ? Data is collected and a judgement made. No 100% guarantees.

I had 'flu more than seventy years ago and very unpleasant it was, I remember, but I've always declined the vaccines. Too many reports of adverse reactions for my liking.

I have wondered before whether my apparently over enthusiastic immune system that gives so much trouble by attacking me also protects me. Also I never use public transport ( there is none where I live ) and my house is at the of a  half mile track off a side road off a B road. Perhaps the bugs can't find me.

Hi missmagwumps

I was on preds from approx May 2016 to April 2017. Sometime ago there was a member on the forum who got fed up of the merry go round of tapering to low dose pred than having to up the dose again because of pain returning. It seemed she would never get off them so she put up with the pain that ensued when tapering to low doses and got down to 0.5mg. Long story short she went through some bone pain for a while caused by pred and suffered withdrawals but eventually all side effects and pain dissipated and was left with shoulder bursitis and what she had originally Osteoarthritis...We corresponded privately and i followed her advice. Her shoulder bursitis is now gone and CRP and ESR are normal and no longer has withrawal symptoms or side effects.

I did the same and went through pain and withdrawal symptoms. Pleased to say approx 18 months on all pain gone except OA and some Post Herpatic Neuralgia caused by shingles that i got when on pred due to compromised immune system but i have no more troubling side effects, but i have cataracts. I take painkillers for OA and PHN. Cataracts? My Opto says they are not naturally occurring so will not need surgery yet but maybe in the future see how they go. I would say my adrenals are all but back to normal because it can take up to 2 years for them to function 100%. I no longer get upset when stressed and cry at a drop of a hat. I'm not advocating everyone should do this but it worked for me and others who corresponded privately.

Hi missmagwumps

Would just like to add that it was not plain sailing. Had quite a bit of pain but did mild exercise which helped and took painkillers and meds from doc for withdrawals. There were lots of bumps in the road on my journey to where i am now...but it was well worth it....

It was - previously. Then it occurred to them that when someone did have a higher reading it was probably because there was something going on and they weren't entirely healthy. And the equation was supposed to be used up to the age of about 55 and after that the figure stayed much the same. 

You can't have the nasal spray vaccine for children - that is llive. But the adult stuff is killed virus. It's fine - I always have my flu jab.

It certainly helps!!!!!!

Wowzerr...I'm intrigued. However, a year or so of pain and or withdrawal?? I'm not sure I could be THAT person! I'm kinda a woos! Wasn't it dangerous tho' to completely go off it that way? I SURE would like to be done w/these horrible side effects but....I don't know....

I had trouble waiting a couple of weeks to see a rheumie privately I was in such pain, he was on holiday. I cannot imagine putting up with that pain for any length of time, two weeks was bad enough.

Hi lynda62707

It did take me almost a year to reduce to 0.5mg. I started getting pain around 4mg, but i carried on tapering and my rheumy and doctor supported me....as i previously stated it wasn't a cake walk and didn't happen overnight there were many obstacles to get over, but with encouragement from others and determination to be rid of the troubling side effects, i made it!...my CRP is 3 and ESR is 12 anything below 20 for ESR is normal according to my rheumy and my CRP is 3. Three and below is normal for CRP also according to my rheumy😊....

Well, that kind of sounds like normal tapering to me, by someone like myself who is willing to see if the pain is withdrawal or PMR.  If I intended always to be free of PMR pain, or what I call "niggles"  I'd probably still be up above 5 mg somewhere rather than at 1.5.  But I do not seem, yet, to be able to get below 1.5.  I kind of think 1.5 is almost as good as 0 when it comes to side effects, so that's okay for now.  I try every once in a while to taper to 1, and I know one day it will "take".

But many people really do need to stay at a somewhat higher dose for longer and I don't think they should feel inadequate because they can't keep going with a taper but need to take much longer than the more fortunate among us.  As Eileen points out it is now thought that there are several kinds of PMR so in tapering, as with almost every aspect of this disease, we are all different!

Hi Anhaga

I agree with you entirely Anhaga. This is why i would not advocate anyone to do what i and others have done in order to get off pred because it would not suit everyone to take this course of action. It is a personal decision and only if they really felt it would be suitable for them to do so..as you say we are all different...

Good 4 you mary!! Everything sounds like life may be ok w/o prednisone! I can't hardly wait, but fear I've only just begun 🎶😉.

Personally I find nothing wrong with life WITH pred. It gave me my life back and doesn't interfere with anything much. PMR certainly did!

With all due respect Eileen, some of us have horrendous side effects from prednisone. I agree it is a great drug for handling the pain of pmr and wouldn't want to do w/o it at this point, but that being said, among other things, I'm facing the possibility of losing my eyesight in one eye due to the help of prednisone speeding up the growth of a complicated cataract situation!

Do we know why steroids cause such a weight gain....my rheumy said watch your weight as they increase your appetite but tbh my diet hasn't changed - if anything I have been eating less as the Pred made me quite nauseous.......but still I have put on almost 14lbs in 3 months.....and I take a diuretic! Would appreciate if you or anyone can throw any light on it as I 'm going to be such a size before the treatment finishes if this is the norm.....ha!

Omggg missmagwumps! I too, eat less (mostly because of nausea), and have STILL managed to put on 13lbs in 2wks (maybe more now, too upset to get on the scale!!). And I ALSO take a diuretic! I've never had to worry about my weight before, so I find this extremely upsetting.😭. I wish I had answers for you but all I can offer at this point is a shoulder!

There isn't much about side effects with steroids I haven't experienced either - I had an awful time with methylprednisolone. The only side effect I didn't have was cataracts. Nor a lot about living with PMR - I had 5 years of totally untreated PMR. 

The loss of sight due to pred speeding up cataracts IS reversible - even if you have to wait. Untreated PMR can progress to GCA and the loss of vision which that causes is not reversible. Once it is gone, it is gone. Yes, you do have a horrible problem - but that is as the result of your medical system so it is unfair to blame the pred which is preventing you progressing to a worse form of visual loss.

Pred changes the way your body processes carbs. It also triggers your liver to produce spikes in the blood glucose level. When the blood sugar level rises, the insulin level rises too. The BS level falls due to the insulin and the excess insulin makes any left-over glucose turn into fat deposits. There is also some fluid retention - but diuretics don't always get rid of that fluid for some reason.

Yes steroids do have some nasty side effects, I have had about fourteen. I have not had cataract problems but I understand it is a very effective and straightforward operation in U.K. although you can wait a long time. You can go privately of course and rather than paying in one large lump there is the possibility of paying over a period of time. I notice some places are even offering zero per cent finance. I don’t know about costs in the US but I did read that Mission Cataract USA did help with costs if I remember rightly.

AGAIN, with all due RESPECT! It is indeed the prednisone that is causing problems with this cataract situation! It has grown much more serious since my being on prednisone, especially in the last month! I'm not trying to discount the benefits of this drug as it is most definitely a miracle with pmr. But PLEASE, recognize that many of us have horrendous side effects, medically, emotionally, and cosmetic. Who's to say which one's are worse?? And reversible loss of one's sight? Are you willing to play the odds?

I didn't gain any weight and in fact three years on I've lost about seven more lbs.  All I did was stop eating carbs for a while - astonished myself when I realized how much wheat I was consuming - and eventually settled on very low "white" carb and sweets intake.

Hi EileenH,

As has been pointed out so many times on the forum we are all different in the way our bodies deal with preds. You are very fortunate that you are not troubled by adverse side effects and can get on with your life, but for some it is a living nightmare!...Some experience every side effect dealt out to them by the pred while others experience very few. I was one who had every side effect possible thrown at me and i didn't have a life, even though i was pain free. I preferred to deal with the pain an alternative way rather than suffer any more side effects, which were far worse in my experience than the pain. So i fully understand and have empathy for anyone who is working toward getting off pred if they are suffering many side effects. I also have a lot of empathy for those who have PMR along with GCA which makes it that much more difficult to get off pred, but at the same time saving their sight.

I wish everyone suffering these troublessome side effects that things will get easier for you soon.....👍😚

Well said mary! Each and everday is truly a different journey....some dealing with pmr symptoms and others dealing with prednisone side effects...Sometimes Both! We're all doin' the best we can do at any given time. Hugs to you!

Hi lynda62707

Thanks for the hugs..big hug back...😚

I am not troubled by side effect NOW. I have been there too and had a horrendous 9 months on Medrol. I do speak from personal experience. 

Eileen, I'm sorry to hear you went through at least 9mo of bad side effects from pred. That being said, I'm sure you can understand why many of us who haven't been on this journey nearly as long as you, are struggling with all the negative aspects of prednisone, the difficulties of pmr, and the desire to be done with them both! Unfortunately, (or fortunately?) since pmr symptoms seem to often respond quickly to pred., you're left to deal with all the horrible side effects of the cure!! In my case, I'm struggling.

Hi EileenH

By you having experienced dreadful side effects in the past, i would have thought you would show more empathy toward those just starting off on their PMR and pred journey. Your reply to lynda62707 to quote, "Personally, i find nothing wrong with life WITH pred" that is because you have been on pred many years and your body is well and truly adjusted to it, you may feel dreadful if you ever did to get off pred. Lynda62707 is just starting her journey and was stressing how she is troubled with the side effects you once had, but you reply as per the quote showed no empathy or understanding. The point i'm making is even though you are comfortable with pred their are many who are really suffering and we who have now overcome that part of the pred/PMR scenario should show empathy and understanding. You give a lot of good advice EileenH regarding PMR and preds and i am sure you have helped a lot of people, but on occasion you lack empathy....

All I said originally was that it is unfair to blame pred for a failing in your healthcare system. In the rest of the world people with cataracts get them removed through their medical system and it is a relatively simple operation. Cataracts are, for the majority of people on pred, one of the lesser evils. 

In my responses I do try to present a reasonably balanced view of what life with pred is like. I am not replying to you alone, I am replying so that others reading the thread later don't see a totally negative view of pred and refuse to take it. They get enough of that from GPs and their families and friends. I DO  find life with pred not too bad at all - and a darn sight better than PMR without it. That was all I said. And I said clearly that was for me personally. Ididn't try to speak for you or anyone else.

I have been on the forums a long time, I have seen many people struggle with pred and its side effects and, with the aid of others, have guided them through the unpleasantness of PMR. And pred. Strangely - people have often commented that I DO have a great deal of empathy. 

I'm sure you will have read my response to lynda. I have every empathy and understanding of the beginning of the PMR/pred journey. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here.

However - is by hearing that there is life with pred, that life doesn't end with PMR that many people find the strength to keep going. And that is the side of pred and PMR I also present impartially to everyone I meet in this journey. 

Hi EileenH

The point i was making was we should be understanding and be helpful to those just starting out on their PMR/Pred journey. When starting out they have no idea what they are going to face with the troublesome side effects be it many side effects of not so many as the doctors do not explain that side of pred initially. It was obvious that's what lynda62707 was looking for, a sympathic ear from you as you are the matriarch of the forum. She didn't get a sympathetic response which must have upset her especially with one of the troublesome side effect of preds is that we get emotionally upset....I felt for her as i have been on that side of preds...

I have probably been in contact with lynda far longer than you realise. This isn't the only forum and you have probably not seen all my responses to her.

I am NOT the matriarch of any forum - I am a member. Albeit with a lot of background knowledge. 

Huh....?? I'm NOT on ANY other forum!! I've not been in contact w/you longer than anyone else on this forum! Please don't cast THAT light in my direction! Thank you, Lynda

Lynda, You have created many  PATIENT threads within the past months to which Elaine has responded and you have ignored her advice. 

Again, huh??? I've NOT ignored ANYONE'S advice! Where is all this coming from?? Come on folks!! Haven't we got bigger fish to fry than chipping away at one another?? I taught kindergarten....there's alot if childness goin' on around here!

If that is so I am happy to apologise. However, you yourself said you had been on another forum. I quote one of your first posts on this one:

"I'm not sure anyone will be reading this as apparently this forum has closed. So, I'm gonna try and reopen it as I'm in need of some folks to.talk.with! The truth of the matter is I've been on another site 4 apprx. 4 weeks and it finally clicked that all the people were in the UK, ..."

The only PMRGCA forums on the internet are based in the UK - and I am a member of them all. And your posts certainly bore a great resemblance to those on the other forum - questions about a trip to see a daughter and grandchild for example. Where many people responded to your posts, talked to you and offered many suggestions. And while it has mainly UK members we have probably 20 members living in the USA or who originate from there. Plus a load in Australia and New Zealand.

 

Btw.....there's a Vast difference in voicing your own concerns and fears, as opposed to not listening to advise! Last time I checked, it was perfectly acceptable to do both!.....is this still a safe haven?? I'll be very sad if it's not.

WOW!! I'm speechless! I joined this forum as I was linked to it visa/via doing research on the internet for pmr. It IS, in fact, the ONLY forum I've been on! I'm very sad right now. I thought this was a "soft place to fall" while trying to figure out one's journey. Apparently it's just a place for one-up-man's-ship. Yikes, I thought I felt alone before......

Lynda, we all do our best on here to help each other and the last thing we need are misunderstandings.  Nobody stands to gain anything but the satisfaction of giving a helping hand.

If we all met to discuss our problems then we would have facial expression, body language, tone of voice, humour to guide us;  but we don't have that. (Marigold Hotel anyone? ) and so I think we have all done very well to mostly avoid misunderstandings.

I was first diagnosed nineteen years ago and my first post, not on this forum,  bemoaning steroids and their side effects, drew a sharp response from someone who told me to be grateful for Pred. as it was all that would help me.  She will know who she is and still posts on here. She was not being aggressive or unkind and she made me think again. We are still friends.

Can we all just give each other the benefit of the doubt.?  There are no ulterior motives. If we don 't always express ourselves felicitously that might be because we are in a hurry or having a bad day or just that we don't have double firsts in English.

PS I made six shepherds pies this afternoon and am off to eat one of them. 

Thank you BettyE for your words of wisdom and thoughtfulness. They came just at the time I needed them most. I'm taking a breath....a fresh breath, at that, and ready to "fight the great fight" with all of your help, advice, and hopefully Shoulders!

I'm only asking then, Is this not you?

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/new-to-this-journey--674923

This just one of the 22 discussion you have started in the last 2 months - to which I have replied in the same way I do to everyone.

However - if you find a single response to you such a problem I will refrain from doing so in future.

Urd Eileen, that IS me! I'm a bit confused as I thought that was all part of the same site only geared a bit more to the USA where the terminology (ie lbs instead of stones) would be more familiar to me. Many of the name's of folks responded were all the same, so I just figured it was all ONE group. MY MISTAKE!!! SORRY....NOT TRYING TO PULL A FAST ONE!!! Jeeezzzz Eileen, why all the digging and concern? Don't we all have our plates full enough w/o all this ridiculous childlessnish stuff! You proved your point! Do you feel better now?? Come on woman, give it a rest! As I said before, we've got bigger fish to fry......and I'm beginning to find this need to explain exhausting!!

Can we not call a halt on this now, please?

ABSOLUTELY kate! I was just thinking the same thing. Cuz at the end of the day, our "enemy" is not each other, it's pmr and it's side effects and the side effects of prednisone! We're all just searching for info. and a little reassurance and possibly, a few kind words! ......back to what really matters.