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What constitutes a flare?

Posted , 7 users are following.

pat38625
pat38625

I hadn't been feeling great all last week.  Went to bed Saturday night and slept 11 and half hours.  I remember feeling so cold and shivering (it was probably a high temperature)  When I got up I was so weak.  I upped my pred from 9mg to 10mg.  I'm not in pain but so so weak, is this a flare or something totally different.  The weakness reminds me of the early stages of ME/CFS.  All comments welcome and thank you in advance.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • penelope10875
    penelope10875 pat38625

    Posted

    Hello

    I sympethize. I am stuggling, with ? What I don't know. Just feeling slightly 'unwell' but the type of unwell that I felt when I last had a flare. Aches and pains partly due to arthritis though the groin pain is definitely PMR and fatigue.

    Sounds as if you may have a mild infection' which was one of the things that started my last flare. Check your urine, drink plenty and rest, is my advice. I'm off for a nap

    • pat38625
      pat38625 penelope10875

      Posted

      Thank you Penelope, it's comforting to know I am not alone.  I thought because of the high temperature it was a cold or chest infection but they haven't arrived yet.  I am drinking loads of water and resting. It's all I can do.
  • EileenH
    EileenH pat38625

    Posted

    A flare is a return of the PMR/GCA symptoms. It can happen because the dose has been reduced to too low a level to manage the symptoms and that is the most common reason. The underlying autoimmune disorder that causes the symptoms probably waxes and wanes - so you might reduce while it is relatively inactive and then it cranks up again - and symptoms resurface.

    If you develop an infection then the amount of pred may not be enough for a short time and you may have a return of symptoms - apart from anything else because your body is fighting the infection, your muscles are not up to what you are asking them to do and you have simply overdone things.

    Having PMR and being on pred doesn't make any difference to "normal" life - take them out of the equation and what would you have thought? That you had picked up a bug and weren't well? That bit is no different. If you improve with some rest and TLC that will answer the question I think.

    Penelope - if you have groin pain do ask your doctor to consider if you have trochanteric bursitis. It is often found alongside PMR, is probably part of PMR for many people, but it responds far better to local steroid shots. The blood supply to joints is not good to oral pred takes a long time to work. Take away that part of the inflammation and the rest can often be managed with a lower oral dose.

    • pat38625
      pat38625 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi Eileen, yes I reduced from 10mg to 9mg - I got 6 days of new dose.  Lesson learned, reduce by .5 next time.  I have neither ache nor pain but feel like a new born lamb, all shaky on my feet.  I agree, rest, drink plenty of water and some TLC from me to me biggrin.  Thanks Eileen I needed the reassurance.  
    • penelope10875
      penelope10875 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks Eileen, I will do that if it doesn't improve with rest. I've just had a busy few weeks. Was hoping to reduce to 8mg (from 8.5) but I think I will leave it a bit.
    • EileenH
      EileenH penelope10875

      Posted

      If you can't be un-busy you should always put off a reduction - unless you use the dead slow technique.
    • LayneTX
      LayneTX pat38625

      Posted

      Hi Pat, you know I felt that way yesterday morning! I felt like I had a hang over, I was weaker than normal and a tad shakey.  I kept trying to think what I did day before, I did break down and have a cappuccino with Soy milk. So was it the caffeine (I'm trying to stop caffeine because my throat is irritated now) ?  THEN I rememebred!!!  Ugh... I got and ate entire...Apple strudel!  I don't eat sugar nor flour anymore and I guess my body might be more sensitive to that and coffee now with my PMR diet. Plus I too was thinking I was getting allergy symptoms or sinus cold, but those haven't transpired either. Feel better today! Glad you do too. 
    • pat38625
      pat38625 LayneTX

      Posted

      Thank you Layne.  I am still very poorly so am now beginning to think I have some sort of bug which will sort itself out in time.  All I am doing is sleeping and drinking water.  Can't even think of food.  I had a tiny bit of yogurt and my stomach started cramping, so I'm thinking this is definately a bug.  Hope you continue to get better.
    • EileenH
      EileenH pat38625

      Posted

      It really is a good idea to check with the GP when you have such an illness - for some people it doesn't matter so much but some have impaired immunity when on pred and your body may not fight off a bacterial infection as well as it would normally. It is also important to keep hydrated - and not just water, elctrolytes are important too if it is more than just a day or so.
    • pat38625
      pat38625 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi Eileen, I've just finished a drink with electrolites.  My son went to the chemist and got me some drinks to help rehydrate my system.  If no better by Monday I will get an appointment.  Thanks for the info anyway.  Always appreciated.
  • misdiagnose
    misdiagnose pat38625

    Posted

    Hi pat, I had an entire week of extreme shivvering with the cold and walking round the house with a hot water bottle. A visit to the GP for a CRP and ESR is required I would think. Let your GP know your temperature (they can easily take your temperature within seconds). I had the tiniest blister of shingles around my midriff at the time which is a major danger so please get checked out. 
    • pat38625
      pat38625 misdiagnose

      Posted

      Hi Misdiagnose, thank you for your message.  Poor you, a whole week of shivering, one night for me was enough and that was when I was in a semi sleep state.  I would need to get the energy to shower and get dressed which I don't have at the moment, and you have to ring on a Monday to get an appointment for that week.  I am feeling slightly, just slightly better, but it's a start.  Whatever it was it's on it's way out, me thinks.  I am just resting/sleeping and drinking loads of water.  Regards Pa
    • misdiagnose
      misdiagnose pat38625

      Posted

      Shingles/chicken pox is something very dangerous to watch out for. High temperatures are well known but low temperature is far rarer and could be a sign of a virus infection which might cause a major and serious flare. Good to hear you are over the attack of low temperature and have not suffered anything further.
    • pat38625
      pat38625 misdiagnose

      Posted

      Hi misdiagnose, yes hopefully I am over the worst of it.  A bug or virus maybe.  It sure wasn't me overdoing it.  I do very little each day and that's when I'm well.  Regards Pat
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