Tiredness

The chapter on GCA and PMR in a medical textbook (Goldman and Sachs) lists anemia as one of the symptoms of both disorders. A physician friend told me it's called "Anemia of Chronic Inflammation."
When I was diagnosed with GCA after a temporal artery biopsy and prescribed the appropriate dosage of prednisone, my anemia disappeared. I also was quite fatigued before taking prednisone. After making myself walk in the mornings, I was practically couchbound the rest of the day.

Members in this discussion may also appreciate this related discussion:
- Feeling tired! Do others with PMR feel significantly more tired?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/feeling-tired/

@tsc. Thank you for the reference. Question: Were you on prednisone before your TAB? If so, how long and dosage?

I'm hesitant to get a TAB because I have been on a low dose of prednisone for 9 weeks and the steroid can interfere with an accurate reading. I have heard that One should have a TAB within two weeks of onset/concern and before taking a steroid.

Hi @lilyonm, I was on prednisone a few days before I had the TAB. Do you get a regular CRP or ESR, blood tests, to determine your inflammation markers?
If you have any visual disturbance go to an Emergency Room immediately as undiagnosed GCA can cause blindness.
Did you speak to your doctor about your fatigue? Maybe your dosage of prednisone is too low. Have you seen a rheumatologist? S/he would probably be aware of other diagnostic tools for GCA.

My blood work was normal apart from the usual ESR and CPR, until a few months ago when Iron levels showed up as low. ( I believe it was the short stint on Methotrexate that screwed up my blood iron balance) Getting off the Methotrexate and two months on iron supplements have definitely helped improve energy levels. Iron levels and anemia were not something the Rheumatologist was looking for, it was my normal Doctor who noticed it when he did some extra blood tests. It highlights the importance of having a good PCP as many Rheumatologists seem to have tunnel vision when it comes to PMR.

My opthalmologist said majority of ERs do not have ability to screen for GCA. Please talk with your opthalmologist and make a plan jic you think you have symptoms.
My rheumatologist was casual about the possibility of this, my opthalmologist was not.

For tiateacake,
Frustrations aside, have you had a CBC lately? I know recently on mine my hemoglobin
And hematocrit have been borderline low for anemia, which I know is making me more tired. I was taking a multivitamin that I stopped cause no matter what I ate it would upset my stomach! ( I should say here I don’t eat much at a meal). I’m going to try eating more frequent small meals and go back on the vitamins. Hard to say , also because we get fatigue just from having PMR!!

I have been on prednisone for almost 15 months, but tapered down to 1 mg daily (0.5 in morning, 0.5 at night) about 2 weeks ago, and I have felt completely wiped out, and moodier. I thought it was mostly the warmer weather and dissatisfaction with my job but I've read that tapering can also be a cause.

Your right. It will get better. Your almost off. Good job. It can take 2-3months to feel better. Your body is still trying to restart cortisol. But at 1mg day it is restarting. Thats the good news. Here is clip from Mayo.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/prednisone-withdrawal/expert-answers/faq-20057923

Keep up the good work....you've come this far..don't give up!