"My recent tests showed adrenal insufficiency, after I had gone down from 5 to 4 mg. As I mentioned, with 5 mg I still have pain, but can barely make it. 7 mg certainly would erase most of my pain."
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Who did this test? Was it an endocrinologist? Was it an a.m. cortisol level or a synacthen test. I was told the result wasn't valid unless I could maintain a 3 mg dose or less for an "extended period of time."

My rheumatologist and I had developed a good rapport after many years. We were at a similar impasse when I couldn't taper much lower than 10 mg. I could get down to 7 mg but invariably I would increase my dose back to 10 mg.

I was referred to an endocrinologist when I was on 10 mg. The endocrinologist told me there was nothing she could do if I still needed prednisone to control my PMR symptoms. The endocrinologist referred me back to my rheumatologist but she invited me to come back to see her if I could ever taper down to 3 mg. I don't know what happened behind the scenes between the endocrinologist and rheumatologist.

I was adamant that I would NOT make another attempt to taper off prednisone. I wasn't angry about it but I communicated how I felt about it. I wasn't bluffing because I didn't see any way forward that would allow me to taper off prednisone. I didn't think there was any alternative to prednisone. I doubted my prednisone prescription would ever be stopped.

That was the start of a surreal chain of events. How it unfolded is still hard to comprehend. I guess my only advice is don't give up like I almost did.. Now I realize that getting off prednisone was worth it. However, staying on prednisone would have been the easier thing to do.

All to say . . . I can appreciate why you have taken prednisone as you have over the years.