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If you have tapering problems below 5 mg this might explain why.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 7 hours ago | Replies (62)Comment receiving replies
4th week of 5mg and not been easy. I now know what tapering pain feels like. But I am not so tired and can dog walk in the afternoons now which of course keeps her happy and helps the pain. Have been having some weird dreams for a couple of weeks that I swear are real until I get out of bed to check. I kept dreaming both my legs were totally swollen. Saying that I did not have the dream last night thank goodness. I know this tapering discomfort is normal but I nearly decided to stay on 5mg an extra week but I will be strong and start next week with 2 days of 4.5mg for two days then drop to 4 and carry on all being well for a month until the next taper, at least I know what to expect now. The dark cloud that seemed to be loitering over me is not helped by the time of year but that seems less today. I am still at the gym 6 days a week and that of course helps plus running with my Dob twice a week which makes me very happy.
Replies to "4th week of 5mg and not been easy. I now know what tapering pain feels like...."
tiateacake:
Hoping for your sake that your current taper below 5 of 1 per month is not too fast. Below 5 is of course the critical period in which your adrenals must start producing. Be alert for symptoms of insufficiency.
My schedule has been 1 per month from 10 to 5, but now at 0.5 per month, presently at 1….no issues. Good luck.
As someone who has been down this road successfully (tapering off pred) I thought I should share my experience. I would say that let your body tell you how fast to go. Stay as close to pain free as you can get. If you drop down and you have new pain, then it was too big a drop and/or too soon. There is no harm (unless you also have gluacoma like I do) in taking your time. The Dr may have different plans but you call the shots. You're the one going through this. One size does not fit all.
You do what you want, but decreasing that quickly is likely to cause a major relapse. I’m in my 7th year and just managed to go to 3.5 ml without pain. I accept I may be on Pred at low dose for life which is not the end of the world. Sure beats what you’re fixing to go through. My opinion only.
Hello @tiateacake,
I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled:
"If you have tapering problems below 5 mg this might explain why."
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/if-you-have-tapering-problems-below-5-mg-this-might-explain-why/.
@dadcue, @nancy334, @jeff97, and @art43 all shared some of their experiences in this discussion and it may be worth going back to read some of the things they've learned. Here, members can also see your experience as well.
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I'm very envious that you're able to run. I had to give it up for the time being because the prednisone has made my muscles strain very easily. After having several strains in a short time I became concerned about doing permanent damage. I'm currently at 10 mg, and I'm hoping that the muscle problems will clear up as I taper more or else get off of prednisone. I'm a few months behind you on the taper. I'm interested to hear how you're taper is going. It sounds like your adrenal glands are slowly waking back up.