Want to start over
I’ve been on Pred since Jan 2025. Finally saw a Rheumy who put me on methotrexate. I was down to 5 mg pred and 10 mg metho. I’m quite painful, but not disabled. Blood tests on 9/19 show Grade 3B kidney disease. Ultra sound & urine are unremarkable, but EGFR is 38, creatinine 1.5. A different Rheumy upped my metho to 15 mg on 9/22. Friday 10/3 I get a call to come talk about results on 10\7. See this Rheumy I’ve never seen. Tells me I’m showing toxicity to the metho and to stop it. He prescribes Relafen 750 2x daily. My after visit summary shows he changed my diagnosis from PMR to chronic pain! He never even signed in on the computer, but he may have been looking at my records while scrolling on his phone the whole visit. ?
Upon reading the summary, I realized Relafen is a strong NSAID that is contraindicated with stage 3 kidney disease.
It took me YEARS to get past “chronic pain and fibromyalgia” diagnoses. I am devastated he changed my diagnosis in an 8 minute consult meant to look over test results, and never even took time to physically evaluate me. My SED rate was finally down to 29 and CRP at 5.7. Both at very top end of normal for the first time this year.
I want to reset and stop all of the PMR meds I hate these doctors, but there are only two Rheumy’s here, so my choice is thesis quack or PMR pain. I have to get off pred as I have osteoporosis.
Can I just stop the 5 mg without problems?
Sorry for the long post, but I’m angry, dismayed and hopeless at this point with nowhere else to turn.
Terri
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
It may cause a flare if you stop suddenly. Best to taper
long term prednisone slowly
Did the doctors give you any numbers from your CBC
or liver function tests?
I agree the Relafen is not for your problem with renal compromise. Is their a nephrologist on your case?
You say you've worked at silversmithing. Have you ever been tested for cadmium and other toxic chemicals used in silversmithing? Some can affect bones and kidneys, which you may know.
https://www.ganoksin.com/article/potentially-harmful-metalsmithing-substances/
@seniormed liver is fine. I do have a nephrologist I saw once for the urine tests and Ultrasound. I messaged her about the NSAID, but haven’t heard back. My PCP responded and cc’d the Rheumy saying he highly recommends I don’t take the NSAID’s but he deferred to prescribing doctor. The Rheum replied that he agrees with my PCP.
Then no contact. Has not responded to me not to take the med. honestly, I want to give up and just go to bed.
Terri
@megz hadn’t even thought seriously about this. Thank you for the link, will take a look at this.