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Symptoms after you stop prednisone

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Dec 7 7:54pm | Replies (87)

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@csimmonds

Men face the problem of hair loss at an early age. It wasn't too big of a deal when I lost most of my hair. I know it isn't the same for women.

I used to think I had too much testosterone until my endocrinolgist said my testosterone level was actually low but near normal. My endocrinologist set the record straight about prednisone and said it interacts with a variety of hormones of the endocrine system. He said things like my insulin level was too high because of prednisone. I didn't know that insulin was a hormone.

My endocrinolgist highlighted the widespread impact that prednisone had on my body's hormonal balance. I was dumbfounded and said I didn't know that I had that many hormones. My cortisol level was more concerning at the time so my endocrinologist didn't explain all of the details.

I asked the endocrinologist why my hormone levels were never checked when I took prednisone The simple explanation was that it wasn't my rheumatologist's speciality. After I tapered off Prednisone --- then I got to find out how many hormones were out of balance.

Prednisone caused a slew of endocrine problems for me. As long as I needed Prednisone to control PMR --- there wasn't much an endocrinologist could do for me.

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Replies to "@csimmonds Men face the problem of hair loss at an early age. It wasn't too big..."

@dadcue
Thank you for your response. You answered some questions I have had about why doctors talk about hormone levels but don't check them. I have only one adrenal gland and it has a cyst on it that is not growing. I did see an endocrinologist about that to get an baseline on the size of the cyst. Some hormone levels were checked at that time but that was years before PMR and prednisone. I still have hair but mine used to be quite thick. I hope I go off of prednisone and my hair returns. Is it a good idea to have hormones checked after one goes off of prednisone?