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Symptoms after you stop prednisone
I was diagnosed with PMR in April, 2023 and prescribed 15 mg of prednisone tapering monthly until completely off by May, 2024. Understandably, my previous osteoarthritis symptoms and pain returned in my knees and lower back. Over the last year, I presume that the prednisone masked that pain. However, when I tapered to 1 mg, my hand joints swelled (which is new), I have a trigger middle finger in my right hand, and I experience some discomfort in my shoulders in the morning. In June, 2024, I had blood work and my Sed Rate and C Reactive Protein results were in the normal range. Has anyone else experienced hand swelling after tapering off prednisone or other new symptoms (not reflected in your lab results)? When are these new symptoms concerning and how did you treat them?
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Kevzara every 2 weeks. One generic acetaminophen 8 hr. Arthritis Pain tablet rarely. I tend to tough it out.
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@caroljeand This is what I have found: What type of tests are potentially affected?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a warning regarding the possible interference of Biotin supplementation with a few specific laboratory tests. Tests that are typically used for the evaluation of endocrine function, including but not limited to PTH (parathyroid hormone), TSH (thyrotropin), fT4 (free thyroxine), TT3 (total triiodothyronine), and Tg (thyroglobulin); as well as other tests such as troponin, serum folate, vitamin D, and hepatitis A & B antibodies may produce inaccurate results when someone is taking a Biotin supplement. Some of these tests are at risk of producing results that are falsely too high or too low when Biotin is present in the tested sample.
@elizabethannr
Thank you for this information. I will suspend my biotin as I am on thyroid medication ( been on the same dose for 35 years) and seeing an endocrinologist this month for all the hormonal disturbances PMR is causing, particularly with my blood glucose numbers.
My fasting glucose is unusually low compared to what it was prior to PMR.
However my A1C was still high.
My A1C was just fine till prednisone. Now it shot up to where the Dr. says I am prediabetic but lately has gone down a little but still needs more. My glucose was 106 but last test was 84 because I have made every concerted effort to stay off sugar. I have avoided pastries, nearly all breads except gluten free and if I must use sweetener I use monkfruit or allulose. I eat low glycemic fruits and berries for dessert instead of ice cream now, and rely on a lot of salads with only simple vinaigrette dressing (not the commercial stuff with sugar in it), plenty of green veggies and I eat a lot of protein meals. Fingers crossed. Good luck with your tests and I hope all goes well for you.
@tweetypie13
Do you know how to tapper off KEVZARA?
I have been off Prednisone for 7 weeks and 4 month on KEVZARA.
@elizabethannr
I think you are on the right truck with the change in your diet.
No sugar, no process food more vegetables are essential in my gradual recovery from PMR.
I hope to discontinue KEVZARA soon but stay on a healthy diet and keep moving( Thai Chi, yoga, walking, dancing. )
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