@prettypatti76

My Prednisone side effects were numerous but I didn't always realize they were prednisone side effects. My prednisone side effects were somewhat insidious and I slowly accepted how I felt as my new normal. I forgot about how I felt when I didn't take Prednisone. I didn't realize how bad I was getting until I tried to convince someone that I felt "more normal" on prednisone. That person needed to convince me that "normal people" don't take prednisone. She said I was in dangerous territory taking prednisone like I was. She had the insight that I lacked because she had an adrenal crisis while taking prednisone.

I don't seem to have too many side effects from Actemra. My rheumatologist tells me when some lab values are little off but I can't say that I feel any different. What I really like about Actemra is that I no longer have to worry about how much prednisone I need to take every day. I still have some pain but that is tolerable.

My rheumatologist understands why I have the pain. It isn't all autoimmune pain and certainly not much of it is being caused by PMR anymore.

My biggest mistake was thinking prednisone was good for all kinds of pain. It is true that Prednisone works for a wide variety of painful conditions but prednisone isn't the best treatment for every kind of pain. I'm looking forward to the time when prednisone isn't a good treatment option for PMR. I think there are better alternatives already.

I have had five "good years" being completely off prednisone. I would not trade any of my five years after I got off prednisone while being treated with Actemra alone. My life isn't "pain free" but that isn't what I strive for anymore. There are some days when prednisone seems to be calling me but I don't listen to it. I still have a prescription for Prednisone "as needed" but I'm supposed to tell someone when I need it. I should tell my rheumatologist because I think that prescription has probably expired.