@walterl My first experience with prednisone was wonderful, too. In two days on 15 mg, I went from having to haul myself down the stairs by holding onto the railing with both hands to feeling normal. I honestly don't remember what started me back on prednisone some months back, but I was still on it in January when my daughter and I went to London -- walked 4-5 miles daily, felt great. At some point, the taper got to be too much, apparently, and my rheumatologist's having not warned me of withdrawal symptoms plus my not telling him I was having oral surgery pushed me over the edge. I didn't recognize symptoms as rheumatological until I also started having problems with finger joints swelling and becoming painful. I'm getting ready to send a message to my rheumatologist to tell him the improvements were short lived. Everybody but everybody thinks I should have a cardiac workup, but after gasping during lunch just now, I walked home -- not far, maybe 1/10 mile, but felt better. Walking to the gym and doing my PT for my shoulder also energizes me. I think it gets my blood flowing better and helps regulate my BP. Your post helps because I know that I need the PMR/SAI addressed and don't want to be stuck going through a bunch of tests for what I don't have while neglecting what my body and my inflammation levels say I do have.