Hello @jkincaid21, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @legendsts and other members. I've had 2 occurrences of PMR but now it has been in remission since 2016. Like you and others I think an anti-inflammatory diet plays a big part in living with PMR. I didn't have an issue with the puffy face either but the longest I was on prednisone was my first occurrence and that was 3-1/2 years. I didn't start eating healthy and worrying about my weight until the second time around with PMR which lasted 1-1/2 years. I think as you taper off of prednisone you will be able to tell whether or not you are going to quickly. I started both times at 20 mg and eventually found a tapering schedule with my rheumatologists recommendation that worked for me. He also suggested I keep a daily log of the dosage and the pain level I was feeling when I first got up in the morning. That log really helped the second time around with PMR.

Did your doctor or rheumatologist provide or recommend a tapering schedule for you?

I was diagnosed 2016. 15 mgs took all the pain away but I did reduce too quickly a couple of times in the beginning and had flares, causing me to up my dose from 7 to 10 for a while. I am in my fifth year and am on 3 1/2 mgs for the last few months. PMR lasts an average of 5.9 years. Very few have remission by or before 2 years. Males get off more frequently. You might google the 2017 Mayo/Mathison study on PMR and prednisone which states the 5.9 years average. When reaching 10 mgs, it is advisable to reduce by 1/2 mgs on a slow reduction schedule. I have given my schedule a day or ago. You must also consider that once on long term prednisone,your adrenal glands cease production of cortisol and they must be awakened around 6 or 7 mgs. You cannot immediately stop using pred because of this. Sometimes it takes up to a year for them to function or not.