Has anyone on low-dose prednisone had pancreatitis?

Hi @vandyms1974, I changed the title of the discussion you started to reflect the specific question you have, namely whether anyone with PMR and taking low-dose prednisone also has pancreatitis. I think @microbe1943 may have experience that she could share.

Vandy, do you have pancreatitis or are you concerned about getting pancreatitis?

I do not currently have pancreatitis but am concerned prednisone use may damage my pancreas. Is that a common outcome. I am om 2.5 to 5mgs.

One person does not make a trend, but I have been on 2.5 mg prednisone for about 10 years without any problems but thin skin and bruising.

@jfannarbor Thought you might be interested to know that a UK PMR expert (Dr. Dusgupta) keeps his patients on 2-3 mgs. prednisone indefinitely with little or no side-effects. The low dose seems to keep PMR from recurring.

I went on 2.5 mg prednisone because PMR was recurring so often. It kept it away for about 5 years. I am still on it 10 years later with constant mild shoulder girdle and hip girdle pain. I know that I would feel better at higher doses of prednisone, but just living with it.

This info is very encouraging. I want to stay on low-dose as the pain is persistent & try to live with it as much as possible due to side effects. I don't want to damage my pancreas nor gain a lot of weight.

A second question! Have any of you had Covid and did it cause a great flair in your symptoms? I am still wearing a mask and distancing when I go out.

I had covid after receiving three vaccinations. The case was extremely mild and did not cause any flare in my PMR symptoms.

I had a mild case of COVID around New Year’s - and yes, it caused a flare (my CRP and Sed rate elevated sharply). I was on 6mg at the time; my Dr. Put me on 10mg for 2 weeks - then I have done a VERY slow taper (.5mg every 2 months) ever since to prevent further flares.

Like @scpartain, I also had COVID after 2 vaccines and a booster. It was very mild case for me also and my PMR stayed in remission.

Have had pancreatitis 2 times in years past, but, not while on prednisone.