My strategy while on prednisone for 14 months worked well. Take your dose early in the day to mitigate sleep disturbance. Always with a meal or snack.
Suggest an antacid with calcium and magnesium at night.
Melatonin has been found to have
some anti inflammatory effect.
Vitamin D and some weight bearing activities to to slow down
bone loss. Exercise can burn off
the hyper irritability.
Walk and take bread out of your diet for weight loss.
Check your blood pressure monthly.
Wear sunscreen. My major complaint eas skin atrophy and bruising that persists.
You may ask your physician about a baseline Dexascan.
It is best to wean off steroids very slowly even if you start to feel much better quickly.
I also suggest seeing an ophthalmologist and discuss potential related symptoms.
We are learning here how prevalentPMR is but you can expect a good sustainable remission.
Actually, and happily, it does resolve in most cases, after 1-5 years. It’s a self-limited auto-immune condition. People who get better typically don’t stay on sites like this for obvious reasons, so it makes it seem like no one gets better.
it appeared suddenly in my life last July. 10 mg of prednisone got me almost back to normal within a day or 2. I have tried to taper several times, one time getting down to 2.5, but stress in one former another caused a flareup of symptoms. I have had none of the side effects that you have mentioned. I lost weight because I went on the keto diet to try to fight the inflammation. I am actually thinner than I want to be.
Hi. Glad to hear that it will be in remission at some point. True, totally cured people would not be on a support group. I’ve had three days on prednisone and I actually was able to put my pants on today without much trouble! Unbelievable! But side effects such as headache and bright red cheeks have already presented themselves. I’m on a low dose of 15 so I’m glad majority of the horrific pain is lessened, so I guess I’ll be grateful.
My strategy while on prednisone for 14 months worked well. Take your dose early in the day to mitigate sleep disturbance. Always with a meal or snack.
Suggest an antacid with calcium and magnesium at night.
Melatonin has been found to have
some anti inflammatory effect.
Vitamin D and some weight bearing activities to to slow down
bone loss. Exercise can burn off
the hyper irritability.
Walk and take bread out of your diet for weight loss.
Check your blood pressure monthly.
Wear sunscreen. My major complaint eas skin atrophy and bruising that persists.
You may ask your physician about a baseline Dexascan.
It is best to wean off steroids very slowly even if you start to feel much better quickly.
I also suggest seeing an ophthalmologist and discuss potential related symptoms.
We are learning here how prevalentPMR is but you can expect a good sustainable remission.
Thanks for the suggestions! I take my pred at night, I tend toward irritability with prednisone so my dr suggested night. I’m working with a physiotherapist so gentle exercises now and walking, these are to be built up over time. I truly can’t believe how many people have PMR, my best friend has it!
Thanks for weighing in. I too have been loosing weight which I definitely don’t need to be doing. I am concerned that it may have to do with my elevated blood glucose levels so I am meeting with my Rheumatologist tomorrow to try to figure this out. I know that prednisone can cause this elevation in glucose which can translate into (prednisone)diabetes. I sure don’t want to have to start taking insulin to control this. I am beginning to taper so maybe that will help. Like you I am watching what I eat to help fight the inflammation so maybe that is also contributing to weight loss. So much to think about.
I have been taking prednisone since March 1, 2023. My bloodwork in December was (excellent) per my primary care doctor but went into the pre diabetic range after 2 months on steroids when my rheumatologist did a one time a1c test. My primary refuses to do any lab work until I’m off steroids.
On Friday I had another phone appointment with a different doctor. He explained I had steroid induced hyperglycemia. He further related that if I we’re diabetic insulin would not be effective.
At age 85 it is very difficult to juggle the different symptoms and distinguish what is from the PMR, what is from the prednisone, what is from my other conditions, etc. I was ready to stop eating since whatever I chose helped one aspect of PMR but was harmful for a different area. Then the doctor told me not eating would also raise my glucose levels. Damned if you do and dammed if you don’t.
I’m seeing my rheumatologist on 6/22 after my bone density test. Started prednisone at 15 mg. Currently I’m at 8 mg and decreasing by 1mg every 14 days. Most days I have mild/minimal symptoms. I’ll discuss options to taper slowly as I get closer to the finish line. I’m realistic and realize I’ll probably be on prednisone the rest of my life although my doctors won’t say that. This site has been a lifesaver for me.
Hi, yes. I have experienced severe side effects. High blood pressure, high A1C, memory loss, severe fatigue (literally rest all day) and difficulty breathing upon any exertion. I was put on 40mg for suspected GCA, PMR already diagnosed. After two we began to tapper prednisone but I get a boost for a day or two in energy but then go back to extreme fatigue and difficulty breathing. Doctor recommends we move to Kevzara. I think that is my only alternative as seems like prednisone is just no working for me. The good news is prednisone has been managing pain. So, yes, I think everyone is reacts differently. I have been on prednisone in the past for an acute condition but not these high doses for so long and no side effects. Thanks
Thanks for weighing in. I too have been loosing weight which I definitely don’t need to be doing. I am concerned that it may have to do with my elevated blood glucose levels so I am meeting with my Rheumatologist tomorrow to try to figure this out. I know that prednisone can cause this elevation in glucose which can translate into (prednisone)diabetes. I sure don’t want to have to start taking insulin to control this. I am beginning to taper so maybe that will help. Like you I am watching what I eat to help fight the inflammation so maybe that is also contributing to weight loss. So much to think about.
The anti inflammatory diet can contribute to weight loss.
The key cytokine in PMR is
interleukin-6. It may play a role in
weight loss. I found it easy to lose
weight when there were autoimmune symptoms.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
My strategy while on prednisone for 14 months worked well. Take your dose early in the day to mitigate sleep disturbance. Always with a meal or snack.
Suggest an antacid with calcium and magnesium at night.
Melatonin has been found to have
some anti inflammatory effect.
Vitamin D and some weight bearing activities to to slow down
bone loss. Exercise can burn off
the hyper irritability.
Walk and take bread out of your diet for weight loss.
Check your blood pressure monthly.
Wear sunscreen. My major complaint eas skin atrophy and bruising that persists.
You may ask your physician about a baseline Dexascan.
It is best to wean off steroids very slowly even if you start to feel much better quickly.
I also suggest seeing an ophthalmologist and discuss potential related symptoms.
We are learning here how prevalentPMR is but you can expect a good sustainable remission.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi. Glad to hear that it will be in remission at some point. True, totally cured people would not be on a support group. I’ve had three days on prednisone and I actually was able to put my pants on today without much trouble! Unbelievable! But side effects such as headache and bright red cheeks have already presented themselves. I’m on a low dose of 15 so I’m glad majority of the horrific pain is lessened, so I guess I’ll be grateful.
Thanks for the suggestions! I take my pred at night, I tend toward irritability with prednisone so my dr suggested night. I’m working with a physiotherapist so gentle exercises now and walking, these are to be built up over time. I truly can’t believe how many people have PMR, my best friend has it!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have been taking prednisone since March 1, 2023. My bloodwork in December was (excellent) per my primary care doctor but went into the pre diabetic range after 2 months on steroids when my rheumatologist did a one time a1c test. My primary refuses to do any lab work until I’m off steroids.
On Friday I had another phone appointment with a different doctor. He explained I had steroid induced hyperglycemia. He further related that if I we’re diabetic insulin would not be effective.
At age 85 it is very difficult to juggle the different symptoms and distinguish what is from the PMR, what is from the prednisone, what is from my other conditions, etc. I was ready to stop eating since whatever I chose helped one aspect of PMR but was harmful for a different area. Then the doctor told me not eating would also raise my glucose levels. Damned if you do and dammed if you don’t.
I’m seeing my rheumatologist on 6/22 after my bone density test. Started prednisone at 15 mg. Currently I’m at 8 mg and decreasing by 1mg every 14 days. Most days I have mild/minimal symptoms. I’ll discuss options to taper slowly as I get closer to the finish line. I’m realistic and realize I’ll probably be on prednisone the rest of my life although my doctors won’t say that. This site has been a lifesaver for me.
Hi, yes. I have experienced severe side effects. High blood pressure, high A1C, memory loss, severe fatigue (literally rest all day) and difficulty breathing upon any exertion. I was put on 40mg for suspected GCA, PMR already diagnosed. After two we began to tapper prednisone but I get a boost for a day or two in energy but then go back to extreme fatigue and difficulty breathing. Doctor recommends we move to Kevzara. I think that is my only alternative as seems like prednisone is just no working for me. The good news is prednisone has been managing pain. So, yes, I think everyone is reacts differently. I have been on prednisone in the past for an acute condition but not these high doses for so long and no side effects. Thanks
The anti inflammatory diet can contribute to weight loss.
The key cytokine in PMR is
interleukin-6. It may play a role in
weight loss. I found it easy to lose
weight when there were autoimmune symptoms.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction