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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 10 12:05pm | Replies (1906)
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@marymckeith

I am suffering from EXTREME weakness from Prednisone. Don't know whether I should go back up to 20mg. I don't want to because I am practically a zombie now —numbness in face etc.. Does anyone else have this profound weakness? I am not sure my doctor believes me. My vital signs are good except slightly elevated diabetes markers. Guess I don't dare drive. Dr did have me start on 1,000 mg of metformin for diabetes and I stopped because I thought it made weakness worse. Having trouble finding rheumatologist.

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Replies to "I am suffering from EXTREME weakness from Prednisone. Don't know whether I should go back up..."
Teri | @tsc | Sep 4, 2023

Hi @marymckeith, PMR/GCA made me weak. It changed for the better when I went on Prednisone, although, I think that, psychologically, the memory of that weakness created anxiety for me and made me hesitant to do much.
Have you had your vitals checked? After open heart surgery, a year before PMR, I was very weak, due to lack of oxygen.
PMR and GCA can also cause anemia (the anemia of chronic inflammation) and that made me incredibly weak. After walking for an hour, all I could do was collapse on the couch.
Numbness in your face could indicate GCA. Is your scalp tender, do you have headaches, problems with vision, a dry coughetc.?
Was 20 mg the highest dosage of prednisone you've been prescribed?
If you have developed GCA, the dosage is at least double that. I was put on 40 mg prednisone and my weakness, other symptoms resolved.
I wish you the best.

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