We did discuss ways of getting going in the morning - some people find using an electric blanket put on before you get up makes them nice and warm and their blood flow is well set up so that they are able to get up, get stretching and moving quickly and that is a way to help PMR other than with the pred. Others find a warm shower is enough to enable them to get out for a walk or go to the gym and go something which improves their stiffness. Like everything in this darn disease, we're all different - and that includes how we deal with mornings! MrsUK says morning starts at 11.30am.

 

Eileen

I was also one of those people who would feel at my best at the end of the day.  I never tried splitting the dose but it does sound as though it could be a good idea as long as it doesn't interrupt sleep too much.  However, perhaps in a few more days back on a slightly higher dose, the stiffness will improve anyway - I do hope so.

 

That is exactly the point I keep plugging - I know I must be getting boring . If you are still in pain and suffering similar symptoms to those you had at dx - you are on too low a dose. This has two effects: you are not functioning well AND, much more importantly for the longterm, you are leaving your body in a state of inflammation which is bad for it. At too low a dose what is happening is that the dose you take at breakfast has to work on that inflammation that is resurfacing and get rid of it before you feel better. If the dose is enough to keep it controlled there isn't that delay. You just carry on feeling reasonably good. It's like the theory of leaving your heating on 24/7 during the winter being cheaper than turning it off and only turning it back on when the house is really too cold to be comfortable any more. The heating has to work hard to warm the structure up again and only then do you feel OK. If you leave the heating on it just ticks along maintaining the temp. I've done that for years in the UK and our utility bills weren't any higher but we were much more comfortable!

 

Yes, we know the thought of taking corticosteroids is scary because they keep telling us about all the side effects. But there are side-effects to NOT taking pred. And at 6mg you really are on a low dose and, provided you are careful about eating (weight gain and diabetes) and being checked regularly (osteoporosis, diabetes etc) you should be able to keep the pred sideeffects to a minimum.

 

Eileen

 

My understanding is that 6 isn't particularly high, US sites suggest that 7 still indicates good control whereas higher doesn't. It is used as an indicator that maybe you are approaching a Type2 diabetes status and more care with diet maight ba appropriate. Of course steroids can increase BS levels so you would expect the Hb1ac to be a bit on the higher side. And if your doc didn't mention it she would appear to be not yet concerned. Stop worrying!!!!

 

Enough pred? - give it a week or so to settle down. If you still feel the effect could be better and where you are at isn't good enough, then try 7mg. With time 6mg may bring the inflammation down anyway. But being in pain all day is not controlled - you may feel an hour or so of being stiff is acceptable but I don't think real pain is acceptable. Rick splits his dose of 8mg as 5mg/3mg morning and evening respectively and finds that doesn't affect his sleep and makes the early morning much better. If the stiffness and pain are returning overnight that may well make sleeping difficult so that is something worth trying as well.

 

Don't worry - that just makes the PMR worse!!!!

 

Eileen