I can handle the pain if I know what is causing it, it is the depression lack of appetite and a general feeling of not feeling well and not to be interested in any of my hobbies that I have a job to cope with, do preds help with these symptoms as well as the pain, all I seem to read about is the pain not the other things, can someone please advise. thank you.
I know what you're saying Vanessa and I'm sure many others do too. I too seem to be managing the pain but the side effects from the pred have made life very difficult. Mornings are the worst for me as I have no inclination to get up and have no interest in things I used to love.
I know things will improve for us both in time but it's hard sometimes isn't it? Just be aware you're not alone and can always talk when you want to get things out.
I managed to complete my last year as a teaching assistant just about, with lots of support from school and retire on Friday which is daunting but quite welcome. I just wonder where I go from here.
im sure you will get lots of input from others on the forum who can help and advise you better than I but just try to hold on and take each day as it comes.
Elaine
I felt like this for about 8 weeks ,it got worse ,I could not get off the sofa without help and climbing stairs were aproblem.i could not be bothered with doing any thing ,a general feeling of malaise .I also had very little appetite.
after the second visit to GP ,he sent me for blood test ,prescribed 30 mg of pred,.Within 3 hours of first taking them ,I felt fantastic.yes I did have stiffness still but nothing like before taking pred.now on 15 mg and doing well.think it is wonderful drug
Hi vanessa. Before I was diagnosed with PMR back in May and I was unaware as to what was wrong with me the pain alone was enogh to give me the symptoms you have, i.e loss of appetite, lack of interest and depression. I am no expert but can honestly say that since my doctor prescribed Preds (currently on 25mg a day) I have never felt better, apart from getting tired fairly quickly if I overdo it.
Hope this helps and good luck. Dave
thank you for that, the problem is that i have not started on preds yet, these are my symptoms from PRM, and wondering if preds will help with these symptoms as well as with the pain. Vanessa.
Have you not had your symptoms very long? I felt exactly like this for about 3 months when I was in the 'acute' stage - I lost about a stone in 6 weeks and couldn't eat a proper meal. After then starting prednisolone I got back my appetite and within a month or so was feeling positively euphoric - it was such a relief to have got rid of the stiffness... I'm sure you'll feel better soon.
Hello Vanessa... I was diagnosed with poly myalgia two and a half years ago and can sympathise with how you are feeling. I felt exactly the same and was extremely worried before I was diagnosed, because the pain was spreading all over my body. The crunch came when. I couldn't turn over I bed or use the toilet alone. When I was diagnosed and started taking prednisalone, it was like a miracle and within 48 hours I was feeling much better and able to get up out of a chair unaided! I was concerned about taking steroids, and the weight increase
I hink I have had it for over a year, but my doctor said he thought it was depression etc, it was a specialist I saw for something completely different who thoght i had PMR and sent me to a rheumatologist privately, he has done a lot of tests on me and thinks it is defernately PMG
Sorry my previous message went before I had finished! And obviously I was concerned about the side effects. However, the drugs did thief job and although I am still asking steroids, I am walking and doing most normal things. I still get exhausted if I do too much and have days when I can do nothing, but one has to accept this.
hope my messages help.
Sorry I misunderstood but yes when I started taking pred it was only about 24 hours before I felt much better, it really helps and I'm sure you'll feel once you start taking them.
you just have to make sure you listen to your body and rest when you need to.
i hope you'll feel better very soon
Elaine
Hi All
You need some fun, laughter and a place to moan, groan and learn from others just like you. There is a forum (which I will put on the end of this post, which will be moderated) take a long look at it and if you want to join in do so. It is all patients with PMR and PMR&GCA. But a lot of us still post on here as well.
Whatever you decide to do, still keep coming to this forum as it always has a wealth of information on it.
Hi Vanessa
I have found an increased appetite on Prednisone - too much actually as I have to watch I don't munch away all day. I was reading the side effects of prednisone and one of them was an " unexplained feeling of happiness" I'm not sure if it was a misprint. However although I don't have depression or lack of appetite I do find that on 15mg of pred. I was a bit floatly and couldn't concentrate on anything and still couldn't get things done eg housework especially all the extras - after reducing my brain fog has lifted a bit but pain has returned mildly and I have to be careful not to do too much
Thank you so much for that, am having a problem filling out for the link as not very bright with computer, but can you confirm for me, probably difficult as guess most people get PMG confirmation faster than me, I believe it is well over a year that my problems with depression and eating are almost as bad as the pain, and do preds halt all of these symptoms? Rheumatologist was going to start meon 15 mg of preds this week, but I broke a bone in my foot last week and so he is defering it for another 3 weeks.Best Wishes Vanessa.
HI Vanessa 'if you go onto the web site that Mrs K has put on here you will find a newsletter with Tips and Tricks on it it well worth reading it explains all about how to get the best results while taking preds it has helped me under stand a lot about P M R good luck : your not on your own.
Depressive mood is part of pMR quite often. The pred doesn't do anything with the underlying autoimmune disorder that causes the symptoms, it manages the symptoms so you can have a better quality of life. That in itself and being in less pain will help the depression - chronic pain is a major cause of that. If the depression goes beyond that sometimes it helps to use an anti-depressant for a while but most of us have returned to fairly decent mental health once we are no longer in pain. It is impossible really for us to say "the pred will definitely do..." because we are all different in how we experience our PMR and how we respond to pred. You try it - and if the quality of your life in general doesn't improve then you query things. Once you have tried pred at about 15 to 20mg/day you should experience an improvement in all your symptoms associated with PMR within a few days - usually 70% is the figure quoted.
If you have PMR, it is fair to say you WILL feel better.