Hello. I have come to a place in using prednisone that is causing me to wonder what to do next. I was taking 15 mg. of prednisone for about one month - it finally diminished much of my PMR pain so that I think it was working at that dosage. However, I then developed Thrush in my mouth and had to begin treating it with nystatin liquid (I am in week two of this treatment). After this outbreak I lowered my dose of prednisone to 12.5 mg. because that is the next step in the UK protocol treatment and I wanted to lower my risk of getting more fungal infections.
At 12.5 mg. the PMR pain slowly increased in my body so I assume that 12.5 mg. is not enough to control the pain or that my body has not adjusted yet to that dose. This is my first problem. Ordinarlily I believe the answer to this increased pain is to go back to 15 mg. However, there is a complication with that amount of prednisone that has me concerned about going back up to 15 mg.
I have noticed another problem arising. I noticed that I had herpes simplex outbreak in my nostril a few days ago, even after lowering the prednisone dose, and now this morning, a herpes cold sore developed on my my lip.
What to do about these infections vs. pain control with prednisone? I assume the prednisone is lowering my immune system so that these viruses and fungi break out. Has anyone encountered this type of problem? Taking the prednisone may lower my pain, but is it setting me up for worse infections? What to do ?
Thanks to anyone who may offer me a direction.