How often has this question been asked!!! After moving and flu I have pains in my shoulders, arms and upper legs. Don't know if it is after effects or a flare. Pain about 4. Eileen, please, please, I need your advice (you know my history). I can cope, but should I up the pred just in case, and, if so, by how much? (I've been on 6 mgs for several weeks). Thanks in advance. Constance
Constance, please don't worry yourself you have already been through a lot lately what with the move and flu. I am sorry I cannot offer any advise if I was you I'd be asking exactly the same question! Someone will be along very soon with some advise. In the meantime try and relax, I know that's harder than it sounds. All the best, christina
Constance, if you didn't up your dose during your episode of flu or mark time (not reduce) during the move, then you should certainly up it now. Even if the returning pain is due to the move or the flu, it still means that the inflammation is not under control. So you would be wise to increase to at least whichever was the dose at which you last felt comfortable. In view of the flu and the house move, if it was me I would be inclined to increase to at least 7.5 or 8mg. Hopefully you will have the answer within a couple of days as to whether that is sufficient. Good luck.
MrsO has said it all - you should probably have been taking a bit more pred during the move and especially since you've had flu too. Better late than never!
I'm going through a bout of severe bronchitis and my doctor put me on 40 mgs preg for one day, 30 the next day, and then 20 for three days and then down to the 9 where I was. Can hardly wait to see how this plays out. I do think it is wise for you to up your dosage for a bit to help you over the hump. Hope the move was exciting. We are planning on selling our home and moving to Virginia this summer. Do you have any helpful hints other than not to get the flu at the same time?
Was there also a lot of inflammation with the bronchitis? Otherwise that seems a big boost in the dose - it's the sort of dose my granddaughter gets for her asthma.
On house moving - let other people do as much as possible! Especially the packing, and make sure all boxes are well labelled so you don't have to rush from box to box to find essentials! Sometimes you can find companies who will set up your furniture for you. I said somewhere else: keep a box with your bedding and essentials for the first 2 days in the car with you so it doesn't get lost.
I had one move where we literally swopped houses from one end of the village to the other. I followed my removal men around with a vacuum cleaner and left the house totally dust free. Unfortunately, my opposite number was too proud to wear her glasses 
I arrived at the door about 2 minutes ahead of the removal van to find rather a lot of dust bunnies and no time to deal with them. It wasn't helped by the fact it was chucking it down with rain!
If you have any time to get a company in to make sure the new house is clean do so - and book a hotel/motel/B&B nearby for the first night at least. Then pray to the weather gods...
Yes - unless you are up-sizing or going into a similar property - start sorting out and reducing NOW!!
Can't say move was exciting - more like exhausting, but at 75 one can't move as spritely as one used to. Good luck!
Thank you! Will try 8 mgs. How quickly should I then reduce?
Thanks! You know me and I thought I'd "wait and see". Think I waited too long!!!
My mother-in-law always said she waited 3 days to see if things would get better - I pointed out that that isn't to be recommended if you are having a heart attack or stroke...
You know, a house move is said to be one of the top 3 most stressful life events there are. PMR and stress don't mix well!
Don't say that!!!! I am 75 also and really look forward to it. Eileen he gave me a dose like that for he said I was one step away from the hospital for I could get so little air into my lungs.
Constance, if you feel a big improvement in your pain within the next few days, then if it was me I would remain on the increased dose for at least a couple of weeks, just to make sure that you are completely over the flu and have de-stressed after the move before trying a slow reduction back towards 6, via 7.5 and 7mg. Once at 6.5, perhaps you should remain there for longer than previously as 6 proved a step too far last time.
I like the "3 most stressful events" - wow - now I know why I was stressed out. after all, as you know, that was our 17th move.
May I ask how many times you have moved?
That's what I thought!
I've been in my current home for 30 years and before that I moved four times. I am looking forward to going to a warmer climate (so tired of the snow) and down sizing a little. Can't down size too much for I sell on eBay and Etsy and have quite abit of stock. My son moved to Virginia and they love it and so did we when we went to visit. It is going to seem so good to be near family.
My reply is being moderated for some reason so I will try again. I have lived in my house for 30 years so have accumulated lots of stuff so it will be interesting to down size. Really looking forward to a warm climate and no snow. Before that I moved 4 times but it probably won't be as easy this time. I will remember to take a higher dose of predisone though after reading all messages.
A typo sometimes triggers the computer if it has a stop followed by a letter with no space between - I wish they could introduce a "view and edit" if they are going to capture it!
I'm glad you think downsizing will be interesting - it's the word I'd use too but as a Brit I mean it a bit differently having done it a few times in my life!!!!!!
I have a home business where I sell items on the internet. I named the sites so maybe that is what triggered the problem. My inventory has to go with us but I should be able to get alot of the personal things down to a reasonable size. Going from a 10 room, 2 bath house down hopefully to a 5 room should be a treat. Back to the PMR. I am now down to 20 for the next two days and then he said to drop down to where I was at 9. Will this be a problem? Should I drop to 15 and then lower again?
It shouldn't be a problem - you needed the high dose for something else and it shouldn't have been long enough to cause steroid withdrawal problems - try it and seehow you get on. The longer you stay high, the more difficult it will be.