I have been on Pred for sixteen months, started at 15 and now down to 5/6 thanks to Eileen's method of reducing. I put on weight especially over Xmas and felt miserable. I then bought a Nutribullit and now make shakes and smoothies. I have given up sweets, cakes, bread and biscuits and now eat more apples. I try and go to Zumba twice a week and aim to have a long walk at least once a week. Whether I shall be able to reduce Pred to 0 is debatable but I have started to feel more positive. This has all helped me and I hope will help others.
Whatever is a Nutribullit?
It's a liquidiser but does a better job! If you google it..it will explain better than I can!
Nice to hear you are feeling positive good luck to the future
Not wishing to put a downer on the Nutribullet - eating the fruit and veg whole is MUCH better for you. Processing fruit (especially) and veg removes the primary useful part of the fibre - even the versions of food processor that leave the fibre in rather than just extracting the juice break down the cell walls. This releases the sugars straight into the blood stream and you get an immediate sugar rush. It is very easy to swallow more than the daily recommended amount of sugar from one single glass of smoothie.
Problem is, I just don't like fruit, or salads!! Perhaps I wouldn't notice if I DRANK them.
The only fruit i eat are bananas i should eat more fruit but for some reason im not a lover of them
I eat very little fruit, it's all veg I eat most of the time. In fact, fruit should be restricted to a max of 1 serving of your 5 a day so it doesn't really matter if you don't like them.
A serving of fruit is about what you can hold in the palm of your hand: so the average apple, banana or orange sold in supermarkets these days is almost always 2 servings!
If you don't like veg - whether because of texture or taste - and easy way to hide them is to liquidise or (better) chop them very finely and add them to bolognaise sauce, to make the gravy in gulasch/stew or incorporated in other dishes. That's how my daughter smuggled veg into her children when they were little. And soup.
Think about why you don't like veg? Try different cooking methods: brussels sprouts, cauliflower or broccoli may be hard work when boiled to death. They taste totally different as roasted veg or done on the grill! I eat them raw (yes, brussels too) but I realise that is not for most people.
Luckily I adore veg. Don't eat many carbs, except the odd gateau. Don't like bread, or potatoes (unless they are mashed or "creamed".
There you are - win win! You don't NEED fruit or salad, just loads of different coloured veggies. If there is nothing else on the menu here I can eat there is almost always grilled veg as a side dish so I ask for either a large portion or if they would put some cheese on top - YUM!
I think bread and potatoes are rather overated too - though a freshly baked rye bread crust is a bit tempting...
Go on! Spoil yourself! They do make good bread over here, I give you that.
The rye here isn't quite as good, always made in a tin and it doesn't taste the same as a Laib - I've found a very good baker in Innsbruck though. The best is from an Edeka near Garmisch-Partenkirchen - always buy one when passing.
What they sell in the UK isn't bread...
Hi Tricia, I have a Ninja (it takes care of the fibre and pips so it means you get all the nutrients). I haven't used it since before Christmas. I don't eat biscuits, sweets or cakes. I used to go to Zumba but since the onset of PMR there is very little I can do, as it tires me out.
I don't even go for a walk as it also tires me out, but I am sure it won't always be like this.
These German/Austrian breads ----especially rye ---- are so good. There is German breakfast place here in Potland where my family and I go for breakfast/brunch on weekends.
Try some fresh pineapple! I guarantee you'll become addicted--
Barbara
I have been on prednisolone for fifteen months, after having a fall when I broke my shoulder. I started on 15mg, and very slowly have brought it down every four weeks to 10mg which was perfect. IAs soon as I dropped to 8mg, I started getting strong pain in my arms and wrists. The reduction regime given to me by my Rheumatologist was to 8,7,6 for 4 weeks each, then 5,4,3,2 1 for 8 weeks each. I dread to think what I would be like if I drop from the 8mg that I am at now. I would be so grateful to have your input.
Regards,
Grace
I can only repeat: contrary to what some doctors appear to think, when reducing you are NOT reducing relentlessly to zero. You are reducing to the lowest dose that manages your symptoms UNTIL THE UNDERLYING AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THE SYMPTOMS WE CALL PMR HAS GONE INTO REMISSION.
A doctor would not demand that a patient with RA who is well managed on a DMARD reduce that DMARD dose to zero. They know the RA symptoms would come back. They would not demand a patient with high BP who is well managed on antihypertensives reduce the dose to zero, their BP would probably go back to where it was before. It is no different with PMR: it is a chronic disease which - unlike the other two problems I have mentioned - will very likely go into remission at some point. It may be in 1 year (unusual), 2 years (it happens) or 4 or more years (much more likely).
You should probably be at about 9mg, if you were under the Bristol rheumatology department, after 15 months you would just be considering a reduction from 10 to 9mg. If your current rheumy cannot accept you need to pause your reduction at the very least, go back up a bit at best, then present the situation to your GP. If they won't play the game you need another doctor.
Hello Grace...as per Eileen I am taking 5 one day, 6 for the next six days, 5 then 6 for five days, 5 then 6 for four days, 5 then 6 for three days and so on until I reach just 5.
then I shall probably stay on that for two months at least. Just have to see how I feel.
hope this makes sense.
All the best,
Tricia.
Good afternoon Eileen,
As my arms and wrists are really painful, I have decided to go up to 10mg, and hopefully the pain will ease off.
I saw a rheumatologist last year, and he gave me the reduction regime, but no follow up consultation. My GP said to come back in a couple of months and let her know how I am getting on. I wonder if it would be ok to go back to a higher dosage, and if the pain goes away, could I stay on that dosage for a while?
Thank for helping all of us on the forum. It is greatly appreciated.
Grace
Q: how do you know when pmr has "gone into remission?" Thanks, Barbara