Good news! I have noticed pleasent change... After reducing from 5mg to 4.5, I have regain some sense of smell (and taste). Before PMR I would say I had very sensitive sense of smell, better then average. Amost all of it was gone. Now it is slowly coming back. Anyone else had similar experience?
Not here. Thought to reply because I am astounded at the range of experiences and physical challenges we all have under the banner of PMR and prednisone. I am coming to the conclusion that PMR is simply a catch all for a whole range of auto-immune inflammatory diseases, most of them unnamed and unknown. Oh...and undiagnosable. Grateful for prednisone, but astounded at how little this category of diseases is understood.
I haven't found this but I seem to be hearing better...could pred & pmr really affect hearing? or am I crazy?
Hi Nick
That sounds great !! I have certainly had impaired sense of taste/smell at 'high' GCA doses so hoping I will have a similar experience - after all it can make a huge difference to quality of life if you really enjoy subtle flavours and scents - especially if you were very aware of those previously - so good on you !!
Rimmy
I haven't had any problem with sense of taste or smell (same thing really) but I wonder if it is a pituitary thing and the pred affects the balance of hormones and things in some people because I have heard of others with the same complaint.
I have lost some hearing too, although it is hard to say if it is because of PMR or due to age... It is not fun getting old, add PMR to that and it is even more challenge 
.
PMR and GCA can certainly affect hearing - depending on which cranial arteries are affected. A survey sponsored by the NE support group has just turned up sufficient evidence for it to be looked at in more depth. In GCA in particular there are effects on ears - hearing and balance. And my suspicion is that GCA is just one end of the spectrum where "simple" PMR is at the other. I gather they have found a link in GCA to the small arteries supplying the outer layers of the vessel wall. And I'm pretty sure PMR is a problem in the microcirculation - the VERY small arteries.
I agree completely... It is a range of impairments that span from "light PMR" to full blown GCA and all shades in between. Although we can find some things in common, I think what makes diagnosis complex is the variation of symptoms/issues. On a top of that, some have other illnesses that complicates recovery and make it even more unique to each individual.
Add also, OA, RA, Osteoporosis, kidney inefficiency and you'll know when you are REALLY old.!😏 But, as you keep saying, "keep smiling" There are a lot out there that have much worse things.
I had smell and taste difficulties at first - gradually disppeared when reducing. One good result, however, was I lost 10 kilos in weight (never felt like eating).
Good for you, I can not wait to get back under 10 mg, where I felt good.
it will a slow drop down, but that is okay, just got to reach that goal.
Congratulations!!
I have impaired taste and am down to 10mg so hope this comes back as I reduce lower as I cook a lot and it is frustrating not tasting the fruits of my labour. But suddenly all the little blood spots disappeared from under the skin on the arms and no more nose bleeds which I had every time I dropped a half mg So things can look up slowly!
I lost my taste & sense of smell about 5 years ago, really not sure if it is the pred or perhaps due to a virus. Like you I had a very sensitive sense of smell and taste.
Oh how I wish it would come back. Ever hopeful!!
Mary
RE Getting Old
I try to look at getting old as being so furtunate I have reached the age I'm at and still be able to function within reason, in spite of PMR, sluggish muscles due to that, UA's, etc., but think of the wealth of experience and knowledge that we have accumulated throughout our life journey!
In retrospect, it's not so bad!
I have not had a problem with this and still have a heightened sense of taste and smell. I am glad it is returning for you as it is one of life's pleasures especially when it comes to food. It's a strange condition when we are all affected in different ways but still have many similar experiences both with PMR and the steroids.
I for one am not going to get old, the body may not be in the best of shape, but I working to have it better than last year. I try to focus on the future and get out and work on that a little each day. From where I was 6-7 weeks ago, the improvement dramatic! Smile on my face moving forward! 🙂🙂
I agree!😀💐
Yes viruses can do this - I had a very bad flu a few years ago and this was when I noticed my senes of taste seemed impaired even months after I recovered. Unfortunately losing complexity in taste/flavours/smells can lead to people overeating salt and/or sugar just to get 'impact' and this then can create other problems - I had to get a grip on that. But I think the pred has definitely not improved things.
Rimmy
I do agree with you regarding getting the impact of salt and sugar, its so good to taste something !!! but also to be aware of how much we add.
Mary
I have just been diagnosed with PMR and noticed a reasonably dramatic lack of taste with Prednisone.. vegetables taste pretty normal but things like chicken or steak seem to need a lot of salt which really doesn't do much much.I hope it comes back - already started tapering to 9mg in the AM and 5mg at night. I feel almost normal (lol) with joint pain and it's only been 2 weeks on steroids. Sense of smell seems normal.