Hi everyone,
Just diagnosed, I am 53 year old woman, had stressful start to the year then this seemed to kick in. I wanted to say how useful I have found these posts, taking tablets in the morning has helped, I was getting a detatched weird feeling about 2 hours before tablets were due, that seems ok now.
Took 20mg for a month, now on 15mg, going onto 10 next week, the adjustment period seemed to be about 2 weeks of feeling odd and sometimes increased pain.
It's the inconsistency that is difficult, I have odd days of feeling close to normal then days where I am quite stiff, there doesn't seem to be an obvious pattern - is this \"normal\"?
Cheers all
Kimster
Hi Kimster. Sorry to hear you've joined the PMR brigade but pleased that it seems to be reasonably well controlled. Yes, I would say you're following a familiar pattern - 'normal' - in the loosest sense. 20mgs/ 15mgs/10mgs is quite a fast drop but if you're coping with it then that's fine. I went 15mgs/12.5mgs/11mgs/10mgs over a period of 4 months and am now reducing at the rate of just 1mg over a 7 week period. I would point out though, I think I'm on the slowest reduction of anyone on here, so don't take mine as normal! I know exactly what you mean about feeling detached - until very recently it was as though I was two people side by side, one with a body and one with a brain but never quite getting it together :? However I'm now down to 8mgs about to go to 7mgs and have had the best couple of weeks since diagnosis in October last year. A 10mg drop in two months is quite hefty so I would expect you to be experiencing some side effects - if it gets too uncomfortable you must mention it to the Doctor, he might just slow you down a tad. Do hope you'll be feeling really well soon.
Regards
Lizzie Ellen
10mg drop in two months is quite hefty so I would expect you to be experiencing some side effects - if it gets too uncomfortable you must mention it to the Doctor, he might just slow you down a tad.
taking tablets in the morning has helped, I was getting a detatched weird feeling about 2 hours before tablets were due, that seems ok now.
Hallo Kimster and LizzieEllen, Hope this is a good day for you and everyone.
I absolutely endorse what LizzieEllen says about mentioning any discomforts and weirdneses to your Doctor. As I have already posted under Time of Day my experience was similar to yours in some ways ( spaced out detached feeling but mine came AFTER taking the Pred. and was sorted when I took it at bed-time instead of morning. My Doc said this was a shot in the dark but that it obviously worked for me.
I do get the feeling that many of our doctors are much more clued up to the individuality of our reactions and symptoms than when I had my first spell more than ten years ago. On that occasion, though, I have to admit, the rule book treatment did work for me. This time it's different. I'm lucky to still be with the same Doctor and he does listen and, as he said, learn. Everyone is different ant we vary as individuals on different occasions. At one time I asked him why I was reacting so differently. \"Well, you ARE ten years older\" (! ) Quite.
:D My GP listens to anything I tell him about how I feel the medication is affecting me. He makes written notes as well as what he enters on the computer. From his attitude, I get the impression that PMR is one of his pet subjects. I feel very fortunate to be under his care, because care he certainly does.
So pleased that your experience is similar to mine Madgewildfire. You hear of some people who are fobbed off by the medics and I find this so distressing. Like yours, my GP :doctor: listens to me and it makes so much difference. As my GP said after I saw the Consultant 'I want to know everything she says and everything she does because she knows far more about PMR than I do'. Very refreshing.
Hope you're keeping well.
Lizzie Ellen