problems with Prednisolone

[Cath278]

Can anyone help with this question? I have recently been diagnosed with Giant Cell and I am taking 40mgs of Prednisolone daily. Besides the usual symtoms I also have the most appalling tiredness. Is this normal? Should your quality of life be so affected?Would appreciate some help. cath278

[Cath278]

Hi Patsy. Hope all well with you. I have to wait this long because I dont have private insurance. Its the way in this country. Your right about the treatment.Its daily steroids for about two years. I changed docs the other day and best thing Icould have done. She explain everything to me and I am feeling much better and more in control again. I was very frighted that I would lose my eyesight as my smptoms wre very sudden and dramtic.I am very grateful to Medhelp and its members. I had no-one to talk to or compare notes so felt scared and isolated. Things so much better now! Thanks for your intrerest and if you ever need to chat feel free to contact me. Best wishes,cath278.

[patsy10]

Why do you have to wait until May for an appt?  That's a long time.  As far as I know, the treatment is steroids anyway.  This just seems like an urgent problem to me.

[Cath278]

Hi. not sure about this but I may have "blocked" you by mistake! If i did, sorry!!! If you want to get in touch please do. Hope things good in your world.cath278

[Cath278]

Hi Dr. Thank you very much for reply. I am seeing my dr tomorrow and feel better and more organized thanks to you. Ive been a bit out of sorts latley and a bit frightened but thanks to  you and Med Help members will be back on form again. Ill let you know what happens. Thanks again.Much appreciated, cath278.

[Cath278]

Hi. thank you very much for advice. I have been taking meds first thing in the morning,empty stomach.Makes sense of course. Will correct this first thing in the morning! I am seeing my dr. in the pm and feel better equipped thanks to you. Will let  you know how I get on. Hope all good with you...  cath278

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

I would like you to consider your tiredness as a side effect of prednisolone, apart from the other side effects. There is evidence in the literature that prednisolone causes fatigue. This, along with the suggestion by ampky can be the points to mention to your neurologist.

Regards

[ampky]

I'm far from being a doc, but I THINK RDW values are high (seen in a CBC) with Giant Cell.  If so, make sure your B12, folic acid and iron levels are ok. (A doc can run blood tests for these.)  If one of the levels are low, it could be why you're tired.

Best of luck!

[Cath278]

Thank you for your reply. I wrote back last night but am new to computors so it went into space I think! I have been diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis (Nov07) based on symptoms,sudden,ongoing pain in left temple,pain in jaw-cheek bone,Very sore eyes,vertigo and nausea and tender scalp. My ESR results were55 and C-protien raised. I have not had a biopsy and mt app to see a neurologist and opthalomlogist are not until May08.I think I have blurred vision but hard to say with the cataracts. Im taking decreasing mgs ofPrednisolone but symptoms return at 35 mgs.
Im not feeling so good. I am very tired all the time. I have to take a nap every day. I have the usual side effects of steroids.Moon face, lump on my neck, sometimes flying high then crashing. I wish I knew how I should be feeling. I am finding it a struggle to keep up with day to day things.
I would very much appricate a reply. Thank you for taking the time out to help.
Regards, cath278.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Can you elaborate a bit on your symptoms ? And is it Giant Cell arteritis you are diagnosed with ? Tiredness is known to be associated with Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis).

Regards