Long term low dose steroid use
Hello again, I saw my GP after being on Prednisone for a month. He’s being very cautious, but said he won’t rule out seronegative RA. I’m more than happy about this approach because a gung-ho diagnosis isn’t any more convincing than being brushed aside.
He gave me another month of Prednisone. This time a low dose of 2.5mg every 2 days and depending on how I react to it, he will refer me to a rheumatologist, which hopefully means a diagnosis is on the horizon, be it RA or something similar.
Has anyone reading this had experience of low dose steroid every 2 days? And did it make any difference to your symptoms?
Thank you for writing in about this. I've been living with RA for 19 years and I feel what your GP is doing is the right thing. Low dose prednisone of 2.5mg every 2 days isn't much at all but should be enough to at least give you relief without side effects. I would try it out until you get into see a rheumatologist, hopefully sooner than later. Don't wait 3-6 months if you can, try to get in sooner or talk to the nurse to see if they can fit you in to your preferred one. I use to take 1mg everyday and it helped. I've also taken 5mg with relief. Hope all goes well, hang in there and we are always here if you need anything! -Effie, team member 
we're so glad that you found the sight also! It's great that Effie's comment was helpful - it can be nice to know others have been there an understand. And, it certainly makes sense that after feeling almost symptom free, tapering to 5mg felt depressing. Hopefully you will continue to to feel better than you did before, but as Effie mentioned in her comment, the sooner you can see the rheumatologist the better. I also just wanted to share this article one of our health leaders put together about what to expect at a first rheumatology appointment, https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/what-to-expect-at-your-first-rheumatologist-appointment. Please don't hesitate to reach out here any time, and please keep us posted with how you're doing. -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member) You're most welcome, this is what we are here for. To help community members in any capacity we can. I've known people who were put on prednisone right before an RA diagnosis by their GP and it helped tremendously. Some people's symptoms never even came back as their body was just reacting to something. But that's why it's a good idea to have these things ruled out by a rheumatologist. Prednisone can affect the bones, eyes etc and it's a drug that you need to be monitored on. Though it's in the "tool kit" so to speak for people with RA or any chronic disease when they need it. I'm glad you are reacting ok on it, and it's normal to feel it more a little bit now. It's a plus that overall you're better than before. Hope that continues from now on out for you! All the best. -Effie, team member
I take a low dose of prednisone everyday for years now. My doctor gives me up to 7mg a day to take as needed but most days I can get away with 3-4mg. Of course, he wants me off it all together but, frankly, I don't think that will ever happen. I hit a hard wall when I try to go below 4mg, but it is what it is. I also take a biologic called Kineret that has, after two decades of trying, turned out to be the right key for the lock that is my own personal case of RA. Now we mainly try to hold back the damage that decades of RA has caused rather than active illness, although some days it still rears it's ugly head. Sufficed to say you are not alone! Keep on keepin' on, DPM
It does I won't lie, but since I only take a small amount each day it's the best trade-off I can come up with at this point. I'm glad I'm not on those huge doses any more because they definitely ruined my body for years. I wouldn't want to go through that again. Over my multiple decades I've realize that everything with this disease is always a trade off. Trading good days now for possible bad days and side effects later. Trading no pain for possible more pain later. Basically trading off a pretty much sure thing now for a possible bad thing later. Does it always pay off? Not always, but moreso than not in my experience and I'd rather have quality of life now, in my younger years, than be 85 years old and regretting I spent my 40s in bed. That's just me, though, we all have to make the best decision for ourselves but whatever you choose, you are not alone! Keep on keepin' on, DPM Daniel Malito I have to agree with you. I spent my 30s with everyone around me talking about preparing for retirement and doing all the stuff they were hoping to do. I always thought that hey, you might not get to retirement and if you do, what are the chances you’ll have the same quality of life as 30 years old you? So I lived my 30s how I wanted to. I’m poor, but have no regrets. I cycled 10s of thousands of miles and now I can’t cycle to the shops. If I’d waited, I wouldn’t have any of those great memories and sense of achievement. Live life while you can. You only get one!
