marilyn
Hi Shar, I live in California. Sounds like you are doing a little better at the higher dose. I had to go back up to 7 1/2 but have now gotten down to 6 1/4. I tried alternating 5 and 6 1/4 but that didn't do it. The fatigue is really getting me down. Seems worse than a year ago. I still have pain at 6 1/4 but it is bearable. Sometimes I think I have something else going on in my left hip as it seems to be worse than anywhere else. My hamstrings really hurt. I have never had a high sed rate but some people do not. It's really too bad that prednisone is so hard on ones body as we would be pain free if we could take more of it. I feel really great at 20. I read an article that said researchers were aware that respiratory infections are often present in the early stages of polymyalgia and since I had a respiratory infection just before I got it I am wondering if that is what triggered it. In the meantime I just plug along. Seems heat helps the pain for me. Hot baths and showers but I can't spend all my time in them. I could take Vioxx for the pain but did so for a year and am trying not to do that. So far so good.Keep you chin up. things will get better.