Pmr symptoms and conditions

I was put on 20 ml prednisone a day for PMR . My doctor said with such a low dose I shouldn't experience many side effects. WRONG! The first month was great. No pain and I felt better than I'd felt in years. Then the side effects started...every known side effect hit me. After being on the drug for two months I told my doctor I couldn't stand the side effects any more and to please ween me off. Two weeks ago which was end of third month I was completely weened off the drug. I still have blurred vision so bad I can't function...I can't work, I can't drive, I can't read. I can barely see at all. My question is will my vision improve? So far its seems to be getting worse and my vision was great before prednisone.

Depression was bad when I was on drug but seems to be even worse now that I'm off.

The only side effects that have diminished are appetite even though I haven't lost one oz of 40 lb weight gain while I was on prednisone and muscle cramps are not quite as bad. I am sleeping a little better and hot flashes aren't as bad..

I have been on Prednisone for 3 months for PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)and so far the pros have far outweighed the cons. PMR is an extremely painful condition that affects the shoulders and hips especially at night and early morning, I spent all of December and January sitting upright in a chair trying to sleep, untill I was diagnosed and prescribed Prednisone and oxycodone. I started at 25 mg and I'm now down to 15mg. The side effects that I do have are weight gain (about 10 pounds), mild mood swings and insomnia.I am an avid bicycle rider (25-35 training miles per day on week days a lot more over the weekend),I am 60 years old and now back on the bike. The strange thing is after about one month back in training I am much stronger this year than last even with the added weight. Last year, a solo, 30 mile hard ride I would average about 17 mph this week I went out on my same training ride at 19.4 mph, over 2 mph faster. Everything I read about Prednisone says that it wastes muscles,but I have become stronger. Is it possible that it's the Prednisone?

I keep feeling like I have to yawn and can't catch my breath I take 150 Mg of it I take it at about 10:00 am every morning would I be better taking it at a later time?

In January I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). I was put on 60 mg prednisone and an array of other meds to help with pain, inflammation, water retention, and stomach problems from everything. I've lost some vision from the TA. I've experienced the weight gain, the moon face, stomach problems, depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of memory and concentration, and generally feel miserable. The brain fog is awful! I don't trust myself doing much of anything these days!

When I was first put on the prednisone it completely took away all my TA and PMR symptoms. I could walk and get up and down again, didn't have the headaches, and didn't hurt all over.
My doctor tried to taper my dosage about 6 weeks ago and all my symptoms returned and increased as I went down on the prednisone. He upped me back to 60. That time the symptoms didn't go away. They lessened but were still there.

He's trying to taper again, and I'm down to 30 mg now and feel worse and worse. My sed rate has been normal, so the doctor thinks it's from the prednisone. Does it mimic all the TA and PMR symptoms? I also am having a lot of hand and feet cramping.

Does anyone else have these two illnesses? I would be interested in your experience. I want off these meds! Anyone found an alternative approach that's helped?

God bless!