Polymyalgia Rheumatica And GCA :: Breathlessness - Caused By Reduction In Prednisolone
I started my PMR/GCA journey on 7th January 2015 - and what a dreadful year it has been!
I have now reduced from 60mg Pred to 35 mg Pred each day. I have had a tendency to be breathless ever since I started Pred and put on weight, however, the last couple of weeks this breathlessness has got much worse. I only have to get up from my seat and take a few steps, and I am puffing and blowing and my heart is pounding - so much so that I cannot speak. Can anyone help, please? Is it the reduction in Pred that is causing this? I am due to go down to 30mg a day from tomorrow, but I am not sure whether I should reduce, in case the breathlessness gets worse.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica And GCA :: FRUIT
I love fruit and eat plenty,also i have Manuka honey, my question is as we have to be aware of diabetes should we be aware how much we eat, does our body process natural sugar in a different way to processed sugars.Just a thought, been awake and up since 5.30( and was hungry so thought have some fruit before breakfast then thought am i having too much)
View 19 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica :: Could I Have Shingles?
I've been experiencing some aches and pains over the past few days, it started off with aching in my wrists up to my elbows, now my joints in my legs and ankles are aching, also a bit of a stiff/ sore neck and top of spine is sore. In general my whole body is aching, feels sore to touch, throbbing and from time to time can get sharp pains. I don't have any rash as yet.
I have been in contact with chickenpox lately so didn't know if Id caught anything from that at.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica And Shingles
I was thinking about PMR and although I am very nearly stable on 10 mg Prednisolone it is a knife edge dose. I still have many side effects from 4 years use of the steroid. In some kind of order they are:-
Muscle wastage, fatigue, lassitude, thinning of skin, easy bruising, cuts which take an unusually long time to heal, glaucoma, dry eye, exacerbated and premature cataracts which necessitated operations on both eyes to replace the lenses, virtual permanent stiffness and loss of motion in neck, constant shoulder and back pain, balance problems and now a recent discovery which I believe to be bronchiectasis. The last manifested itself with a slight productive cough I have had for about a year, with a shortness of breath which is steadily getting worse. Initial exam by GP showed no ‘crackle’, X-ray was ‘normal’ blood ‘normal’, whatever that is. Have seen this GP who gave me a course of amoxicillin (5 days) which did nothing. Then just left me to get on with things, no follow up, nothing. Not sure what to do next. I can see any one of the other doctors at this particular practice and am thinking to see one of them soon; well at least I can try for an appointment, currently 2 weeks!
Now the latest manifestation…..Shingles. Or to give it its proper title
Herpes Varicella-Zoster. A particularly painful affliction caused by the chicken pox I must have had as a child. It has affected the left side of my scalp, my left forehead, eye and face; I am not a pretty sight! By the time I knew what it was it was too late for any anti viral medication so will just have to let it take its course. Existing on Paracetamol, Codeine, Neurontin and the occasional Tramadol. All of these analgesics are for a short time only, don’t want to get hooked. Managed to see a doctor reasonably quickly about my eye who sent me to the eye unit at my local hospital, ophthalmologist examined the eye and gave me the all clear, phew!
On top of all this I have the daddy of all flares I put the cause of this down to the trauma of my new affliction. My immune system is compromised due to the daily use of 10mg. Prednisolone which I have increased to 15 mg. for a short time. It appears that any kind of trauma either emotional or physical will set off a flare.
I wondered what causes a flare in other sufferers from PMR/GCA and do they do as I do and increase the dosage of steroid and try to rest? Or is there a magical cure I should know about?
Long ramble I know but strangely feel better for writing it, apologies if you think I’m wasting your time, or a hypochondriac. (I’m not).
Polymyalgia Rheumatica And Chickenpox
To my knowledge I have never had chicken pox. I have been taking Pred for three years and am now down to 3mgs from 15. My granddaughter is with me with chickenpox. Should I be worried please?
View 24 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica And GCA :: 40s Been Diagnosed With PMR?
I was told years ago i haf fibromyalgia but now my blood work shows a high sed rate
View 31 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica And Exercises?
Background: I am 66 years old and have suffered first attack in mid November 2015... I have been fairly active person and have done some triathlon in the past, so not being able to get out of the bed on my own was pretty shocking to me... It took about one month to diagnose PMR and I started medication (prednisone) at 15 mg/day mid December.
If there is an interest, I would like to post about the progress in recovery, with special attention to exercise. I am seeing specialist every 2 weeks and complete blood work is done to monitor inflammation caused by PMR.
I would like to post what I have done thus far and future progress in (hopefully) successful recovery.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica :: Anyone Tried Q10 Supplements
Has anyone tried Q10 supplements, and are they alright to take with pred.
View 33 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica With Low ESR Results?
I have recently had blood tests again and have a low esr. I have symptoms of pmr and discussed these with my gp. I begged her for prednisolone and she reluctantly agreed but only one week. I felt great! I was walking normally, getting out of bed for the whole day where I was bed bound a lot before, just felt so wonderful having so little pain in my hips and shoulders. My blood tests came back normal and she said she cant give me any more and is referring me to rheumatology again. The pain has come back, my hips are crippling me my shoulders are so so painful again and nothing else has worked, just the prednisolone. My orthopaedic specialist may give me one more injection in ten days, vpbut that will be the third and he said 3 is the max so I should have relief for 3 weeks, if previous injections are to go by but after that.
View 42 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica And GCA :: Gum Inflammation Is Related?
I am wondering if gum inflammation is related at all to the PMR, GCA. I will see the dentist in a couple of days. Thanks.
View 6 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica :: Cannabinoids And Inflammation
Does anyone know whether cannabinoids have been clinically studied for PMR? There has certainly been a study that shows they may be effective against the inflammation in other diseases. Google: cannabinoids and inflammation.
View 2 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica And GCA :: Achilles Tendon
Just wondered if anyone on here has trouble with their Achilles Tendon? First thing after resting a while and if I've walked far too much they get very very stiff and painful! There doesn't seem much flexibility in either ankles. I didn't have problems with them when I was first diagnosed with PMR, only now 10 months into the condition and in 7 mg of pred!
View 7 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica And GCA :: Migraine And Prednisolone
I have been a regular migraine sufferer for 34 years, averaging about one per week. I've been on prednisolone 15mg for a few weeks now for PMR, and not the slightest hint of a migraine. Could it be down to the steroids? I'm not happy about taking them, but maybe every cloud does have a silver lining!
View 10 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica And GCA :: Severe Bruising On My Arm
I have severe bruising on my arm. Whole right arm. Super ugly. I've been diagnosed with pmr for three years. Could be down to 5 mg. However, had major insect sting and hives and reaction. So, went back up to 40/20/10 mg prednisone for 12 days per Doctor. . Doctor gave me steroid shot, too. Please tell me that this new super dose of prednisone may have caused all this major bruising? If so, maybe can tolerate for a month or more?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica Flare Fever?
I have had PMR since March. Today I feel like I have a fever and "hot flashes". Could this be a PMR "flare"...or just a coincidental illness.
View 9 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica And GCA :: FEELING FAINT
Can anyone tell me if you have fainting feelings with GCA...
View 10 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica - Prednisolone And Alcohol
Can anyone tell me if its ok to drink alcohol while taking PREDNISOLONE.
I like a beer at the weekend or to share a bottle of wine, but, can't find any thing in the Prednisolone paperwork that suggests not drinking.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica :: Alcohol And Prednisone
Is it ok to have an occasional glass of wine while taking this stuff? I had one the other night and got a terrible headache. I am on a couple other meds too.
View 4 RepliesPolymyalgia Rheumatica And Swollen Glands
I think I have a super bad case of swollen glands. I am currently in Florida visiting my parents and have no insurance coverage down here. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on maybe what I could take for the pain? I am on 15mg pred..90 mg of Celexa...500mg Vit C supplements and 100mg. of Trazodone. I called my Rheumy today and of course no return phone call..I'm just nervous about taking anything with the Pred.
View 1 Replies