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Can you have a flare without the pain and stiffness but affecting your breathing?

Posted , 7 users are following.

marilyn84391
marilyn84391

hi, I was diagnosed with pmr in April with esr level 35.normal at last blood test, I was started on 15mg of prednisolone for a month which miraculously took away all the pain and stiffness then told to drop down to 12.5 which was fine, gradually went down to 11.5 by end of July using .5 reduction. I thought I was doing really well but now it seems every time I have the slightest bit of stress or I overdo things I get really bad flu symptoms, still no pain but burning up, no high temperature but on fire all over! 

Went to G.P yesterday as I had difficulty taking a deep breath especially wakes me up at night (no pain) just bad discomfort. She said I might have a chest infection as my breathing was lrestricted and prescribed amoxicillin, which so far haven't made any difference, I also upped my pred to 12.5 GP said to stick at that but hasn't changed anything. The question is should I have gone back to 15mg and start again, much slower? Will that get rid of the flu symptoms? Hope someone can help me on this very helpful site!

2 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • linda06830
    linda06830 marilyn84391

    Posted

    Am watching for others to respond.  I frequently like symptoms and am currently on 10 mg, of prednisonse.  I feel well for afew days and then, BAM, I'm knocked back.  I'm also have digestive issues.  What a fun (NOT) game this is to play!  Been on prednisone for about 18 mos. and the rheumotologist has tried plaquenil, methotrexate, and arava all causing symptooms to become worse than better.
  • patricia59727
    patricia59727 marilyn84391

    Posted

    If I was you I would go back to 15mg at least for two weeks, Which in the scheme of things is not long, I got down to 8mg after a year and am just Reducing now from 40mg, If your Breathing improves on 15mg you will get your answer.Good Luck
  • tina-uk_cwall
    tina-uk_cwall marilyn84391

    Posted

    Marilyn, remember there may be many reasons for experiencing medical symptoms throughout our PMR journey and we must not immediately put them all down to PMR or preds side effects.

    although I accept flu symptoms and fatigue are side effects of PMR/preds, example, breathlessness can be caused by low iron levels and flu like symptoms to infections. You have been prescribed an antibiotic for a suspected chest infection and so you will have to allow a little longer than than a day to experience real improvements there.

    i think your reduction regime thus far has been textbook but upping your preds to the last dose whereby you felt well will not do you any harm, and we are advised to up our preds if we are unwell anyway.

    why don't you go back to your Dr and request a blood test just to be on the safe side re inflamation, iron levels.

    regards, tina

    • marilyn84391
      marilyn84391 tina-uk_cwall

      Posted

      Hi, thanks for all your comments, yes Tina I hear what you say I haven't really given the antibiotics a chance and she said to go back if no improvement. Will try and get myself sorted tomorrow regards blood tests, last one was beginning of June which was normal. Will also up the pred to 15mg with my next dose tonight. Will let you know of the outcome of all this. Thank you once again everyone.
  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey marilyn84391

    Posted

    Marilyn, PMR loves stress and is best avoided wherever possible.  The same applies to overdoing things.  Many of us have learnt that if we overdo things on a good day, PMR can come back to bite us on the next.  One of my PMR friends always followed a busy day with what she called a 'duvet day'.

    Feeling feverish can point to flaring inflammation but whether due to an actual PMR flare or to a lurking virus or infection is difficult to say.  If what you describe as "burning up" is hot flushes, that can be a common side effect of Pred, which some people can experience worse than others.

     

    You were wise to seek help with the breathing issue - that is not something I experienced or have heard  about from others.  If your GP is right and it is a chest infection then that could account for your symptoms including the "burning up".  It is a little soon for the Amoxycillin to work but certainly if you have no relief in your breathing by tomorrow, if it was me I would contact the GP again, and she should investigate further to see if there is anthing else going on such as a gastric problem causing your discomfort.  In the meantime, try drinking warm water containing a few squeezes of lemon juice, and a teaspoonful of Manuka honey.  

    I do hope you feel better soon and do come back and let us know.   

    • marilyn84391
      marilyn84391 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Thank you Mrs O for all your advice, I'm glad to say that I feel a lot better today. I upped the pred to 15mg (my starting dose) last night and had a good nights sleep, no burn ups! Can't say for sure though if it was the pred or antibiotics starting to work but breathing definately better. Having a stress free week this week so hopefully that will help. Will stay at 15mg for a couple of weeks as suggested by Patricia and then begin reducing again. Hope it's as easy as it was last time. Regards Marilyn
  • Booklady25
    Booklady25 marilyn84391

    Posted

    I agree with some of the other comments about not attributing every symptom to side effects. I too had breathlessness but it was actually a pulmonary embolism - a double one - which means I am now on warfarin! Just as well I didn't just take it for granted. Perhaps you can go and see your doctor again and press for ask for a chest X-ray. 

    Good luck

    annie

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