Posted , 11 users are following.
HI, after having a couple of flare ups I AM NOW DOWN TO 10mg of steroids a day but experiencjng bad headaches and dizziness! I have PmR and GcA and wondering if its side effects from the steroids rather than a flare up. The headache seems to be different to the one i originally experienced prior to diagnosis!
0 likes, 7 replies
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henni05917 anne28129
Posted
Hi Anne i don't have gca I have pmr but I also am on ten mg of prednisone and am experiencing terrible headaches and pressure in my eyes. I think it is the prednisone too !
lynda62707 anne28129
Posted
hi anne...I have pmr (only), and am currently on 15mg about to start tapering next few days. but I have horrible headaches EVERY friggin' day! And KINDA a feeling of dizziness (but not really)...it's difficult to explain, but it's almost a "light-detached" feeling from my body...like when I take a step, I'm slightly unsure if I'm hitting the floor! I know this sounds CRAZY, but it's the best I can explain it!😵
Vicki200252 lynda62707
Posted
HI Lynda
I understand what you mean about dizziness, also when I'm walking I feel like its a soldier motion and the same as you, not sure if feet are touching the floor. weird hahaha! can't explain properly either.
by the way I changed my profile from KANE to VICKI.
Vicki200252 anne28129
Posted
Hi Anne
if you have GCA and you are dizzy or have bad headaches you should contact your medical professional immediately as it could be something else.
Not trying to frighten you but I have been reading a lot about GCA and PMR and regardless of medication this is what they suggest.
celia14153 anne28129
Posted
Hi Anne, however the headache feels you should get to your doctor to check it out - not worth the risk of it developing. Lynda puts that feeling of 'other worldiness' really well - definitely down to steroids. Not harmful but weird is the word!
EileenH anne28129
Posted
Have you had your eye pressures checked while you have been on pred?
It is possible that your are approaching return of adrenal function territory though usually that doesn't happen until about 8mg. However, some people only absorb about half the dose they take and that puts you down at around 5mg which IS the sort of dose where poor adrenal function will appear.
Anhaga anne28129
Posted
I've been learning there are different causes for frequent headaches. Having suffered headaches all my life, since about age nine, I was aware of tension, migraine, dehydration, hunger, very low iron, food and chemical sensitivities, lack of sleep as causes. Then there are the medical things, like the brain haemorraghe my mother died of, or GCA headache. A few months ago I learned another cause: low sodium which in my case was resulting in what had hitherto been unknown to me - waking up with a headache in the morning which wouldn't go away until I had eaten, sometimes not even then. Taking in more salt not only solved that problem but also seems to have resolved: occasional lightheadedness, aching shins when at rest, sensation of a skippy or fluttery heartbeat.