lump in throat.

Must admit seem to have lots of different symptoms that I never had before. Are the hot flushes to do with the steroids or are they to with the illness itself?. These hot flushes often wake me up and then I cannot get back to sleep.

Linda

I, too, am suffering from the hot flushes you describe Linda, although there seems to be no pattern to when they occur.

At around the same time as the hot flushes started, I also started with, luckily, a fairly mild flare up of rosacea, a condition, I once had for a while 30 years or so ago. I would also be interested to know if either of these are side effects of PMR or steroids, or maybe both. A complicated condition isn't it?

Thanks Margaret for sharing your throat... it was prob my experience you read. I've had about 11 months of it now, but finally it is easing a little bit. Stress makes it a hundred times worse. The medical description I found is globus hystericus, or cricopharyngeal spasm. Or just my throat muscles are affected because so many other muscles are too. Who knows? Hot tea or a whisky mac seems to help! Sometimes it feels the size of a golf ball, other times a melon! Not nice.

I get the hot flushes and night sweats but put it down to age (52) so my gp is doing a hormone check on my next lot of bloods. I'm not on steroids so they're not to blame.

The rosacea rings a bell - the rash is similar to lupus, another autoimmune condition that affects joints and muscles.

Thanks to all who keep reading and inputting.

Hi All,

I luckily have never had the lump in the throat feeling, but understand the not being able to get the correct word or phrase, rather embarrassing at times.

As regards the hot flushes, this was worst for me before a diagnosis and starting on the steroids, but they still persist. I have been told by my GP, and consultant that the PMR and the steroids are the cause, plus I am also menopausal, (age 52) so no hope !!

Lying awake for hours at night is very common with this PMR. but so is being able to nod off 'just like that' in the daytime !

Had my swine 'flu vacinne on Monday and have a painful swelling on my upper arm, does that qualify me for a tot of whiskey, or just a cup of tea ?

Best to all, DD

Can confirm that in my case the hot flushes can in no way be attributed to menopausal symptoms, as I am 67 and also permanently on HRT Tibilone![/img]

Hi Margaret - my experience of a feeling of a lump in my throat or neck area has come and gone a few times during the course of my PMR/GCA. Re your problem with speech, my very first symptom a year into undiagnosed PMR and just prior to GCA diagnosis was being unable to talk without biting the inside of my cheeks, quite embarrassing as it would tend to make me jump when talking to people (my husband would butt in here and say it didn't stop me talking though (probably the Welsh in me!)). In my case I've been inclined to put the blame for that on GCA. However, with the lumpy swallowing, feeling that does seem to me to be a symptom of PMR affecting the muscles in that area.

Linda and Jayhee - yes, the hot flushes do seem to be caused by the steroids interfering with our hormones. I have also found that in my experience they seem to return with a vengeance when I have been on one dose for a long time and my body seems to be wanting to reduce, for when I have eventually reduced, the flushes also diminish for a time.

DD - For being brave enough to have the swine flu vaccine, I think you deserve two tots of whisky, a cup of tea, a box of chocs and whatever else you fancy!

MrsO

For hot flushes you can try from a good herbalist, evening primrose oil or sage extract. Both are a bit expensive. I found the sage extract better.

But, as usual, check with a pharmacist that they are compatible with pred and other medications.

I needless to say am Ok as I have been on premarin for years 0.625mg.

mrs K

who has so much on her mind at present she forgot to log in

is called Crafts disease (Can't Remember A Flipping Thing)