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PMR

Posted , 13 users are following.

phyllis10549
phyllis10549

I am having much coughing and my mouth burns and I have a problem with some kind of reflux. I have had endoscope and they reassured me I have no stomach damage but i'm afraid I may have the reflux in my throat and the preds. have caused an awful flare up. Anybody else have these problem? I don't know about all this as I have not been on preds. long enough to get educated about it. I come to this site because of your knowledge and thinking you know more than the doctors do. Please help me. 

1 like, 34 replies

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  • christine_fay
    christine_fay phyllis10549

    Posted

    I put my prednisolone tablets in empty gelatin capsules bought from Amazon (about £2.50 for 200) That way they get further down the stomach and dont cause so much irritation. I buy the larger size capsuls to accomodate the varying numbers of 5m and 1m pills
  • Mrs.Mac-Canada
    Mrs.Mac-Canada phyllis10549

    Posted

    Hi Phyllis,

    Sorry to hear you're having so much discomfort.  I'm ver fortunate that I don't have tummy troubles from the pred. But I know many on the forum take acid reducers or blockers.  

    I drink water with lemon every morning and strangely, instead it being acidic, it changes to alkali in the stomach.  My son, who suffers from acid reflux,  swears by "mother" apple cider vinegar which works for him very well.

    I'm sure you'll hear from others that have similar problems that can help you.

    Hope you feel better soon.

    Hugs, Diana🌸

    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549 Mrs.Mac-Canada

      Posted

      Thanks Mrs. Mac. I survive each day and pretend everything is alright and that one day it will all be ok. smile
    • Mrs.Mac-Canada
      Mrs.Mac-Canada phyllis10549

      Posted

      There is a test that can be done to determine if you have acid reflux. It is simple and not painful. I had it done because of a persistent cough that turned out to be caused by my blood pressure meds.  There is also medication that can be prescribed for it. We have enough to deal with so don't give up trying to find out what will help you with this.

      When you said "flare" did you mean inflammation?  If that is the case you may also need to adjust your dose. Finding the dose that will manage the inflammation should at least ease your pain and stiffness.

      Take care,  Diana🌸

  • pam7653
    pam7653 phyllis10549

    Posted

    I suffered with PMR for 2 yrs before being diagnosed. I took myself to ER because of severe indigestion. I thought it was my heart. All test came out somewhat ok, so did endoscope, except they found a tiny hiatal hernia and tiny polyp in my stomach which they removed. Once I got on Pred I have fewer problems. The heartburn was intense for a year on and off before that. I'm better now but I think PMR may be the reason, but you never hear about it affecting the stomach. Was it stress? I don't know. When I feel it coming I take Pepcid. It cuts it quickly.

  • mrsmop
    mrsmop phyllis10549

    Posted

    Funnily enough, I had a nasal endoscopy yesterday and the ENT surgeon told me I had silent reflux and prescribed Lansoprazole 15mg twice a day and Gaviscon Advance after every meal and before I go to bed.

    I haven't suffered from heartburn or anything like that but I have suffered from chronic candidiasis for  a year.  I'm seeing him again in 3 months.

    I'm no longer on steroids but have just changed from Methotrexate to CellCept

    My throat and larynx were ok from the acid damage point of view but I could see the candida on the back of my tongue.

    He also told me [I now call him Dr Happy!] not to have chocolate, spices, tomatoes, fruit, fruit juice and coffee.  Is there anything left?!

     

    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549 mrsmop

      Posted

      I have read about this and I see all my symptoms of this.afraid the preds. have cause the inflamation again. If I had GCA wouldn't I have other symptoms?
    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549 mrsmop

      Posted

      I know that spicy foods and sweets ..chocolate etc. make my mouth burn and turn to that cough and the clearing the throat.

       

  • janet08828
    janet08828 phyllis10549

    Posted

    Hi Phyllis -

    Is it a "productive" cough or a dry cough that seems to come from nowhere?

    I have GCA and one of my original symptoms was this irritating cough that just wouldn't clear up, I also had loads of "slime" - sorry there is just no delicate way to say it!!! But not connected to the cough - the slime was the side show!

    Not writing this to panic you - just thought I would mention it as a possibility.

    Mind you all my odd symptoms disappeared as if by magic after starting prednisolone - so if you are already taking prednisolone and nothing has changed it probably won't be GCA.

    Sorry I can't help you, hope things work out for you.

    • EileenH
      EileenH janet08828

      Posted

      Yes, I too had the irritating cough and feeling as if I had a upper respiratory tract infection on a permanent basis. The GP wasn't interested as he couldn't see anything and my blood tests were all normal. I briefly had the scalp pain and jaw claudication for longer. I was diagnosed with PMR but all the rest also disappeared with 15mg - and the consensus now is I almost certainly have (had?) GCA.
    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549 EileenH

      Posted

      No jaw pain or anything just cough and some Phlegm and burning. Started taking preds. it got worse. 
    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549 janet08828

      Posted

      Well I dont cough it up but its in there like Upper Respiratory infection and YUK! I sometimes can taste it!! It's worse since preds.

       

    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549

      Posted

      Also my nose drips and it also burns sometimes.

       

    • janet08828
      janet08828 phyllis10549

      Posted

      Phyllis - just to clear something up - GCA doesn't always present itself with head/eyes/neck pain - something that isn't often mentioned. The risk of blindness seems to blind doctors to the fact that Temporal Arteritis isn't the only GCA presentation. Giant Cell Arteritis can occur anywhere there are arteries - different types depending on the size of the blood vessels I think? Bet Eileen will know!

      As for the cough, mine was dry and non productive, I had it for a month before I suddenly thought that maybe I should go to my GP.

      It was just one of many symptoms that turned out to be GCA.

    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549 janet08828

      Posted

      Thanks Janet, I have had this but not this bad for at least 4 yrs. it has recently gotten worse. Started out just a lot of gunk in my throat to a little wheezy when I would laugh or something. Just thought it was sinus. I am not big on going to doctors and I put tjings off until I am sick with it or it goes away. I have had the dry cough as well. Thanks all for your input!

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH janet08828

      Posted

      GCA can affect any artery with an elastic component to the vessel wall - that is the layer of the wall that develops the giant cells. But you can also have vasculitis that doesn't have giant cells - but symptoms can be similar. 
    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 EileenH

      Posted

      Eileen do you have the pains in the head  and temple with vasculitis. Thank you
    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 EileenH

      Posted

      How do i find out if i have this, can my doctor do a test. Thank you
    • faye______00403
      faye______00403 phyllis10549

      Posted

      I have the nose drips and cough (mucuousy) but it's usually caused

      by seasonal allergies with sinus problems.  I can feel the

      "stuff" coming down the back of my throat.   Ask your doc to

      recommend some allergy meds.  You can get most of it over

      the counter.

       

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