Pmr wins again!

Posted , 11 users are following.

On wednesday i had a bump biopsied on my right lateral forehead. after the procedure, my right eye and forehead drooped (from the lidocaine)--looked awful. 2 hours later i called the dermatologist who said if not better in 6 hours, go to er. it got better in 5 hours,

the next day i was shot--stiff and sore everywhere, just couldnt move, felt awful all over. a big pmr reaction to the whole ordeal, i guess.

yesterday nurse called to say the bump was basal cell c; i have to have a procedure where they scrape some off, then do lab test for couple hours, then scrape more, etc. can take all day. and more lidocaine, a lot more, of course. she said my eye will likely droop again, that it can last up to several months in some people, etc.

i was obviously shaken by the first procedure that resulted in my eye and drooping forehead, and will probably be a lot more shaken by the next procedure that isnt scheduled yet. so heres one question: do i increase the pred just before the procedure? Im currently on 6 mg. if so, by how much and how long? my gp has said in the past that pred makes things bleed, so dont increase if you are going to bleed---which the procedure will cause, at least a little. the doc said the skin is very thin where my bump is . but im thinking of my reaction this past week and how bad i felt the next day.

next question: i didnt think i was that traumatized by the first biopsy--i was shaken by the whole drooping eye thing but didnt expect to be flattened and in pain a day later. so am i nuts, do you think? thank you.

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  • Posted

    Don't fret too much about the drooping eye/face...get some huge bumble bee sun glasses and no one will really see it but the MOHS system of treating a BCC is the best...leaves little scarring eventually and slowly scraping off the affected tissue helps to not take too much, leaving a smaller wound...the main thing is they check each scraping for your margins to be clear and they get rid of the skin cancer totally!

    I have had similar flare up after surgical procedures, hospital interventions but they do calm down after a few days without increasing your pred...I am told the flare up is mainly due to the stress of it all! You would need to check with whoever is doing the procedure to ask about your steroid doses before the surgery but on most times I have been told to keep dose the same but increase after if I had a flare-up!

    Good luck with it all and try to keep calm.....it helps when you now have the knowledge and know what to expect.....x

    • Posted

      ...re my previous post: 'Increase after if I had a flare-up...' that is go back to the previously successful dose and when things start to settle - start the reduction again....hope it helps...x

    • Posted

      Thanks--yes, its a mohs procedure. my husband has had several growths removed from his forhead (not mohs), no problem whatsoever. mine is close to the eye (lateral right side) and therefore closer to eye nerves, dermi said. its still very sore to the touch--cant lay on right side. im so hoping i dont have a big flare--arent we all?--because its summer, etc. and in the back of my pred head, i keep thinking maybe im a little vain.

      so you didnt increase your pred afterwards, huh? thanks for the info! ill be sure to ask re dosage before i go.

    • Posted

      Yes - I did increase my dose after...not before....not sure which was best but didn't stay on higher dose for longer than a week before I started the reduction again...horses for courses I think...each of us react differently.....just a guide with my info but it was definitely the stress of the surgery that caused my flare-up or so I was told....so assumed that was what caused you to feel so unwell after your initial biopsy...hopefully with fingers crossed it wont be the same now are fully informed and can get your head round it all before hand now.....let us know how you get on....x

    • Posted

      l had MoHS surgery on the side of my nose. they did a great job and really the worst thing were the local anaesthetic injections. l wish you well.

    • Posted

      Elizamc--uh, what were they like? worse than the one for the biopsy?

    • Posted

      In my cases the first injection (done with a very fine needle) stung a little, the others did not .

  • Posted

    Twopies, sorry to hear of more problems you must have hit all the speed bump on your PMR journey. Let hope the rest of the journey is smooth. Get well so you can move forward and get off the Devil's TicTacs.

  • Posted

    I realize this is slightly off topic but I also

    have PMR and at present I am at 10 MG of PRED I am schedluled for a brain scan ( MRI) no anesthetic for an unrelated problem in a few weeks ....should I be concerned about a PMR reaction ..dont think this DR. an audiologist even knows I have PMR

    • Posted

      Sunny, anesthesia is the problem as we get older it can have a detrimental effect on the brain. I have a couple of MRIs while on Prednisone no effect. I would advise the doctor of your condition. Good luck on your procedure, stay positive with a smile. 🙂

    • Posted

      others smarter than me will be along--but i would not think an mri would be a problem. i had one years ago--pre pmr--it was just a scan, no invasive procedures. they probably have improved mris since then.

      i always make sure every doc knows i have pmr. you might want to tell your doc--if for no other reason than just to educate him. and frankly ive been surprised by the ones who knew about it and said they had other patients with it.

    • Posted

      I've had a couple of MRIs, since I've had PMR no problem at all,

  • Posted

    No problems with MRI's /scans X-rays etc when on steroids - I have had loads since being on them but you should always check if you are having any contrast injected but think that was OK too but wont hurt to clarify for your individual case....x

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