Three Questions in One

oh yes sensitive teeth at any amount of prednisone.  Told dentist and she eliminated water sprary of teeth.  Smiled big yesterday in cold wind and OUCH the teeth hurt  Not fun for sure.

Dizziness on high doses for sure.  I call it spinney like someone twisted me in circles and then said walk a straight line.  Since I had to up the dosage a month ago I have staggered a lot.  Feel all of my 75 years now when before I felt 50.  My first year date just past. Hard to believe it's been that long, but I have tried to keep busy and get my mind off health.  I have two art interests, watercolur painting and just recently pottery, slab building.  Both keep the mind occupied and away from feeling sorry.  It is what it is and I still struggle when people say hope you are better next time...it will leave me when it's ready so I tough on and keep a smile.  Not many understand that the way you feel is mostly constant and maybe we look good on the outside, but from the inside out it's not ever very good.

Lucky you with doctors understanding, mine too.  If I had to pay for all the testing done I would be in a paupers house for sure.  I live in Canada.

Dizziness.  I’ve always had dizzy spells, even at school in asembley - I couldn’t and can’t stand in one place for long, I have to move.  That has now developed into complete blackouts (at any time)!😡

In the last 18 months I have blacked out several times in public places supermarkets, banks, restaurants - even at the rheumatologists)!!  As most of these blackouts are public someone always calls an ambulance (not us).  They mean well, but it has meant several two week stays in hospital.  Why?  Because the consultants/doctors can’t find out what ails me.  I have had every test immaginable - again and again - but no answers.  If I can get to the car my husband and I can cope.  He gets me home, fetches the wheelchair and plonks me into bed.  I am always ill for 2 or 3 days afterwards, then it gradually clears up. The only thing the doctors have come up with is that my blood pressure drops dramatically (I normally have high blood pressure).

Not much help to you I am afraid but Ijust wanted to let you know YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  However, I’m not dead yet and I’m coming to 79, so who’s complaining?

All the best.  Try not to worry.

Constance 💐💐

Hello MariGrace, your message asking about sensitive teeth reminded me of my experience. About eight months ago one bottom front tooth became extremely sensitive,  this moved slowly across the bottom front teeth until about six bottom teeth were involved. A visit to the dentist was needed, and I was told to rub "Synsodine repair  and protect" over the teeth and leave for a few minutes before rinsing out. Believe it or not, slowly my teeth were restored back to normal. I have only used this toothpaste since then and all has been well! Not sure if they would have got  better without it or not, but as it totally Cured my extremely sensitive teeth I'm not about to change my toothpaste to find out if it was the toothpaste or if it would have gone away without it. Might be worth a try for you? Freda 

Yes to sensitive teeth and dizziness.  You are not alone!!

Sorry me again, I should have said that after leaving the toothpaste on I just spit out the most but I DONT RINSE the toothpaste off the area, I leave that to get the benefit of whatever the paste does on the gums and teeth! Good luck! Freda 

Is it "just" PMR you were diagnosed with? 60mg is a GCA dose - and far too high as a starting dose for PMR, 20-25mg is the top end of the range and NEVER above 30mg. 

I have atrial fibrillation - which was almost certainly caused by the underlying autoimmune disorder that causes PMR attacking the electric cells that govern heart rate.

Many of us have had sensitive teeth - I couldn't drink even cold water from the tap at times and I hate ice in drinks (except a tiny bt in G&T). Ice cream was less of a problem but still a bit shocking at times! It was due to the PMR though - it happened long before I was put on pred. I started using Sensodyne toothpaste, other sensitive teeth products didn't help or I hated the taste and I eventually found Pronamel to be the most acceptable in terms of taste and it worked well. 

What sort of dizziness? Is it associated with standing up from sitting? Or is it like waves of "I'm going to faint..." feelings that come at any time?

I found recently that having reduced to 7mg I was not only wading through treacle but also had long episodes of moderate atrial fibrillation in the afternoons - which had been well managed with medication until then. I also had these waves of feeling faint, just a few seconds each time and then it was away, but it happened quite a lot. I went back to 8mg and both problems were far better, gone altogether at 9mg. Not sure who is best to discuss it with - the rheumy who I see in a couple of weeks or the cardiologist and that would take months to get an appointment! 

I know I'm having a flare - I suspect it could be a flare of some degree of vasculitis in the chest vessels. I had something similar about 2 years ago that the specialist couldn't pin down to a particular cause but raising the dose of pred did the job then too. 

MariGrace, I believe sensitive teeth and mouth are side effects of the devil's Tic Tacs. I also had a very sensitive tongue. Plus cancelled dentist appointments till I was ready for the dentist in my mouth. My balance was so bad I did not ride my bicycle for two years and always walked with a stick. But I am now fine on lower doses of Prednisone. The journey gets easier on lower doses, good luck on the rest of your journey, stay positive and try to smile. Smiling ??