I was diagnosed with PMR 3 months ago & am now on 20mg pred. I have developed really bad snoring apart from the usual problems & have a sore

[patdencass]

throat as a result. Is this a problem that others have or something separate. This is my first time on here & have found it very informative

[pennyw Administrator PMRGCAuk team member]

Hi Pat

I had real problem with snoring which used to wake me up which didn't help with sleeping. I don't know if it was caused directly by the PMR (I was diagnosed 2 years ago) or because I had put on about 3 stones in weight once I started on the steroids.

In May this year I changed my diet to an anti-inflammatory one, have lost almost 2.5 stones and I have stopped snoring. The snoring actually stopped almost from the day I change the diet. Could be coincidence but it was a relief.

If you do a search for anti-inflammatory on this forum I you should find some messages about my diet and from others who are on similar ones.

Good luck

Penny

[patdencass in reply to pennyw]

Hi Penny this is really helpful. I felt a bit silly asking this question but seems I am not alone. I have been researching the diet & will look at your messages.

Many thanks

Pat

[pennyw Administrator PMRGCAuk team member in reply to patdencass]

Glad to be able to help. If you want to try the diet after you've had a look email me on [e-mail] and I will send you some recipes I have worked out that only use the allowed ingredients. Best wishes, Penny

[Loco99]

I had lots of pain in my neck and shoulders when I was first diagnosed with PMR and I adopted a different sleeping position to cope with the pain. Snoring is usually worse when you sleep on your back so maybe that could be a cause.

[patdencass in reply to Loco99]

Thanks for your reply. My problem seems to be which ever position I sleep but I will try different approaches

[wendy_bullock1947]

You will be pleased you have joined health unlocked,I have only recently joined and find it so helpful,I also started to snore when I put 2stone on due to the steroids,since losing the weight storing reduced dramatically.

[patdencass in reply to wendy_bullock1947]

Thanks Wendy. I struggle with my weight anyway so the steroids have really set me back in that, but it was such a relief to be in much less pain. Hopefully once I can reduce steroids it will help. Hope that you continue to improve

[Hidden]

Hi All,

the snoring, sore throat and weight gain are linked symptoms - they were for me anyway. The excess weight around the upper body area causes snoring and whilst I lay there making this horrid noise with my mouth wide open, I got a sore throat. I suppose the reason was, we are meant to breathe through our noses. My partner never got annoyed because he said the racket I was making made him realise I was still alive.

I guess I looked so awful when I was really ill that he worried I would drop off my perch.

I'm on the 'up' again! Going for 7.5mg for the 3rd time and feeling pretty good. My PMR seems to have slipped back to sleep. I get tired and my stamina is iffy at times, but I'm hopeful and the bad days are mostly gone. Nearly 3 years now, but I'm seeing the 'light' again

All the best.

Pats

[patdencass in reply to Hidden]

Hi Pats thanks for your informative reply. I suppose I'm still in the early stages so trying to find answers. I'm still on 20mg having tried twice unsuccessfully to reduce to 17.5. Hope next time will be better. My GP mentioned increasing them but I am reluctant as I feel I can cope with this level of pain. Your partner sounds understanding - my poor husband is temporarily in the spare room!!! Am so pleased that you are on the UP now & hope it continues for you. I hadn't heard of PMR until I came down with it so am quite in the dark as to when, if & how it disappears so am finding this forum very helpful

Thanks again

Pat

[Hidden in reply to patdencass]

Hi Pat,

when I was first diagnosed with PMR I must have driven the great gals who set up the PMRGCA helpline half mad with my constant nagging for answers and they never let me down, so now after nearly 3 years it's my turn to pass on the gen, and I do it gladly.

We all have our own versions of PMR and GCA, but there are symptoms that are common to most of us. All the side effects can vary in severity, but as the illness loses it's strength and the pred is reduced, almost all the 'baddies' will go away or greatly reduce.

Try not to drop the pred to fast or too quickly. Reducing from 20mg was not easy for me and took months. In the end, I found that dropping by 1mg every 2 to 3 weeks was the best way and it still took quite a while for my body to get back on kilter after each drop. In the first year the PMR is very active and you have to keep on top of it because it will take every opportunity to flare - then you are back to square one.

I felt constantly tired out and had so little stamina that I felt frightened that I would never recover. I learned to pace myself and as soon as I was able, I sat down and had a drink and a little food. It worked.

De-stress your life as much as possible and don't feel guilty about taking things easy. If you feel really weak then go back to bed and rest.

Take care,

Pats.

[patdencass in reply to Hidden]

Hello Pats

your message has made me feel clearer. I see that now I have been trying too hard to carry on as normal & not give in when all I wanted to do was rest. Once the meds eased most of the pain, I felt that I mustn't give in to sitting around, but the more I hear from you 'experts' who have been & are going through it, I feel I am being too hard on my body. I will show these replies to my husband as, though he is a dear man, he has been extremely lucky with his health & finds it hard to understand the condition.

I'm not having a good day with pain today so am taking your advice & going back to bed. - guilt free

Thank you for caring

Pat