Labored breathing

[Skrtjg]

Tom is on 45 mg of predosone a day. He has PMR and GCA . His breathing becomes labored as the day goes on . Is this from the predosone or from the disease ? Thanks

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Yes, laboured breathing is listed among the many potential side effects of steroids. However, Tom should get his GP to check him over just to rule out any other cause.

[Skrtjg in reply to Celtic]

Thanks, we see the doctor on the 27 th of May.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Skrtjg]

If you are concerned don't wait until then - but another possibility is he is trying to do too much during the day. PMR makes your muscles intolerant of acute exercise and they neither warn you your are doing too much nor recover in the same way afterwards. One sign of overdoing it is heavier breathing. REST!!!!!

[Skrtjg]

I will try to get him to slow down. He thinks he has but still stays busy and not sleeping at night not helping.

[30048]

I had the same thing and my primary care doctor had my heart checked and found that my left ventricle was not operating at 100% efficiency. She put me on a beta blocker and it stopped. i still think it was related to the higher dose of the steroid but continue with the medicine as directed. Good luck...I also have both and know how hard it is.

[Skrtjg]

I know and not as many with GCA glad we have a support group.

[Rjw2014]

Cardiologist told me that my heart valve damage was most likely caused by the rheumatic effect of GCA, so I would have him have a check up by doctor

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rjw2014]

Yes, my cardiologist is confident my atrial fibrillation was started by the autoimmune part of GCA/PMR. If you have had vasculitis your are at increased risk of all sorts of things. Not that you'd know by the concern expressed when you have cardiac problems...

[Megams]

Couldn't agree more with your sentiment PMRpro re "not that you'd know by the concern expressed when you have cardiac problems.......

I have mentioned on this forum that I have intermittent breathing difficulties more towards days end. I have been more prone this winter to respiratory virus's infinitum.

Have mentioned it many a time over the years to my GP about my breathing and told to take up singing - which I do for a time. Even volunteered to go to breathing clinic to learn to re-breathe. All this helped for a time.

Hypothyroid can do this I was told by a Physio Lecturer who oversaw students teaching me my breathing techniques.

At weekend developed more chest discomfort accompanied by slight breathing difficulty once more but lasted a long time.

Saw Rheumy this week for usual check up and complained yet again this was getting

worse and getting me down as I've developed slight asthma again !!

Because I have had by-pass heart surgery in 1988 to repair an atrial septal defect, I do have a wired sternum which was split during course of surgery.

After several nasty falls on left side last year he believes that deep tissue damage plus rib injuries have occurred so he gave me 3 jabs into three ribs with small doses of Kenacourt to which I can now breathe beautifully and was an instant result - may it last. Given me a big lift too.

Skrtig you haven't had a fall a/or split sternum at any stage?

Just a thought - good luck with finding the definite cause as so frustrating as GP's just have absolutely no idea some times I am reticent to say.

Good luck.