Hello
Just a quick query. Joyce has had a few episodes of dizziness, feeling she was spinning, only last a few seconds but are very frightening. She is currently on 10mg of pred. Has anyone else had this happen to them? She has gca and been blind since March this year.
Thank you Barry
Hi
I have had episodes of dizziness- lasts a few seconds - my GP said it Was probably steroids - still having them my head swims and the rooms spins. I am on 10mg I have GCA and PMR - always worth getting Joyce to see GP and have blood pressure and health checked though.
Best wishes
Hi Barry,
Could be low blood pressure or anaemia, best to get checked by GP as Lesley2015 suggests. Hope Joyce is okay other than this.
Hello Barry,
Yes I have had brief dizzy spells. I assumed it was a Prednisolone side effect, my blood pressure is a bit raised too.
Best wishes to Joyce!
I have had such episodes in the past. They actually started for me before pred - so I do wish the doctors wouldn't immediately blame pred for everything! Originally it was due to episodes of atrial fibrillation, almost certainly caused by the autoimmune part of GCA. More recently it was due to wildly swinging BP - especially after I'd had a hot flush (whether due to the autoimmune part or to pred) it would suddenly plummet to a very low level. It seems to have decided to behave again now.
Is your GP amenable to ordering a 24 hour Holter ECG to rule out that sort of heart problem - only any use of course if one happens while on the monitor! I also had a BP one but they only measure ever half hour so can easily miss one but I did happen to have a spell just as it was measuring! More luck than judgement.
I had something similar just a few months ago and it was nothing to do with steroids. It was diagnosed as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The dizzy spells were brief but acute. Luckily I never collapsed but it was a close thing. It is caused by tiny fragments moving in the inner ear and is not regarded as a serious condition. There's an exercise on youtube - Epley manoeuvre which helps to control it and it usually goes away within two weeks. I've also had similar symptoms with labyrinthitis which was much much worse, and, in my case, viral.
Yes, do check with Joyce's doctor as the others say. I also occasionally have this same positional vertigo and was very relieved to learn from my doctor that it was nothing to worry about.
Yes, I have had BPV in the past few years. Your suggestion of using the Epley manouvre could solve the problem like it did for me. But must also make sure there is no other cause. Still worth trying,as it will do no harm.
Good luck with that and sympathy and best wishes to Joyce.
Don't have any experience of this but please send lots of love to Joyce. X
Anyone tried acupuncture for pain or is it not a good idea with Vasculitis PMR and GCA - don't want to up the steroids just yet .....
I believe polkadotcom tried acupuncture in the early days - with no benefit to her. If you can get it on your health cover/the NHS then it may be worth trying but while it may or may not help pain it isn't going to do anything about the inflammation that is causing the pain and it is the inflammation that is also the risk factor.
The inflammation is affecting the walls of the arteries, making them swell and reduce the blood flow to the areas supplied - it is the lack of blood supply that does the damage to the optic nerve which can lead to irreversible loss of vision if the nerve is too badly damaged (like a stroke or heart attack). Only the right dose of pred will combat that - so don't be too reluctant to go back to the previous dose if symptoms return on a reduction. They are showing there is probably increasing inflammation - which may be reflected in rising ESR and/or CRP if you are someone that works for.
Thanks for that - I see that makes sense - grasping at straws I suppose! Arranging blood tests again to see if the Crp/Esr are misbehaving!
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