Recent Hospital Admission

[stellafmdm]

Hello friends, This is just an update on recent experiences in hospital. My PMR is atypical, bloods always normal, pain that doesn't follow the 'rules', Just over a week ago I was admitted as an emergency to the RSCH. I had a severe infection in the gall bladder as it turned out. My blood results were all over the place including the immovable ESR! Also the PMR pain suddenly began to follow the 'rules' i.e. it behaved as most people seem to experience it, for once. I found this very interesting. Now I am home it is back to my normal pain. which is that, the less I use the muscles the less they hurt. This is not without exception though.

Also over the weekend in hospital the duty Dr came to see me, asked how I was. I said I had a tightness around my head as if I might get a headache soon. This Dr was so on the ball that he immediately began looking for GCA (not found thank heaven) What a good Dr and so well clued in. I wish they were all like that.

Now I'm out but weak as water and with a doubly fudged brain!!! I hope normality returns soon. Wishing everyone a pain free day and a solution to all the problems.

Love from Stella

[SheffieldJane]

You have been through the wars. A gall bladder infection must be deeply unpleasant and painful, not to mention frightening. Mine was nearly removed when I was young and I still remember.

I am glad the doctor was able to reassure you about GCA, we always need to be alert to it and you have had head symptoms since the beginning. You will need extra special and prolonged recuperation after this experience. Be sure to allow yourself that.

I hope you feel your strength returning soon. Take care! 💐

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes - oh for more of his ilk!! Hope the GB problems take a hike - most unpleasant I gather.

Sorry you had an unwanted hotel stay - I spent a couple of hours in A&E last night. I have a bad cold, my GP insists it is flu (I don't pass the flu test, put a 50 euro not on the floor and I'd manage to pick it up despite my back!) and it is making the PMR flare bigtime, especially the sacroiliac joint which is excruciating (reminded me of early days PMR when I went to the loo and realised my arms weren't long enough again ) Then an atrial fibrillation episode came to join in and I felt truly awful. By the time I got there the extra long a/f episode had gone. So was sent home at 1am. Other patients appeared to be the resuts of being out on sledging parties...

But the place was almost empty - a prime reason for desiring to remain here - the previous night my paramedic daughter sat outside A&E in Scarborough WITH a patient for FOUR hours. Walking wounded had been waiting 7 hours.

[stellafmdm in reply to PMRpro]

You poor thing! At least A&E was nearly empty when I arrived, complete with flashing blue lights and sirens! 4 hours is a very long time to be waiting when you are ill.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

What a nasty experience for you, too, PMRpro - it sounds as though you were careering from one trauma to another. It does sound flu/like with the virus causing you to tumble into a flare - no doubt a dose increase sounds on the cards unfortunately. I can imagine that feels like one step forwards and two back, but if anyone can get back on track, it will be you and may it be very soon. Hugs.....gentle ones, knowing the pain.xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Celtic]

It was a perfect storm - any one thing would have been fine. All together isn't. And dear god does my back hurt!!!! As long as I don't MOVE I feel OK - but going from sitting to standing is excruciating!!!!! Can't reach anything below about kitchen counter height. And you all know about OH's domestic capabilities...

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Sounds agony, PMRPro. If you have a panti girdle tucked away anywhere, try wearing it for 2-3 days. I was fitted with one years ago when diagnosed with the spondylolisthesis - sadly, that’s shrunk(!) so I bought a much less corseted one (Playtex) and as well as on those occasions when my spine plays up it also gave great relief on those days when the PMR back pain was unbearable. An electric heat pad can also give great relief. At least from what you’ve said in the past, I’m sure D at least knows by now how to use the washing machine!😉Hope the pain eases soon.xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Celtic]

Tried a hot water bottle - no pain relief touches it when I have to move! Not spine I don't think - pelvis, the sacroiliac joints are inflamed.

Don't think I could get a panti-girdle ON - plain pants are bad enough

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Oh dear, I do know the difficulty with struggling into such things - the corset that was made to measure by the hospital wasn’t a pull-up one. It was boned and did up with hooks and eyes so easier to don........except when suffering from RSI in my hands and wearing a wrist/thumb support! With hindsight wished it had shrunk(!) sooner. Far prefer my replacement. Hope you get some relief somehow and soon, perhaps with gentle physio relief/injection - no doubt you will have already upped the dose.xx

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Virtual gentle hug on its way. ❤

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry for you PMRpro. I know how scary the AF can be when it takes off. Hope it has settled down for you. ATB

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It had b£**$" settled by the time I got to the hospital! The 4-lead ECG at home was a bit wobbly but in hospital - perfect sinus rhythm! I had waited ages and was starting to feel unwell or I'd never have bothered. They tell you to go - but I'd bet I could go 10 times before it was still manifesting when I got there!! And it is always late evening and OH has had a glass of wine so can't drive!

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Oh dear Stella, it does sound as though you have been through the mill but hats off to that duty Dr - someone who has obviously listened and remembered at some time! One day at a time now and I hope you will soon completely recover from what sounds like a nasty experience.

[Neverending63]

I have also just been discharged from hospital following gall bladder stones problems. It was the worst pain I have ever had. Finally they have agreed to remove gall bladder once I have recovered. Not looking forward to the surgery as I know I will have to come off RA meds and the reduce pred for PMR as much as possible but I won’t be forced to rush that.

Good luck and hope you stay as well as possible and praise an ever vigilant doctor. May he long continue to be so

[loopeyloo72]

Hi everyone! Seems to have been a weekend for hospital admissions. I was admitted as an emergency on Sunday night/Monday morning as my blood pressure suddenly shot up - out of hours Doctor registered it at 254/113. Just a tad high! I know that Pred raises your blood pressure slightly - but not that much. It gradually came down of its own accord and they have now put me on blood pressure tablets but does anyone have any idea why it suddenly shot up?

On the funny side, the doctors machine wouldn't even register and when he used my digital machine, it blew the cuff off my arm!

Still here to tell the tale though!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to loopeyloo72]

I had one to beat that when pregnant - 200+/180-ish the day my daughter was born! Without a hypertensive cuff they couldn't be really sure either. But I felt fine!

I do know why mine was up then (I'm allergic to my elder daughter, it's a family joke) but what on earth did yours? Had it been creeping up - what made you take it or do you take it regularly?

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[loopeyloo72 in reply to PMRpro]

No idea, PMRpro. I went to my doctor at the end of January and she took my blood pressure then and told me it was a bit high. She said to monitor it for a fortnight and although it was higher than it should have been - between 140/89 and 168/80 - for some unknown reason it suddenly shot up Sunday evening. I took it at 6 pm and it read 229/99. an hour later it read 204/102 which is when I decided that I had better ring 111 just to be on the safe side. The rest, as they say, is history!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to loopeyloo72]

Strange - and no doubt no-one offered any ideas?

[loopeyloo72]

Not as yet but I am seeing my doctor tomorrow. Maybe she can enlighten me.