Been a while

[Dejon73]

Hi everyone

It’s been a while since I’ve been on here. I had been feeling pretty good, all things considered.

My rheumatologist is slowly tapering back my prednisone. I was on 60mg and have worked my way down to 25mg.

Can’t seem to keep my blood pressure down. I’m also on Effexor, 225 mg, which she feels could be effecting my blood pressure, so I am also in the process of tapering it back to 150 mg.

In the last 2 weeks I have been feeling worse. My thighs and upper arms have been aching a lot more, very dizzy and sweating like crazy, and I can’t get my heart rate under 100.

So, went to my primary care doctor today and she wants to have a scan done on my thyroid. Can I possible have anything else going on at the same time?????

I am so tired of feeling like this. It’s been almost 7 months since all this started.

So very frustrating.

[HeronNS]

My blood pressure didn't get dangerously high, but it was up to the borderline just before the chart turns red. Through a number of coincidences I started consuming more salt and my blood pressure is now back down to the low normal it had always been. If you have been eating the low salt diet most of us have for decades have a look at a book called The Salt Fix, James DiNicolantonio, and see if low sodium or a sodium-potassium imbalance could be part of your problem.

[Dejon73 in reply to HeronNS]

I’ve had blood pressure issues for years. I have always watched my salt intake. And, in the past has been under control with medication. But since I’ve been on these 2 new meds, I really think they are the issue.

Thanks for the input.

[HeronNS in reply to Dejon73]

May I ask why you were prescribed Effexor? It has an interesting, to say the least, list of potential side effects.

[Dejon73 in reply to HeronNS]

Anxiety and depression. I know some of the side effects can be nasty. I’ve been on it for over a year prescribed by another doctor, and was doing fine with it. Then when all this PMR stuff started in, its like it absolutely threw everything else into chaos.

[HeronNS in reply to Dejon73]

I see you started at 60 mg pred. Did you have GCA symptoms at first?

[SheffieldJane in reply to Dejon73]

I am puzzled about your high dose of Pred. Presumably the Rheumatologist is treating you for GCA? In one of your early posts you thought GCA had been discounted. It’s just that you only mention PMR. I agree with your theory that most of your troubles stem from the high doses of meds that you are on. Although the pains sound PMR like, I expect there are withdrawal pains and side effects in the mix. It is hard to comment without knowing more about your journey with these conditions.

I had thyrotoxicosis due to Graves Disease in the 80’s. My heart would bang so much it shook the bed. I also rapidly lost a lot of weight. What is your primary care doctor looking for?

[Dejon73 in reply to SheffieldJane]

She is concerned about my thyroid. And my heart rate.

I’m just very frustrated right now. Instead of maybe starting to feel better, other issues keep popping up.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Dejon73]

I have had phases of this too. In the great scheme of things you are in the early phases. I hope it settles for you soon.

[Dejon73 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for listening. It does help having someone who can relate.

[scats in reply to Dejon73]

That's what we're all here for, not long before you will be able to reassure someone. My BP was fine until my pred was upped to 20mg could that be the cause?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Once you have one autoimmune disorder it is more likely that you will develop another and it does sound as if that is what your doctor wants to rule in or out. Thyroid problems are actually one of the rule-outs when someone presents with PMR symptoms. But usually you would start with blood tests!

[Dejon73 in reply to PMRpro]

She did order blood work. Had it done yesterday. She also ordered a scan of my thyroid.

Keeping my fingers crossed.🤞