Pacemaker fitted in the middle of PMR ,what is what may I ask?

pacemaker fitted 5th may (82 yr male) Flare I think so increased 12 to 14 mg.weeks now started OK swimming every week ,no longer. early morn all over pain, sleep am pm evng and at night bathroom every 2hrs. feel weak after effort,lay on floor to do some light exercises-can't get up! Walked wife to catch Bus this morn 15min rtn, had a cup T and the sleep. what say you, please. John

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Doctor time John!!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro ,I have an appointment with check up ' Cardi' 11th Dec, in meantime Dr is doing 'bloods'-pulse good, BP can be low at upper end 80! Might add PaceM was not straight forward and included a Tamponade.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

No, not checkup in December. NOW! Hasn't the wife pushed you in that direction? A systolic BP that low needs urgent investigation - no wonder you feel so feek and weeble!

Where are you? The UK I assume?

[Yellowbluebell in reply to PMRpro]

I am not experienced in pmr as new to site but my father in law had heart probs and a pacemaker and you need to do as PMRPro says and see your gp NOW. Sorry but you can’t wait for another month. Debby

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRpro-firstly- best wishes for the New Year.1st the Pacemaker and now a Stroke , almost - no bleed on the Brain! I had got my Pred down to 12mg ^/v but settled out @ 11. I think the PMR is in conflict with the stroke fatigue-particularly the medicines.I have no real info on how to deal with Two- but experiences may have some help. If any where ,our fellow sufferers may have some guidance. and good new year wishes to all , John

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Good to hear from you - even if I don't like the news! You'll get there.

[SheffieldJane]

I really don’t think this sounds right. Please go to your GP! Let us know.

[Hidden]

I too had a pace maker fitted about 4 months after starting PMR/GCA. I was on high dosage prednisone with all the side effects going on. It was a hellish time. I think our bodies have a lot to deal with when these types of thing happen and it takes longer to recover some sort of equilibrium. It is very disappointing especially when, like you, I was physically active and felt alive before the rug was pulled out from under me. Most difficult I had to re-invent myself and had a hard time, still do, in acknowledging that my former self is exactly that and won't come back. So, I had not option but to drop most of my favourite exercises and start very modestly again: gentle yoga and stretching, walking. It's all very benign compared to what I used to do, but that's the way it is. When discussing exercise with my rheumatologist he said "exercise as tolerated" so that's what I do, some days my body tolerates more than others, so I try to go with that. Anyway, apart from all of this I used to scuba dive, traveled round the world doing that and writing for sports magazines and in my youth was a competitive swimmer. I can't even remember the last time I was in a swimming pool or imagine when I'll ever get in the water again. But, life has to offer other things and I'm still searching for them. Good luck.

[Hidden]

Of course, the other thing is when people ask "how are you" I never know if they are asking about the pacemaker, the PMR the GCA. Most have never heard of the latter so I usually stick with pacemaker aspect of things otherwise they looked stunned and clearly don't want me to launch into a medical treatise about my ailments!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Waterwise, the swimming ,the diving, carrying of heavy dive equipment I did until the PMR set in @76- 6years ago- actually I do not know where it came from, I bet the push advice from PMRpro and all ,but I went swimming this morning! mind you on the return Bus a young women offered and I accepted help to arise out of my seat! Thank you all I have got some direction and work on...……..Thanks all John. One thing with the swimming doing the crawl, I received that lovely innnn - outtttt breathing exercise-I did feel good in the water - all the time your swimming -you are not Drowning!!!