PMR and Atrial fibrillation

[Bloomsbury49]

In an answer post today PMR pro mentioned also having Atrial fibrillation...I was diagnosed with PMR last June. I had the usual initial improvement once on preds but by November was in a desperate state with breathlessness, inability to exert myself - and very weepy etc. GP diagnosed Atrial fib. I added beta blockers and blood thinners to my cocktail of drugs. A mess up at the hospital has meant I have only just seen a cardiologist who has now prescribed Flecainide. 2 weeks on and I quite honestly can’t say I feel any better. I am still only ok when sitting doing not much at all.

I am on 8mg pred plus still beta blockers etc.

I have had some of my ongoing symptoms for a while but only around the middle of last year did they become unbareable and firmly entrenched.

Can you help me feel less confused..and find a way forward? Has PMR masked the AF previously? Which symptoms are due to which condition? Is the extreme breathlessness due to AF or PMG.....?? Is it common to have both these conditions?

I am very much confused.com!!

Thank you for any help you can give.

[jinasc]

I have hesitated to post this link, but on balance, I used it when I developed A/F. I hope it helps you to understand A/F.

However, in my case, I could not tolerate Beta Blockers and am on Calcium Channel Blockers which are not as good, so I am given to understand.

I had had GCA for 5 years and after 8 months in remission - A/F appeared. I was told it was the most common in over 70's. So being a nosy person, I went onto the internet and found this link. mytherapyapp.com/blog/battl...

Do not hesitate to contact your Cardiologist, I ran into trouble and left a message with his Secretary, he called me within one hour and that I can tell you was a great relief. For all I had read the side effects on the leaflet. you guessed it - I ran into one of the rarer ones and it was sorted out quite quickly.

BTW, I have had it now for 5 years and had no problems.

[Bloomsbury49 in reply to jinasc]

Thank you for the link - i’ll dip into it with my cup of coffee this morning!

[Berylholley in reply to jinasc]

How Do you find the app 7 min?

[Telian]

No sure about common but some do have both. Best wishes.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I suspect it is fairly common yes - though when I asked a rheumy in the UK she said "But it is common in this age group ..." That wasn't what I asked - I had asked if it is more common in PMR patients. I know a lot - and several who have the same experience as I do, the PMR flares, so does the a/f.

Mine started with episodic mild palpitations soon after the PMR symptoms started, It was never much of a bother, not enough to send me to look for what it might be, and I don't think it worsened after starting pred - because too many doctors will blame pred for palpitations. It finally manifested really badly as a drug reaction - i.v. diazepam for muscle spasm - 5 hours with a heart rate of IRO 230!!! There were some scared medics about that night! The arrythmia expert cardiologist is convinced that the autoimmune part of the PMR has caused the damage to the electrical cells in the heart that govern heart beat.

Because of events over the last 6-8 months it has become fairly obvious that the a/f is linked with the vasculitis - when the PMR flares, so does the a/f. My current cardiologist doesn't feel she can improve the control with her armoury of medication - it needs the pred too.

All I can say is that breathlessness for me is the a/f - even if the a/f isn't at the time, it has an effect. I can do things when on enough pred that I can't do if I go even 1mg lower to a level that, after a few days, results in almost daily but short episodes of a/f.

I should add that OH has almost permanent a/f. He gets very breathless but it is a combination of several factors I suspect. But the difference between him and me is that because his is permanent the arrythmia bothers him far less than it does me - I feel it start and finish!

[Bloomsbury49 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for taking time to reply. What a jigsaw it all is!

[Noosat in reply to PMRpro]

Such a good informative post ! thanks.