When I wrote last I had dropped my pred from 20mg to 15mg because of atrial fibrillation. Pred was thought to be the cause but I’m convinced it’s not. In the past couple of weeks I noticed aching jaws when I was eating or even talking. I didn’t have a bad headache only a niggling pain on the left temple. No tenderness to touch it either. My GP rang me on another matter so I thought I would mention it. She asked me to come to the surgery immediately. Started on 40mg pred and a blood test. Crp and esr were up so am diagnosed with GCA as well. The high dose is not causing A/f. Have Rheumy appointment on Wednesday which was prearranged. To make matters worse, I tripped on a coat hanger this morning and landed on my hip. I’m hobbling on a stick and feeling very sorry for myself.
Liz.
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polymy
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I feel sorry for you too. Thank goodness for the quick response by your GP. I hope that there are no long lasting effects from your fall either psychological or physical. Thinking of you and sending virtual hug. Rest up and treat yourself with some tlc.
I'm repeating the reply I just posted on the last thread! Sounds as if you have a similar situation to me.
"When they happen do seriously consider dialing 999 - a paramedic will take an ECG and see what is going on.
Your GP needs a clip round the ear. No doubt he blamed pred? Which I might have some sympathy with if they had started at a higher dose and improved as you went down. but it sounds as if you are experiencing what I do - lower doses mean more atrial fibrillation for me.
I had a similar experience to Dovelady. Originally I had mild episodes of palpitations which had started about the same time as the other PMR symptoms. They didn't last long and the GP was similarly disinterested - though he did say I should call 999 when it happened. I never did. It wasn't pred - I wasn't on it! Then I was in hospital for a really severe flare of the PMR and back problems and they used an infusion of diazepam - which triggered a really severe episode of atrial fibrillation. They sorted it out and put me on medication before I could go home. And subsequently I realised that the palpitations were gone. The cardiologist thinks it was due to damage to the electrical cells in the heart caused by the autoimmune part of PMR.
Last summer I was on 7mg pred when the a/f broke through the usual medication. I discovered that at 8mg it was much improved and at 9mg gone altogether. That was fine all summer until in early October I had a real PMR flare with bursitis and stiffness that needed 15mg to get under control. It also controlled the a/f - but it returned when I tried to reduce to 14mg for more than a few day at a time. The same has happened every time I have tried to go to 14mg. The cardiologist agrees that the a/f is associated with the vasculitis which currently needs 15mg to manage."
a/f can be associated with vasculitis - and someone needs to remember/learn that.
Hope someone gets their brain in gear. And the hip improves quickly...
That is so interesting and I will mention it when I see my Rheumy on Wed. The high dose has indeed stopped the A/F and also the Atrial flutter. It did cross my mind that it could be some sort of Vasculitis as you have mentioned it before. It does sound similar to yours. Thank you for that.
Look at Figure 1. It is all joined up. I too had jaw claudication and scalp tenderness briefly, for some weeks. I also had thigh claudication and a cough/sore throat and felt as if I had bronchitis. They are all mentioned in lists of symptoms for GCA - but I responded like a miracle to 15mg pred. Now I'm back on 15mg, it is just holding things but I have those symptoms again. The vasculitis is there, hovering, I'm sure.
When I saw the cardiologist last Tuesday I asked if he thought the A/F could be caused by pred but surprisingly he said it was unlikely. Thank you for the link. Very interesting and has filled in a few of my questions. I don’t think I will ever be off pred but don’t really care so long as I have a reasonable quality of life. What the hell,eh?
I don't know if there is a similar relation to SVT but since I have been below 8mg pred I have had more episodes. I'm now on 7.5mg and taking it very,very slowly. I've cut out caffeine altogether now 😣 and it does help but I know the SVT is lurking even though the palpitations are less severe. I also have days of extreme fatigue which I've been lucky enough to escape in my long previous PMR/GCA journey, though these may be partly due to abstinence from coffee.
Thank you Jackoh. Have been at the hospital all day. Hip is ok but have broken a bone somewhere between the hip and pelvis. I couldn’t walk this morning. XX
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Returning to work full time
Now confused....
PMR now? 
Getting down now
