Daft question??? : Can I please ask, does anyone... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Daft question???

Dee02 profile image
12 Replies

Can I please ask, does anyone else get a pounding in their head when they put their head down?

As soon as my head goes on the pillow it starts, it’s so strong it feels like my heart is beating inside my head. I know that sounds weird, and it’s got me wondering if it’s just me??

Thanks so much

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Dee02 profile image
Dee02
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12 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Have you had your blood pressure checked recently? If not, might be a good idea to.

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

What dose of Pred are you on? I did get something similar on the higher PMR doses. I decided that it fitted the description for pulsatile tinnitus . Have your blood pressure checked out in any case. Like many others, this weird symptom faded away.

SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD

On doses above about 20mg I got this with my pulse and it was worse at night because I think there was no background noise to cancel it out. I never had any blood pressure problems but it could be worth getting it checked as DL says.

I get this periodically. Last week it was pounding away in my right ear, especially if it was on the pillow. I would have blood pressure checked just in case but I found just having a radio on very low distracted me.

Dee02 profile image
Dee02

My bloody pressure is normal (about the only thing!) I’m on 30mg of pred. I just wondered if it was me, thanks so much

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toDee02

Do you eat a very low salt way?

Is your iron level good?

If your sodium and iron levels have not been checked lately it might be a good idea.

I found out almost by accident nearly two years ago that I was sodium deficient. A number of puzzling symptoms went away when I started to actually salt my food (had lived low salt for decades) and if I remember correctly one of them was that feeling of a pounding in my head. But years ago I had a similar symptom when my iron was practically non-existent (I ended up receiving four units of blood, thankfully before HIV was an issue).

Btw none of my "puzzing symptoms" have returned since I started consuming salt, and as it's been a long time, and a fairly recent blood test of my sodium level showed nothing amiss, I can only assume that lack of the salt had been the culprit.

Rebel21 profile image
Rebel21

I was only recently diagnosed with PMR and I find I am suffering with terrible headaches which I never had before, I put it down to a side effect of the prednisolone. I was sent to hospital initially as the thought I had developed GCA but was told it was not.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toRebel21

What made them so sure it wasn't GCA?

Rebel21 profile image
Rebel21 in reply toPMRpro

Went to hospital and saw a consultant, some blood tests done but they never told me the results. They just said it was probably migraine, even though I didn't normally suffer from them. Also went to opticians and had urgent tests done which were clear. They then reduced my prednisolone from 40mg down to 15mg at the rate of 5mg per day.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toRebel21

This "it's probably migraine" seems to be used a lot. It could be - but when a patient has PMR GCA has to be the first thought. Where are the headaches? Any visual symptoms or jaw pain and get back to the ED.

Meggsy profile image
Meggsy

Yes Dee02, I started on 25mg and had the ear throbbing in bed. I can’t remember when it stopped, but it did stop at some stage as the dose came down. Presently on 5mg.

Noosat profile image
Noosat

I was not getting a pounding, but a headache. Found that the gastric ulcer in my stomach had become active which lowered my red blood cells so that I was anemic. No back to "normal", in PMR terms as the problem has been remedies

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