High blood pressure

[Bluemoon80]

I was diagnosed with PMR in October and put on 15mg Pred. This worked like magic and I was fine for a month. I have now developed high blood pressure that leaves me trembling and weak. My GP has increased BP meds and added new ones to no avail. He says the Pred is the cause but I don’t think I should reduce any faster to help this problem. I am on 12mg now. Has anyone else had this problem?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If the GP can't manage the BP he needs to refer you to a specialist to find out if something else is behind it. You are quite right - reducing the pred will only put you back where you were pre-pred, in every way ...

However - what makes you associate the trembling and weakness with the raised BP?

[Bluemoon80]

Well this is my assumption because they started together. The trembling is definitely getting worse though

[SheffieldJane in reply to Bluemoon80]

This may be more to do with your PMR. Made the mistake of dancing to old tunes last night ( moderate wine was taken) today my arms and legs feel like sponges.

[Kendrew in reply to SheffieldJane]

I hadn't realised that my 'jelly legs' (as I refer to them!) were probably due to the PMR. I'd also assumed it was the pred. I don't experience it constantly, but has occurred a few times. Haha!....I had a lovely vision of you dancing around. Such an uplifting and joyful thing to do.

Moderate wine"?? ....define??😄😄😄

[SheffieldJane in reply to Kendrew]

4 small glasses over a period of hours. I am a cheap date, these days. It was so liberating and worth a whole day of feeling poleaxed. A reminder though - wasn’t better, just anaesthetised.

[Kendrew in reply to SheffieldJane]

Good for you I say.😀😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

Less than your doctor drinks?????? Though for me that would be teetotal ...

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

I have to be honest......I used to enjoy a glass of wine at the weekends but since diagnosis, I've had the odd glass of prosecco on a birthday or special occasion, but even those still only amount to single figures. When I decorate my Christmas tree each year, I put on my xmas carols and have a few glasses of very dry sherry, chilled first in the fridge. I make sure the fairy lights go on first in case I become a bit 'squiffy'.... wouldn't be good if I electrocuted myself!!😄😄

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

My dinnertime glass of wine is the only pleasure left for the last year - I only drink with meals except 1 mini-prosecco split over 2 days Sunday/Monday. I am very picky about what wine - if I don't like it, I don't drink it

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

I prefer white wine to red and REALLY well chilled. I love a south African Chenin Blanc. Haha!.....makes me sound like I know what I'm talking about, and I REALLY don't.....but I do know what I like and what I don't! I'm also quite partial to a Guinness occasionally!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

Some reds make me REALLY ill so I only drink our light very local red. At present I'm on Austrian Gruner Veltliner (white) and a particular Austrian rose, not sure what grape it is. The grape matters ... The thing here is that wines change from year to year - which I love. Really can't get my head around the idea of a wine that is blended so it always tastes the same. How boring

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

That's an interesting point and one I need to consider in future. 🙂

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Just been looking up Gruner Veltliner and apparently it's similar to sauvignon blanc (which I really enjoy) so I'm going to try some. Our local wine specialist has it in stock so guess where I'm dragging my husband off to after lunch!! Hic!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

Apparently the UK has just discovered it! Every time I identify a favourite wine the UK finds it about 3 years after me ...

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Haha!....perhaps this is a new door opening for you!!........sommelier extraordinaire! The UK has a few good wines but still way behind. Need educating 😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

No thanks - staying here where these wines are supermarket prices! They'd be 3 times the price in the UK now - never mind in 2021 ...

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

I'll have to pay £6.49 for a bottle here.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

My rose, as one of those dreadful BOGOF items, costs me £3.85 ... Nothing would induce me to pay the normal full price for it but I can reconcile the BOGOF ...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, to “ only pleasure left for the last year”. One small glass of wine before dinner is savored and eases pain for me. 😀.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Kendrew]

I would definitely be dancing! 🥳

[Bcol]

Perhaps Doc should be looking for other reasons re high BP rather than just blaming Pred. It may be but also may not be. For me, if its done anything my BP is lower since starting Pred. Whether that is the Pred, change in lifestyle or something else is the interesting question.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

In some cases the vasculitis narrows the arteries - the pred relieves it and reduces the BP.