Dizziness and shortness of breath.

[Mary63]

I suffered from angina in October and had an angiogram and two stents. I recovered well, and by a couple of weeks after was feeling extremely well. In early December I was able to get back to my ‘normal amount of exercise, a bit in the gym and some tennis...all in the same way I had managed before the stents.

Then on Dec 10th I got COVID-19. I am not fully recovered yet, but am finding some of the symptoms I had put down to COVID are getting worse. Notably dizziness and shortness of breath especially when bending over. I have been trying to get from 5.5mg to 5mg in the last 10 days (so far I have had two 5mg doses). So could this be adrenal issues? If so, it is what it is, and I will have to wait till it improves. Btw I have been treated for PMR since Jan 2016 and had symptoms for four months before that.

I was due to have a cardiologist appt face to face this Wednesday and I am disappointed that it will now be a phone consultation. It would have been nice to have my heart and lungs listened to.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

They could well be long Covid - judging by what they are finding out.

[alvertta]

Under all the health stress you have been in the last two months I would not be trying to reduce right now. Seems like a lot of stress added. Someone will be along who knows a lot more than me.

Good luck

[Mary63 in reply to alvertta]

Thanks

[SheffieldJane]

Oh Mary I am so sorry to hear about your ordeals. How crushing to feel extremely well after your operation and then get COVID. I wonder if your cardiologist would agree to see you face to face in view of your current state of health? I agree with PMRPro that it sounds like so called long Covid. I also think that you should be a priority for the Cardiology Dept. just to ensure that it is not related to your operation. Sending you love and best wishes for a return to full health soon!! 🌷

[Mary63 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I will push for a f to f appointment when I speak to the cardiologist. Thanks Jane.

[Mary63]

Thanks. I will stick at 5.5mg. It’s boring cutting the tablet in half though. Thanks for your input.

[Mazxstitch in reply to Mary63]

I take 5.5 mg made up of a 2.5 mg tablet plus 3 X 1mg.

[Mary63 in reply to Mazxstitch]

Good idea! I only have 5s and 1s at present.

[nuigini]

Agree that you should not attempt any further reductions with all the emotional and physical stress you are dealing with right now. In fact, I personally, wouldn't hesitate to go back to 6 mg if I felt I needed it.

[Mary63 in reply to nuigini]

Thanks for that. I have no PMR symptoms at present apart from fatigue which I am putting down to COVID. But I will watch myself in case!

[nuigini]

Definitely a good approach Mary. Fatigue has been a MAJOR issue for me in reducing by .5 mg for years (I've been at this since 2014), which is probably why I reacted the way I did to your post. After a flare a few months back I really slowed down, often repeating steps on the DSNS plan. So far six months without fatigue.

[Mary63]

Interesting. Thanks.

[spiritofhilary]

Hi Mary63. I had COVID at the beginning of October and I am still suffering from dizziness and shortness of breath. I had a telephone appointment with the rheumatologist just before Christmas and she advised me to stay at the same dose of pred I have been taking since being ill (7mg) until I feel better. I agree it's very difficult to pull apart the causes of symptoms when you've got PMR, the after effects of COVID and simply getting older.

I hope you start to feel better soon. What would we do without this forum? Take care.

😀