There’s always something! Now more breathing problems.

[Karenjaninaz]

There’s always something! I have absolutely no symptoms PMR no matter the dose.

But I do have adrenal insufficiency and pulmonary problems. I am on a steroid inhaler and steroid nose spray for environmental allergies. These are usually the last things eliminated once you are off systemic steroids. After my flu jab I thought my lungs were congested and my breathing was more difficult. It was also many environmental allergies present the season: mold and now Sahara dust. I do not even go outside to exercise; I have to do everything inside. Meanwhile the inhaler I was using called Brio seem to make my breathing worse after using it! I didn’t want to take another puff. I add here I do not have asthma or COPD but what’s called reactive airway disease. It doesn’t repond well to steroids or the usual asthma medicines but maybe helps a little for the allergies. I called the pulmonologist and couldn’t get an appointment until November. That will not do. So I resumed another inhaler that has steroids in it that has not expired. My oxygen levels were getting lower than usual and that was scary. So I decided to add 4 mg of prednisone to my five and three-quarter daily dose. I will see the substitute pulmonologist on Thursday thank goodness.

Does anyone else have issues with inhalers and systemic steroids at the same time? Will I ever be off the stuff?

[Karenjaninaz]

Follow up: since I was in 5,75 pred and feeling so unwell I took 4 more mgm and symptoms improved; I went from O2 sat of 90% up to 96%.

[SheffieldJane]

I can’t help but do get attacks of breathlessness out of the blue since PMR/GCA and Pred and I know that the blood oxygen finger clip should not dip below 96, so it seems like you are doing the right thing. I wonder if I’ve got that too, (RAD) to add to my woes? The doctors don’t seem very excited but it’s a horrid feeling. I’d welcome something to help.Incidentally, I know that the Endocrinologist would need to know about the inhaled steroids as well as Pred if you decide to have your Adrenals tested. I was asked. You are at that stage.

[Constance13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

The only time I get breathless is when I use a mask. I can't understand why as I have no other breathing problems.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Constance13]

I do too and wonder if it’s a sort of mild panic attack. I can’t do the fabric ones only the blue medical ones. It doesn’t help that my glasses steam up as well.

[Constance13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I'm not usually a panicky person but......?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

OH is the same - he does have lung problems but the effect of a mask of any sort is major. I find the FFP2 masks easier because they don't suck onto the face.

[Amkoffee]

Like you I have lung disease and adrenal insufficiency and PMR. It doesn't sound like you have a nebulizer to use for breathing treatments. This is something you should request from your doctor. There are quite a few drugs that can be used with a nebulizer but the most common one is albuterol. This drug will dilate your bronchial tubes making it easier to breathe. It also comes in an aerosol inhaler.