AFIB and PREDNISOLONE ANXIETY

[tillyrose]

Hi everyone, my gp suspects that i have GCA and wants me to go on 40mg of

prednisolone straight away, he has also referred me to see a eye doctor on tuesday

but having read the patient information leaflet, I am now terrified of taking them as i have A FIB and am on medication and it says they can slow the heart rate right down and if this happens i have to go to A and E ,is there anyone else who has had this problem , i just dont know what to do.

[Nextoneplease]

Hi tillyrose 😊

I know there are people on here who are on medication for AFib as well as prednisolone and hopefully they’ll be along shortly. ( I had AFib myself but it has been put into remission by an ablation).

What I would say is if GCA is suspected, don’t risk your sight, take the prednisolone as recommended by your GP. Hopefully they took your AFib into account but if you do have problems with it, that’s what A&E is for.

Take care, protect your sight and look after yourself.

Nextoneplease xx

[jinasc]

Take the pred, your sight is important and once it goes it is gone - no getting it back.

If the A/F does give you a problem off to A&E and tell them about the GCA etc.

GCA is treat as a medical emergency so your sight is protected.

One thing why an eye doctor?

Hopefully you mean a Consultant Opthamologist ? If not you need either that consultant or a Consultant Rheumatologist.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What symptoms do you have that make the GP think this may be GCA? When did you see him? I assume it must have been yesterday since most GPs don't work on Saturday.

The choice is take the pred or risk your sight - IF it is GCA then if the inflammation that underlies it is not reduced quickly then you are at risk of irreversible loss of vision. It isn't a risk I would take lightly.

I have a/fib - actually caused by the autoimmune part of the PMR and am on medication for it. I did have a period of bradycardia (when the heart goes too slowly) and they fitted a pacemaker to prevent that, but it wasn't associated with the pred. In fact, part of the reason I need the pred dose I do is because of the a/fib which is worse when the PMR is not very well managed because the vasculitis is worse.

Actually, suspected GCA should be treated as a medical emergency - just like a heart attack or a stroke, because the same thing can happen, a clot is unable to get through the narrowed arteries and interupts the blood flow to the optic nerve, leading to visual symptoms. You should really have been sent to A&E for emergency management. The sooner you take that pred, the sooner the swollen artery walls go down and the blood flow is assured.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sorry to sound harsh, and I do understand where you are coming from - but more terrified than losing sight?

Been there, done it, got the T-shirt - so my advice take the Pred, and if there’s an issue with your Afib then straight to A&E. Hopefully a trip there won’t be necessary….and please let us know what happens with next appointment.

[Bcol]

Morning Tillyrose, I'm sure it's an unsettling prospect, but I totally agree with the other comments. To mitigate any chance of you losing your sight you need to take the Pred and then see how you get on with the Opthamologist on Tuesday. If your Afib or your other symptoms get worse then immediately make use of A&E. Hope all goes well and please keep us updated.

[Benos123]

As you've made no reply to any of the above posts, may I humbly suggest that you just get on with it or get a new GP fast, for fear you'll regret it all! If you see what I mean!

[Grammy80]

I understand that you are processing all this info but~~~~I lost sight in my left eye because I wasn't diagnosed properly and didn't have the choice you have....take the pred to save your sight. As other experienced GCAers have said....once it is gone...it isn't coming back. Take this opportunity to save your eyesight and then focus on the balance with your AFib. You have noted there are others who deal with that issue. You are never alone here. My heart is with you but I'm shaking my finger at you...take the pred.💖

[Nextoneplease in reply to Grammy80]

So well put Grammy - 100% agree x

[rlstonejr]

Been taking prednisone for PMR for 7 years; Been taking meds for AFIB and A-flutter for 4 years. No idea if the issues are related, but no problems taking both meds.