Has PMR Returned

[DavidMF]

My overactive cousin just updated me of his 2021. He was then on 3mgs of prednisolone. Suffers a stroke, straight into hospital, they operate and clean up a main artery which no doubt saves his life. Three days he is back home and has a review with his current new Doctor. Who points out that using Prednisolone, is DANGEROUS, get off them. He does over the next two weeks, then catches Covid, bit like a bad cold. Few more weeks he's feeling weary & stiff shoulders & hips and walking funny. Doctor thinks Long Covid, January gets an irregular heart beat, down at 42bpm raising to 80bpm when checked later in the week. "One of those things, nothing to do though I'll ask around!!"

My advice ( 7 years on Pred) after hearing paracetamol, doesn't help with the pains. Is I think PMR has returned, test it with a week of Pred you'll soon see if it's PMR. As for the heart rate it's Atrial Fibrillation, needs a specialist to check you out.

He finds it difficult, as in his world Doctors are Gods.

Is there any medical papers on the dangers of Pred. ?

I've pointed him to NHS Atrial Fibrillation and what to do.

Any other helpful points ?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred isn't a drug with no side effects - no drug has no side effects. But if you need it for PMR, you need it for PMR or you end up back where you were.

Was he still doing OK on 3mg? Or had he had to go back to a higher dose? 3mg is NOT dangerous - hope he never gets a GCA patient to manage!!! If he's good on 3mg - Prof Dasgupta leaves patients on it at 2-3mg long term as it reduces the risk of relapses. If it is good enough for him ...

It's probably an arrythmia, but not necessarily a/fib - and he needs a longterm ECG monitor that is on when he has an episode to diagnose it. Sounds pretty typical and that 42 needs checking out, episodes of bradycardia can be dangerous if they happen when driving or at the top of the stairs and you have too long a pause that cause you to faint.

[DavidMF in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks PMRpro, just the sort of answer I was hoping for. I'm sure this will get him to think about getting something better done.