wetheral pickleball

[PickleballWetheral]

Back pain and slight chest pain. This has just started to occur, is this to do with steroids. I am on 10mg trying to reduce every fortnight. I have also become slightly breathless not to much but it is there. I go to my GP on Wednesday but would be interested in any comments. I also haven’t received a steroid card. Does this come from your GP. Thanks PickleballWetheral .

[SheffieldJane]

I would do a Covid test. Chest pain was a key symptom I had. It doesn’t seem typically PMR but if you are at the beginning of your journey I would be inclined to taper more slowly. Have a look at FAQs on here about tapering programmes. See the link below your post.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are on 10mg now then you shouldn't be tapering more than 1mg every month - so 1/2mg every 2 weeks may be OK but more really isn't advisable. You need more than 2 weeks to know if the new dose is still enough.

What sort of chest pain? Where? Chest pain, especially combined with being short of breath, needs to be reported to the doctor immediately - it must be suspected to be cardiac related until proven otherwise. It may be muscle-related but you cannot take the risk. Dialling 999 might be a quicker alternative under normal situations but not sure today with there being a strike - is it widespread or local?

At least, please try to get hold of your GP immediately and seek advice.

There is a current thread about the steroid card - the healthcare provider is supposed to issue both the blue and the red cards - you should have both. The blue one logs your pred dose, the red one is for healthcare staff in an emergency situation.

This is an information sheet about the cards, differences and how to get one:

westessexccg.nhs.uk/your-he...

[PickleballWetheral in reply to PMRpro]

thank you so much.

[123-go]

Hi. Your GP should refer you for investigations if she/he is concerned about your symptoms and if you are worried you should perhaps push for this. A diagnosis can only come from test results such as scans, X-rays etc.

My first blue card came with my Newswire magazine when I became a member of Healthunlocked PMR/GCA and I have since received another from the same source. Your pharmacy may be able to supply you with one. Mine didn't know what I was talking about but I explained and they eventually 'found' one from somewhere or other. We really should be supplied with a card on diagnosis in my opinion.

I hope your appointment goes well. Please let us know the outcome to help others with similar questions.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

"We really should be supplied with a card on diagnosis in my opinion."

That is what the NHS recommendations say!!!! The prescriber is responsible - not even the pharmacy,.

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

Why the heck don't they do it then? I can probably answer that myself 😉.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

ER - pass?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to 123-go]

Hospital pharmacy issued my initial one (subsequent from local Boots pharmacy ) - but I was on 80mg and pre-Covid days, when things were more likely to done correctly....😊

[PickleballWetheral in reply to 123-go]

thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Oh - a plea: please don't use your name as the title of a post, say what the post is about so people can see if it is relevant to them

[PickleballWetheral in reply to PMRpro]

sorry ??

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PickleballWetheral]

have a look at this - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[piglette]

I think you have to be pro-active nowadays if you need something. It seems if you don’t ask you don’t get!

[Theziggy]

You can print a card out from here pmrgca.org.uk/steroid-emerg...

[PickleballWetheral in reply to Theziggy]

thanks