Heavy breathing .

[Merryfield]

Does anybody else run out of breath easily? I find myself panting with minimal exertion. Is it disease or steroids? Am on 20 mgs medrol. Thx.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At some point probably everyone on this forum! PMR makes everything hard work and your muscles literally gasp for air. For me, Medrol caused all sorts of side effects including muscle wasting - which also makes doing things hard work.

[Merryfield in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you, PMRpro. Do you believe medrol has more side effects than pred? Is pred more effective? I do notice I have dry mouth w medrol.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Merryfield]

It did for me - nothing with prednisolone or prednisone, methyl pred was awful! And it didn't work! The methyl bit is meant to make it a more effective antiinflammatory but it also potentially makes side effects greater.

[Merryfield in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. Will ask doc about resorting back to regular pred.

[Purpleazalia]

I had breathlessness which coincided with starting on steroids (but can't be certain it was the steroids). Last October/November it became worse with a feeling at times as though someone had put an elastic band around my ribs. After speaking to my asthma nurse in December (it didn't feel asthma related as no coughing or congestion) she made me an appointment with the doctor who has arranged for tests to check my heart and lungs.

I would say it's best to have a check with your doctor.

[Merryfield in reply to Purpleazalia]

Thank you, Purple. Am getting blood draw in a few mins. Hope to see doc too. Adding dry mouth to bone marrow edema and return of shoulder discomfort. Yikes!!!

[Purpleazalia in reply to Merryfield]

Fingers crossed 🤞 they get you sorted and that it's nothing to worry about x

[Merryfield in reply to Purpleazalia]

Thanks Purple. Did not get to see doc. But will next week. I hope your breathing has eased. And heart and lungs are ok. Aging and pmr not for chickens!!!

[Purpleazalia in reply to Merryfield]

Thanks Merryfield. Too true 🙄😂

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Merryfield]

What’s “bone marrow edema”.

Retired nurse anesthetist here. Never heard that term in 50 yrs work .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Karenjaninaz]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5...

[Karenjaninaz in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting thanks for the link.

[Merryfield in reply to Karenjaninaz]

The marrow inside the top of my sternum is inflamed and swollen. And the tissue around it is also swollen. This is from the MRI reading😳