Heart rhythm workup. Increase prednisone?

[Karenjaninaz]

I have been tapering down to 7 1/2 from 7 3/4. Last week I had an episode a very fast pulse and extremely high blood pressure and went to the hospital. Of course the vital signs were perfect in the hospital the next day, my doctor had a special monitor applied. Called ZiO. The purpose is to catch any arrhythmias when they happen. I can also report any symptoms in a little booklet after being in emergency room. I checked my lab work and my patient portal. My calcium was below normal. This can affect the heart rhythm. Today I had another episode. Since it’s a holiday, I did call the ,cardiology doctor emergency service; I told him I was taking extra magnesium and that it helps. I plan to contact my doctors office tomorrow to see what he wants to do next; the monitor can come off and get sent to a special lab where, in a week, we will find the results.

My question is: should I go up on the pred since I seem to be unstable where I am right now? Yesterday I felt bad and I went up to 8 mg and felt reasonably good and the heart was regular. I consider a heart rate of 150 a special stress. Any ideas?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have had managed a/f for the best part of 10 years according to the electrophysiologist (I didn't think it was that long!), Part of the reason I was on the dose of pred I was, was to help manage the tachycardic episodes. They were definitely more if I was flaring with the PMR so it was linked to the vasculitis and the local cardiologist agreed, Our hospital uses liquid magnesium doses whenever a monitor goes off and I also have been using it at home.

Trouble is - if you change the parameters while the monitor is on, it might make it confusing. Can you speak to the doc who ordered the monitor? I was OK and managed short spikes of 140 without going to the ED but 150 definitely requires some medical opinion. Not that there is that much they can do. If 8mg pred sorts it, probably preferable to other options.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to PMRpro]

In touch with cardiologist today. He thinks it could be related to the taper- adrenal.

Wearing the monitor one more week. Recommends magnesium 400mgm day right now.

[musicality in reply to Karenjaninaz]

What benefit is the Magnesium to you. I asked 4 mine 2 b checked. Not too low or high, so none given . I was hoping it would cure my insomnia that the Pred causes.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to musicality]

The blood level is very misleading. The body stores of magnesium are in the cells and the blood scavenges magnesium from there so the cells can be quite low but the blood looks fine.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to musicality]

Magnesium is used for heart arrhythmias; since I started my heart has been regular.