I rested positive last Monday. (I fainted and was sick). Was on 8 mg Pred. Put it up to 10 mg. My daughter looked after me. She tested positive yesterday and had to go home. I am trying to cope on my own but it is difficult even going downstairs. I feel ill. I can’t take a big dose of Pred as it gives me arrhythmias.
am also on Famotidine, Metoprolol, Apixiban. I was still positive last night. Would another 2mg Pred help ?
You need to ring your GP and say it is urgent. They may pass you to 111 but sometimes that’s better with my husband’s recent Covid. Given how unstable and ill you feel, I think a medical opinion as to whether you need a good shot of hydrocortisone or any other intervention is required. Is there anyone to call on in the short term?
I had quite a good day on Saturday, but yesterday and today not so good. There is no-one who can come and help. Do you think another 2mg will help.
Thank you SnazzyD
It might help if any of your feeling bad is due to needing more cortisol at this time, as long as it’s not high enough to affect your heart rhythm like you said it can. As PMRPro says, it isn’t going to make the Covid feel better.
Only one way to find out. But more pred isn't going to magically make you feel well - it is to support adrenal function.
However - Covid is still not the same as a common cold although it is less likely to make us really ill providing we have had our vaccinations. You are likely to feel unwell for more than a week and it could a few weeks before you feel well.
Apparently I have no cortisol so would 2mg more help ? I think I feel so stressed that that is probably making me feel worse. I also have gastritis pain which isn’t helping. My head actually doesn’t feel too bad apart from increased tinnitus. On reflection I think being on my own is very frightening. Other health problems seem to get worse. I have just taken 2 mg extra Pred, but they are coated so will take a few hours to take effect I think ?
That's what I mean - you can only try and I don't have a working crystal ball! Yes, coated pred takes 4 to 5 hours to get into the system so aren't ideal for emergency use in adrenal problems.
If you have no cortisol - perfectly natural at 8mg - then has your doctor not considered an emergency rescue pack of hydrocortisone? And that is always an option: call your GP or 111 for advice.
The Endocrinologist said that above 7 mg I didn’t need any extra. Would the Hydrocortisone have the same effect as the Pred on my heart beats ?
I just rang the surgery and a doctor is calling me after 6.45 pm. Unfortunately not anyone’s favourite doctor.
That's par for the course - that's why they have time ...
I really don't know about the HC on heart as opposed to pred. Pred actually helped my heart rate problems. You shouldn't need extra under normal circumstances I agree - but emergencies can make a difference.
Thanks PMRpro. It helps just to talk about it with you. I feel calmer than I did. I will get through this.
That is why we are here - a trouble shared and all that.
You are on your own and unwell - I know the feeling well, I have no-one here I can call on at all, not even close friends, they are in Germany, the family is in the UK. If I felt really unwell and unable to cope I wouldn't hesitate to call our equivalent of 999 and I know someone would respond but the UK is a bit different these days. However - your GP practice should be able to flag up some services to help you as a vulnerable adult if you are ill and alone with no support. So, for that matter can the paramedics.
It is only temporary for you, your daughter is around when she isn't ill and it is unfortunate you both have Covid. But maybe it is time to think about adaptations to the house for such an event in the future - like a stair lift. I live in a flat with a lift in the building, There will be situations where even that isn't enough and if I have to return to the UK I will be very selective about where I live. My friend in Germany who is far younger than me at 65 and still fit has just been fitting out their appartment within a new business premises - everything has been done to future proof it and make it barrier-free. Her sister died a year or so ago from breast cancer - and she has learned the lesson there.
You are right PMR pro. I need to sort out what I am going to do. My 91 year old neighbour has just moved downstairs. She had a room converted to a bedroom a few years ago and now her life is much easier.
I am sorry you are in a similar position to me.
That sounds ideal if you want to stay where you are and want space for the family to come. I only have a tiny flat - I can manage 3 or 4 guests at a pinch but that's fine and there are plenty of tourist options here anyway. I'm starting to consider what I might do - it's fine, not quite ready yet.
You are wise to think about future proofing - people nearly always leave it too late excepting our grandma who decided in her 60's to move to a bungalow. Because of this she was able ( and wanted) to live there until she was 98 when she went into a nursing home and lived to 103 with all her faculties. My in-laws who had a rest home always said when you are elderly moving is very traumatic and often brings decline quicker.
We did future-proof to some extent but Brexit has rather messed it up - travel is no longer as easy or cheap as it was and now I am in the common situation of being alone far from family. One is in Scotland, one in the north of England, so even that is a choice, no point living halfway between! The one in England is currently heavily commited to her husband's aunt who was a surrogate mother in many ways. She is now in a lovely home 5 mins walk from where they live - using up the inheritance at a rate of knots. I don't need to be there yet and I have a lot more freedom here than I would in the UK, my medical care is better as is the weather and food/wine!!! But the time will come. When it does I will probably just ditch everything here and just move me!
I do think the life in the sun is very good for older people. My close friend and her husband lived in Camaiore for 20 years but her husband developed Parkinsons and in the end returned to North Wales to be near family tho had no children. A good move as it turned out but she still misses Italy which will always be their spiritual home. These decisions are so hard to make.
Gosh - what a lovely place to live! No wonder she misses all that encompasses. The first place we really visited in Italy was approximately La Spezia - 50 years ago and I celebrated my 21st birthday there at a restaurant at the beach. I live in Germanic Italy - much easier, saves being fluent in Italian as German is used more in my valley than Italian - and officially approved.
Next spring I shall explore those places with the campervan - as OH never wanted to.
when I had covid last year I had a PMR flare and I rang the rheumatology help line . They told me to increase my pred to 15 mg short term ( from 8 mg ) and I felt much better but I know it was the PMR that was causing me problems, not the covid . However , I don’t have heart issues . Can you ring the rheumy department ? Good luck !
Thanks Katiemills. I hadn’t thought of doing that. Although mine is definitely the COVID causing my problems. Anything is worth a try. I am just waiting for the GP surgery doctor to call. They gave me a 2 hour window, so I hope it’s sooner rather than later.
think less medication would help
Hello Peggy
I increased to 20mg per day from 7.5/8mg , it helped a lot but I’d had an adrenal crisis last time and didn’t want that again.
I got more help from 111 who put me in contact with the Covid doctors.
They’ll know how to help you.
It is scary on your own , please know these wonderful ladies are here and a huge comfort.
On their own too so they understand how lonely and vulnerable you can feel.
I’m just going to the doctors now.
Take care big hugs this Covid is horrible for some of us but you’ll be okay. xx
I have no advice but I wish you well. I will also say that having everyone here really is a relief when feeling unwell and not sure quite what to do. I hope you feel better very soon.
If your GP is unhelpful ring 111. I have been quite impressed with their help.
Good luck Nurse Peggy. You are being very brave. Let us know how you go.
Not to hijack your thread, but this is the first time I have read of a connection between Prednisone and arrhythmia. Once my P. dosage had dropped to 4mg, some months ago, I began gently rowing again, keeping my heart rate to no more than double my resting heart rate (which is 51).
I noticed that if I rowed harder and my heart rate got to around 110bpm, I would see the heart rate monitor I am using instantly jump from say 110 to say 135 and then five to ten seconds later, drop back, in increments, to 110 again.
Anyone know if there is indeed a connection between P. and arrhythmia?
There is, yes.
drugs.com/medical-answers/p...
verywellhealth.com/predniso...
jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...
I have atrial fibrillation - but due to the autoimmune part of the PMR damaging the sinis node which governs heart rate. Pred actually improves it!
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