breathlessness

[Jakey67]

do I remember correctly that PMR can cause breathlessness. I’m concerned to find myself short of breath and I’m wondering if this can be the cause? Is it the PMR or the steroids? I have previously had a blue inhaler and wondering if it’s worth asking my GP for another. What are other’s experiences please?

[piglette]

I would check with your GP if you are getting breathlessness to be on the safe side.

[SnazzyD]

I agree with piglette, get it checked. There are a number of reasons you could be breathless. Even it is asthma, you might need a longer acting inhaler rather than just more blue one.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Breathlessness is not something to self-diagnose - speak to your GP about it as some underlying causes need proper diagnosis and management.

[Jakey67]

Thanks, I’ll try with the GP. He’s good, but you know what it’s like these days….

[MDT1 in reply to Jakey67]

Might be worth trying to book with the senior nurse, s/he might be more available and are often the 1st point of contact for annual check ups for Asthmatics and other 'chest' patients. You could ask if they have a nurse specialist??or look on website??

[MDT1 in reply to MDT1]

also they can refer to a GP more quickly and prescribe some meds

[Gimme]

Agree with above. Get it checked out. Lots of reasons for breathlessness. Even if it turns out that you are asthmatic, you may need a medication review to make sure that you have the correct meds for your condition. The approach towards treating asthma has changed quite a bit over the last few years and they seem to take a much longer term view of the condition nowadays.

Though to answer your question, I initially thought that I might be allergic to the prednisolone when I first started taking it, as my asthma seemed to have got a lot worse. Then for the last 6 months, my breathing has been better than it has been in years, so now I think that I am probably benefitting from the oral pred. That is until the last week or so and suddenly my chest is tight and I feel out of puff. Asking around, I found that other people who are asthmatic have been struggling over the last week or two. Maybe the weather or some pollen that is in season. Although, it also seems to go up and down with any fluctuation in weight for me. I would still get yours checked out though, even if you think it might be seasonal. Its important to look after your lungs and the rest of your health.

[Greenthought]

I found your post interesting - I am one of the lucky ones whose PMR lasted for about 3 and a half years until apparently disappearing a few months ago, without my having taken pred (long story; I would have taken pred had I known I had PMR earlier - see my biog!). However I seem to have developed a wheezy chest just as the PMR pain disappeared and since then have had a couple of chesty viruses, one of which landed me briefly in hospital before steroids - inhaler and pills (ironically) - put paid to it.

I am now undergoing tests with the GP's respiratory clinic to decide whether I have late-onset asthma. I'm 76 and otherwise in fairly good health, on no other medications, and have never had asthma before, or any allergies that I know of . So I wonder, like you, whether this weird old auto-immune condition of ours is now manifesting in yet another guise? Though it may be the plethora of summer pollens, or atmospheric pollution of course... I will be interested to hear how things develop. Definitely worth getting checked as there are so many possible causes and a wide range of treatments available nowadays. All the best!