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Does PMR affect the upper respiratory system?
Does PMR affect the upper respiratory system?
I have had two bouts of upper respiratory issues that end up affecting my voice. I used to NEVER have any problems with upper respiratory until I was diagnosed with PMR. With the first one I totally lost my voice. The treatment was mega doses of prednisone for 3 days. I had to stop singing in my. Choir for 3 months. My voice had almost returned to normal and now I have it again! I am afraid I will have to permanently stop singing in my choir!
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When I was first diagnosed with PMR/GCA, I was put on 60 mg. of Prednisone. I was on that dose for 6 weeks. I noticed that my voice changed while I was on high doses. I don't know if it was the PMR or the Prednisone. I don't recall, when that symptom went away, but it did. I blamed it on the Prednisone, as I had multiple side effects from it.
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2 ReactionsI have had voice hoarseness and inability to sing for many months now, before and after I felt the PMR symptoms. I wonder if that for me might have been an early symptom of PMR. I had and still have a hoarse voice that comes and goes, for about 1 1/2 years before I developed the classic pains of PMR. Prednisone for me has almost completely eliminated the PMR pain, but did not improve the hoarse voice, which is very noticeable sometimes, for a day or 2 and then better for a week or two, and then back hoarse again. I started at 40 mg. prednisone on initial diagnosis in May 2025, quickly went to 20 on orders of the rheumatologist, and am now at 7.5 and will taper down again soon. But the intermittent hoarse voice is still here, unchanged. It was concerning to me at the beginning, but I don't try to sing, so it is OK. It is particularly noticeable when I haven't said anything for an hour or 2 (I live alone). Sometimes gets better as I speak, like for a normal phone conversation. I was checked by an ENT, found nothing out of normal for my age, 76. I have decided to ignore it. It might be related to PMR, or might not.
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1 ReactionMy rib cage has been very sore throughout this PMR experience right now, I have bronchitis that I caught on a cruise so my chest is really sore. I’m down to 4 mg of prednisone and I stopped taking methotrexate when I wake up I feel like a 2/3 sometimes a 4.
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4 Reactions@albiarrt2
Thank you for sharing your experience with PMR and prednisone. I am sorry you have had to stop singing. I may be on that path, too. Am going to take a leave of absence from my choir to see if resting my voice helps.
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2 Reactions@mae102
I just emailed my letter requesting a leave of absence from my choir today. I feel that all the things I enjoy are slowly being taken away.