Connecting the Dots with PMR

@joanmm

I'm happier to be off Prednisone but getting off Warfarin was an added bonus. Heck ... all 3 blood pressure medications and atorvastatin have also been discontinued.

To be fair ... I don't think the risk is from Prednisone alone. I'm pretty sure chronic inflammation contributed to what happened. My disease activity wasn't well controlled at the time of my pulmonary embolisms

I can't explain how everything happened except that all those other medications were started within a few years of starting Prednisone. I went into my appointment planning on having a discussion on starting Eliquis and stopping Warfarin. When my appointment was finished ... Warfarin was stopped and Eliquis was NOT started.

I'm not sure what all went into the decision. My present primary care doctor made the decision but other doctors were consulted. When "warfarin for life" was decided about 15 years ago... a hematologist and pulmonologist were consulted. My original primary care doctor who has retired said he was never going to stop warfarin.

I felt bad for my original primary care doctor because he apologized to me after the PE happened saying he might have missed something. I reminded him about the pulmonary function test he wanted me to do except I was the one that declined that. His response was that the multiple pulmonary embolisms were acute and not chronic. I didn't know anyone could have chronic pulmonary embolisms. He explained that I might wind up with chronic pulmonary hypertension but that didn't happen.

There was some kind of algorithm that analysed my cardiovascular disease risk and it was low. I think but I'm not sure that being off prednisone, atorvastatin and all my blood pressure medications was factored into the equation.

I forgot that I posted about this over a year ago.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-on-prednisone/

@dadcue You certainly have had a time of it with your health, but sounds like you are doing well. Keep up the good work, Mike.

Joan

@joanmm
Thanks ... I am doing well. I can use all the motivation I can get. I feel like an older version of a former person I used to be.

Happy New Year to all my fellow bloggers. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing or has experienced shaking of the hands with the PMR/GCA/prednisone journey? I have been on prednisone since mid-October when I was confirmed with GCA. Since mid-November I am taking 15 mg prednisone daily. Some days it is not particularly noticeable, but some days getting the spoon to the mouth without shaking the soup off is becoming more challenging. I am wondering if it is part of the PMR/GCA package, a side-effect of the prednisone, or just me aging. Thanks for any reports on what others have experienced.

Happy New Year to all my fellow bloggers. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing or has experienced shaking of the hands with the PMR/GCA/prednisone journey? I have been on prednisone since mid-October when I was confirmed with GCA. Since mid-November I am taking 15 mg prednisone daily. Some days it is not particularly noticeable, but some days getting the spoon to the mouth without shaking the soup off is becoming more challenging. I am wondering if it is part of the PMR/GCA package, a side-effect of the prednisone, or just me aging. Thanks for any reports on what others have experienced.

Happy New Year to all my fellow bloggers. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing or has experienced shaking of the hands with the PMR/GCA/prednisone journey? I have been on prednisone since mid-October when I was confirmed with GCA. Since mid-November I am taking 15 mg prednisone daily. Some days it is not particularly noticeable, but some days getting the spoon to the mouth without shaking the soup off is becoming more challenging. I am wondering if it is part of the PMR/GCA package, a side-effect of the prednisone, or just me aging. Thanks for any reports on what others have experienced.

@lally
I have had shaky hands for a couple of years, before being diagnosed. I have no idea if it’s related but I feel like it’s gotten worse. Probably just aging. I am 78! Tired of dropping things. I have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel so it could have something to do that.

@caroljeand Thanks for responding to my enquiries. I have had carpal tunnel for a number of years. I get by well just by wearing a wrist brace at night, so I don't think that is responsible for the tremors. In a way, it would be nice to know, but I guess it doesn't really change anything, does it?