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Irregular heartbeat issues

Posted by caroljeand @caroljeand, Feb 12 11:40am

I am tapering off prednisone and currently at 1 mg. I have been monitoring my blood pressure since I was on blood pressure medication prior to PMR diagnosis. PMR (or more likely prednisone) has created more blood pressure issues for me so I check it daily.
I have noticed more notifications of irregular heartbeat on my monitor since tapering. Has anyone else been aware of this issue?
I just turned in a 48 hour heart monitor so I’m anxious to know the results and conclusion.

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caroljeand | @caroljeand | Feb 18 10:56am
In reply to @pmrsuzie "I have been taking BP med for many years. Have had two stress tests and monitor..." + (show)
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I have been taking BP med for many years. Have had two stress tests and monitor studies. First study was probably before pmr started. I was diagnosed with an arrythmia and prescribed metoprolol. The second study was more recent, revealed PSVT and was prescribed flecainide. Both these meds are low doses.
I monitor my BP daily, before dinner, and occasionally get that irregular heartbeat symbol. I saw my cardiologist this week and asked about it. He immediately asked what was my heart rate. It's been normal. He said not to worry unless my heart rate is also elevated.
Best to keep track of these things in a planner book. If I get that irregular heartbeat symbol I would write 135/70 ❤ 67.
My EKG was normal.

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@pmrsuzie
I guess we all have an irregular heartbeat at times but it concerned me when I was seeing it more often. Just received my report and apparently there is nothing significant to address at this time. Hoping things straighten out once off prednisone this week. I’m sure it will still take time for my body to acclimate for the positive.

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Mike | @dadcue | Feb 18 1:46pm
In reply to @caroljeand "@dadcue Thanks for checking in… I turned in my monitor on Thursday and had a message..." + (show)
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@dadcue
Thanks for checking in… I turned in my monitor on Thursday and had a message yesterday to check my chart. There was no report so I put in a call to the doctor and haven’t heard anything back yet. It could take 5 to 7 days for a reading but why the my chart message?!🤷🏻‍♀️
I have a feeling my issues are all due to the prednisone and have two more days of one mg. I will be so glad to be off to see how my body reacts.
I have cataract surgery scheduled for March and April. Just have a concern about being on Kevzara that I need to sort out. Someone on here posted about needing to be off Actemra for knee surgery so I wonder if cataract surgery would have the same need to be off kevzara.
Did you not feel different when your BP rose over 200? I do know checking it so often can cause anxiety for higher readings. I just check it in the morning before breakfast unless I feel odd. Last few days I haven’t gotten the irregular heartbeat notification so very anxious to hear my results.
Assume I’ll get a call today.

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@caroljeand

I thought my little home blood pressure machine malfunctioned when it said my BP was 210/110. I was getting ready for work and since I worked at a hospital I decided to have a nurse recheck my blood pressure at work. I didn't have any symptoms but the nurse took me to the emergency room when she got the same 210/110 reading. I wasn't anxious about anything because that isn't my nature. I think the nurse panicked more than me because I didn't want to go to the emergency room.

When the emergency room checked me in my blood pressure was still 200/100. Nothing was done in the emergency room to decrease my blood pressure. It was strange how it slowly returned to normal about 2 hours later.

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caroljeand | @caroljeand | Feb 18 2:50pm
In reply to @dadcue "@caroljeand I thought my little home blood pressure machine malfunctioned when it said my BP was..." + (show)
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@caroljeand

I thought my little home blood pressure machine malfunctioned when it said my BP was 210/110. I was getting ready for work and since I worked at a hospital I decided to have a nurse recheck my blood pressure at work. I didn't have any symptoms but the nurse took me to the emergency room when she got the same 210/110 reading. I wasn't anxious about anything because that isn't my nature. I think the nurse panicked more than me because I didn't want to go to the emergency room.

When the emergency room checked me in my blood pressure was still 200/100. Nothing was done in the emergency room to decrease my blood pressure. It was strange how it slowly returned to normal about 2 hours later.

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@dadcue
Wow… what a story! I would have been freaking out.
I did call my rheumatologist and was told to stop kevzara 2 weeks before the surgery and continue two weeks after the completion of both. That leaves me with no kevzara for six weeks. Not sure how that’s going to affect me. I have no other choice except to delay surgery. I would prefer to get it over with.
They don’t seem too alarmed about discontinuing for that time so we’ll see.

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