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PMR and sleep apnea
Has anyone developed sleep apnea some time after being diagnosed with PMR? I recently have, and I think it's a redistribution of fat and/or weight gain from taking prednisone. I am 71, diagnosed in May 2025 and currently taking 7mg a day of prednisone and tapering very slowly. I've noticed that my neck tissue seems thicker and I think that has something to do with it.
I'm having fun times now getting used to a CPAP machine. I will say they aren't as bad as I thought and super quiet. It's only the first week of using it so I'm struggling some with it but hoping I will get better sleep.
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Yes I developed sleep apnea while on prednisone.
Yes I also thought it was because of the redistribution of fat to my face and neck.
I’m off prednisone now. I still use CPAP but I sleep fine without the CPAP machine some nights.
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1 Reaction@dadcue Thank you for sharing your experience. I thought I was sleeping fine but the sleep study said otherwise!
Hopefully I will get used to the CPAP. I've only been using it for 7 days. It's very quiet but it's just wearing the mask ( I need a full face or hybrid mask) that is tough.
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1 Reaction@gigilea
I use nasal pillows ... Sometimes now I can't sleep without them.
@dadcue I've heard people say that!
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1 ReactionDefinitely the corticosteroids. My wife was on a small amount of steroids and developed a moon face, thickening of the neck, and a hump back of the neck. Weight gain. She developed a snoring with her sleep. All related to the steroids.
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3 Reactions@tuckerp I hope she is doing better and hopefully some of these side effects have or will resolve.
@gigilea thank you. she had glioblastoma.
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