Any one have a hard time breathing? I get very out of breath the least thing I do, any one else having this? Also am very cold all the time, arms, shoulders and around the chest feel like they are chilled to the bone, also my face is cold. Have appointment tomorrow with rheumy, will ask him these questions. would appreciate any responses at all. Thanks, Georgiana
Georgiana,
I have periods of breathlessness and get out of breath easy with household activities.
I think it's the Prednisone. Are you on that?
~KewaneeKewanee,
I am on pred., right now 7.5 mg. Thanks for your help. Georgiana
Hi Georgiana
Yes i certainly relate to being cold. I start getting the cold feeling at about mid morning and no matter what i do I can not get warm up. I have worn a long sleeve shirt with an insulated shirt over it. I also covered up with a blanket and still feel so cold. My feet and hands and nose are cold to the feel. I really hate it but what can you do. I also have a breathing problem. I have had it for about 10 yrs. before the pain started. I have had all the test for breathing and had my heart checked to no avail. I am also on pred. My doctor wants me to decrease as soon as possible but try as I may it seems I can't get any lower right now than 15mg a day. Please let me know what your rheum. doc tells you. I asked my doctor about the breathing problem, if it could have been a precursor to the pmr and he said(which didn't suprise me) he didn't know.
take care
Anna
Could the breathlessness be from anemia? I believe I read somewhere that either the PMR or the prednisone can result in anemia. i.e. not enough red blood cells to draw adequate amounts of oxygen into your bloodstream.Ruth, I will ask the dr. if the breathing is from anemia. thanks georgiana
Hi Georgianna,
Sometimes when I have severe back pain that feels almost like the muscles are constricting so much that they are compressing my lungs, I have a difficult time catching my breath. It sort of feels like a giant beast is hugging me from behind and his grasp is taking my breath away. Sometimes it simply hurts too much to get a satisfying full breath of air. Is this at all what you are talking about? A hot shower relieves it to some degree, if it is. Otherwise, perhaps it is yet another exciting steroid effect. Susan M.
Yep, Susan, that's what I'm talking about. Like your lungs are just as stiff as your muscles and they won't let you get a really good breath of oxygen.
I have two types of breathing problem (OK, so I'm greedy!!). One is the stiffness of my ribcage that I can't seem to expand enough to get a good lungful. This usually happens when I have been exerting myself, walking, housework. Some days I have no problem!
The other type is more neurological - the MS "hug". The intercostal muscles go into spasm and it feels like a painful tight band around the bottom of the ribcage. The pain has been so severe I ended up in hospital. As I had had one pulmonary embolism in the past my GP thought it was another but all the tests were negative so it was either costochondroitis (inflammation of the cartilage) or the "hug". Over the last few years it has happened a few times but not with such severity and with other numbness, pins and needles in my back, tremors, etc., MS is a possibility.
Now I can't breathe properly because of this chest infection! Seeing GP again on Friday. Hopefully she will give me some dynamite to shift it as the antibiotics I had didn't do anything!
Have a good evening.
Love Judi xx