The first time I went to the doctor and was told I had PMR , I started to cry since I had been in so much pain. He gave me the "Girl why in heaven's name are you crying " look and said " it goes away"!
I must admit him looking at me like that did make me think well, maybe all will be allright than and it won;t be so bad . Little did I know (and he aswell) that it was going to be the journey of hell!
In the end he was right .....he never told me that it could come back though!Marianne, I also cried when told, but it was relief from knowing what was
going on & that it was not my back and that there was hope... Doc was great
about it and reflected that I had been in such pain of course I would cry.
pgr
Hi all,
I didn't cry...I didn't really know what having PMR meant long term. I was just so happy to finally have a diagnosis and a way to reduce the pain.
PS: I am usually very emotional but I really didn't cry about it for some reason...very wierd!!!!
Kathy
Well, I haven't cried yet, but sometimes I feel like it. Further, although I have all the symptoms and can connect with everyones' posts, I haven't been diagnosed yet. I'm supposed to talk with my doctor in a couple of days and she has said she is going to refer me to a rheumatologist -- at last. This is after four months of pain and misery, accompanied by false diagnostic attempts in other directions that have led nowhere. If I am diagnosed with PMR it will be a relief finally to know the cause and hopefully get some treatment (prednisone) despite the terrible nature of the illness. No diagnosis, no treatment has been the drill so far. Ugh! This forum is a lifesaver. It's like having people throw me a lifesaver while drowning in a sea of pain and debilitation. Thanks all.
Hugh
Dear Hugh,Hugh,
Can you raise your arms?
I was happy when the rheumy told me I really had something. I was beginning to think I would leave his office with a script for antidepressants and no resolve to the pain. Lord it was horrible.
I had two life threatening medicals issues, one in May 06, dvt in left leg that I did not know I had, and it showered and sent clots to both my lungs. Hit me like a brick and I spent 8 days in the hospital afraid to move and move the clots further.
Spent 8 months on Coumadin. Then in November 06, I ate a salad at Taco Bell, and fell deathly ill and went into renal failure and spent another 9 days in the hospital thinking it was time to bend off and kiss my butt goodbye.
I complained of back pain and my arms hurting, and difficulty shifting the midsection of the body in bed. It's like the blankets were winning the war, and I could not get myself turned around. With the medical issues going on, they thought it was do to the renal failure side effects. So, when my sed rate came back at 80 my doctor said something autoimmune was going on.
Sadly, I had no physical or emotion reserves left to fall back on, so I thought perhaps all these issues were signs of depression.
We have one hospital in the area that is doing a study on PMR with a grant. I did not qualify because you needed to have had had at least two relapses. Now I qualify but do not know if the study is almost over.
My scalp pain has gone away with the new dosage, but know that GC is treated with higher doses. The lowest my SR has gone has been is 51. All other tests for Lupus, and other diseases came back negative. July SR was 51 and now currently at 63.
I've broken down in tears out of frustration that I'm not just getting over this. My husband has been so helpful and understanding, but I feel guilty because I can not do things anymore, and lack the "spirt" to try.
I'm in animal rescue, and foster mom to many hobo dogs and cats. Sadly, I've had to cut back on these activities because I cannot keep up with all that is going on in the kill animal shelters. Now just fostering kittens who make me smile with their antics.
The research program was at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, NY. I wonder how many other studies are going on? I stumbled upon this study researching PMR grants for studies.
Donna, NY
Donna,
Donna...I am in animal rescue aswell. I volunteer 4 times per week at the local shleter have 4 dogs 2 cats .I even went to New Orleans to help. If I cannot tend to the animals animore due PMR I will kill myself!!! They are that got me thru the worst of pain . They are who made me smile tru my tears. When I would be half way up the stairs crying because I had such a hard time Sasha (pic below) would come to me and lick my tears away. I would put my hands on her for support (she weighs 90 pounds) and would help me up . I would look at her and
manage a smile becaue of her funny face and antics.Hi Donna and Marianne
I have a Corgi named Annie and a Siamese cross named Muffin, and their
funny little ways and their devoted affection are pulling me through this, and
they are always there! Bless their little hearts!
Whatever it takes, LibethLibeth....I have a Corgi mix that I rescued from the streets of New Orleans after katrina. They are so adorable! I had 2 corgis... they are great! Both doed too young; Frodo was only 5 and
Bilbo 11.Now have a great big 95 lb sweetheart and a siamese cross.Fewest
animals w have ever had.
pgrWow Donna, I do feel for you, you have been through the wars, here's hoping this is the beginning of getting better. Phyl, details please on the 95lb sweetheart!
I have cried a lot since this illness, mostly out of frustration and seeing my life and abilities diminished and probably depression - and the depression has come from the illness, not the other way around! For me, my animals, which have always been a source of great happiness, became instead a source of stress and guilt, because I was so tired and unwell, but had to press on with the work involved in their care. Because I have a really high standard of animal care, I could not just leave things or take shortcuts. So I was often dragging myself from one to the other, doing all the chores. I was unable to ride my horse, because I couldn't even lift the saddle onto his back, even if I had the energy. All the energy was used up just in his daily care. Grooming and putting rugs on and off was really hard because upper arm pain and weakness was my major symptom. Carrying hay and buckets of water and feed was hard, as was mucking out the paddock, using the wheelbarrow etc. My horse was already old then and had cushings disease, so was needing a lot of extra care and attention as well as the normal daily routine. Then he became acutely sick and had to be put to sleep, and that was really sad, he was a lovely old boy. Then I felt guilty for feeling relieved that the physical burden of his care had been lifted from me. So things were easier after he was gone. Now I only had the 5 goats and a few old chickens to look after. All of the goats came here for sanctuary and were rescues, so there was no way I could give them away - not that anyone would want them, such a motley old crew, one with 3 legs!
Some of my other much loved old pets also died, my first rabbit "Tweed", and my old guinea pig "Tufty" (also rescues). So my work-load was reduced, but I was sorry to lose them. So now I have 3 rabbits (1 Dutch, 2 mini Rex), 2 old toy terriers 14 and 15 yrs old, 1 old adopted cat who was here when we came, 1 pet orphaned sparrow aged 9 years, and 5 girl fancy mice. I also had 5 stinky boy fancy mice who I brought home cos they were going to be killed. They have died of (very!) old age, one by one, over the last 2 years, the last one being put to sleep with a tumour just recently.
I am managing the care, feeding, cleaning and exercising really well now, and am now enjoying the animals again (thanks to pred!). It was a hard time though, when I was in pain, undiagnosed, so fatigued I could hardly function and faced with so many animal-chores I used to just cry. I like all the animals to have clean homes and fresh clean food and this takes time and energy. Most of them came from horrible homes (or no homes) and I couldn't let them down, but sometimes I used to wish they would all just disappear! I am SO glad that time has gone, hope it never comes back.
I always feel the animals give us so much more comfort. I have 3 dogs and 6 cats. Oh, and one kitten and another feral kitten who became ill before neutering. He is slowly recovering.
When I had my medical burps, my poor husband had to take over their care. I, also, do transports for dogs going from shelter's and fosters to their new homes.
He does all the lifting. I'm used to being at high speed, now adjusting to a slower pace.
Glad to see other animal folks on here.
Donna, NY
We call "Indy" the "Norwegian Brown Dog". She was born in Norway,
for a laugh.....my crazy girls...
http://www.geocities.com/marianne_erikson/Stinkie.html
and
http://www.geocities.com/marianne_erikson/stick.html
and
http://www.geocities.com/marianne_erikson/lovebite.html
Hi, All!
Loved the pictures. I, too, have trouble uploading things to forums. Pictures and such disappear into a big cyber hole, someplace.
Chico, amazing that you have so many and keep up with it all. They really depend on us, so even though it hurts like hell, and energy is almost always absent, you fill one more dish, and clean one more area.
On bad days, I prefer to human's to stay away from me. I'm always afraid I'll snap at them because of feeling so miserable and helpless.
Donna, NY