I'm a 47 year old woman who was diagniosed about a month ago after 3 month of torture. I just went in for my 1st month check-up with my Rhuemotoligist who said I was responding poorly and upped my pred from 20 to 25 mg daily. The pred is tearing my stomach up, the shakes suck, sleeping would be nice at times and I'm tired of waking up hurting!!!! I own and operate a house cleaning business and could knock of 3 or 4 house in a day without building up a sweat, now getting myself dressed is an acomplishment. My doc is at the top of her field!
I'm trying to learn as much as I can about this and begging for as much help as possible to learn how to get thru this. My daughter is a high school senior, my son, due to marry in August and my landlord is trying to evict me! Throw pmr in on top and I'm at my wits end!
Any suggestions???
It's probably just me, but I was showing symptoms for a couple of months (and I hear ya' about the pain) and 15 mg of pred is doing the trick for me. I don't know how much pred it takes to provide relief, but it seems that you should be taking enough since you haven't been suffering long term.
Ask about trazodone for helping you sleep. 100 mg help me so much.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with looking for a second opinion.
Hi Chellie
Welcome! I'm 47, too, so we are a couple of the "youngsters" around here!
Can you get your doctor to give you something for your stomach while you get yourself sorted out? I'm taking Rabeprazole (Pariet) 20mg. Also you must take the pred with food. I was on 60mg then 40mg for a long time a few years ago. I was OK if I took the meds with food. Eat bananas, too, to combat cramps. The shaking sounds like a reaction to the pred so I would see your doctor about this. There are other meds they could try like plaquenil or methotrexate to spare taking the pred. By all means get a second opinion as you do not have a good response to the medication. Maybe they could try a different form of steroid. Over here the choice drug is prednisolone, which is the form the prednisone takes after it has been metabolised in the body. Just a thought.
You seem to have a whole lot going on in your life at the moment. I understand what you must be going through as I have had a very sick mother put into a nursing home, my husband and I work in the same company and it is relocating to the other end of the country next summer, right in the middle of my daughter's important exams. Priority at the moment is health and you should seek further advice. I have been in limbo for so long and in so much pain that the diagnosis came as a relief (strange??). I hope you can find a good rheumy who can sort you out. Please PM me if you want a chat.
Thinking of you.
Love Judi
Hi,
I am new.. I am also 47 and have not been told I have PMR yet, but I am thinking I may.. My Mom had this for about 3 1/2 to 4 years... but she was about 62 when she had it..
My shoulders and neck are sooooo stiff and sore, and my hips wake me up at night. I have loss alot of movement in my left shoulder...
I had a MRI to make sure it was not a cuff tear and he said it was arthritis. but it is getting so hard to even want to get up and move during the day, although I do feel better as the day goes on....
anyone have similar experiences?
thanks for ANY advice!!!
sadie :)
Mine broke right through the Plaquenil. Maybe it helped a little. Who knows what it may have been worse without it .... but not good enough so I dc'd it.
Ps
I found out that my brother,although 12 yrs younger, has had it for about 18months. He has had loads of tests, is on Steroids (which nobody should stay on long) and his ESR is high, but he is back at work now. My ESR hasnt been tested recently.