PMR and GCA question: Is there anything I should avoid or do to increase my chances of getting well quickly and without permanent damage?

Obviously, taking sufficient medication is priority. I mean does lifestyle impact on these illnesses (that some clinicians believe are the same illness). How much does weight, good nutrition, exercise, stress, etc., matter?

[blackbird23]

I have had GCA since sept.20013, the main thing is not to reduce the pred.to quickly, I did in Feb.after a holiday, went down to 5mg,and had a relapse,so had to go back to _40mg and start reducing again, am now down to 11mg and am OK.That is apart from the fatigue which is very bad when I do too much.The answer to that is to not do too much.I walk the dog every day,shop and of course the housework, and still go walking in the lakes regularly, but do too much and it takes me 2 days to recover

So yes your lifestyle will be restricted, which I find hard, but I think it helps if you do your 5 a day and keep active.

[polkadotcom]

Of course lifestyle is going to have an impact on how you feel. Taking medication at the correct times, eat healthily, take what exercise you are able to, and avoid stressing out on details, then you will feel better and more in control. AND feel more able to cope with the stress life throws at you anyway.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It doesn't matter which chronic illness you develop - lifestyle and energy management are crucial in having a decent quality of life. In the case of PMR, overdoing it will make you feel rotten as a result. Pacing yourself is essential and avoiding stress of any form is also a help.

Whether diet can play a part is controversial, a good diet with far fewer processed carbs will almost certainly help, on the other hand I have had no alcohol, no nightshades, no carb periods and none of them seemed to make any difference. Nor have any of the supplements I've tried made any difference (except calcium and vit D - my bone density after 3+ years of pred at above 10mg was essentially unchanged.

[Hidden]

Thank you for the info. Any, even limited exercise seems to cause me exhaustion and aching for at least a day. I would like to reduce my weight but difficult on prednisolone, especially as eating is a traditional comfort to me in times of distress. Sleep would be wonderful if only I could do it without waking every 2 hours with sweats, discomfort, anxiety, etc. I like to use music or sleep induction tapes. I seem to spend all my time trying to survive.