Husband has COPD, Polymyaligia

Greetings, I am concerned about my husband. He is 62, diagnosed with COPD in the early phases right now but his cough is progressively getting worse, he still smokes. He also has polymyalgia (a painful type of auto immune disease) and the prednisone has not working. I am concerned and just need ppl to talk to

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi trinitygirl62,

Sorry to hear your husband not is not well.

Can you explain a bit more so we can give advice. What came first the COPD or the PMR and when?

What do you mean the Pred is not working - what's the problem? What dose did he start on, what dose is he on now?

What other drugs is he taking?

I think we all know the answer about the cough, but I guess it's very difficult to give up smoking - easy to say, but not to do.

Sorry to ask so many questions, but we do need to know these things before we can comment .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hehe - you don't need to explain polymyalgia to anyone here! We will almost all agree that it is a painful autoimmune disease and the ones who mightn't will have had only GCA.

AS DL says - a few more details would be helpful. All her questions plus who made the polymyalgia diagnosis?

The immediate response has to be either it isn't PMR or the dose simply isn't high enough - but without knowing more it's difficult to comment.

And feel free to talk to us - we're all pretty approachable I hope and will listen.

[Bethy]

I smoked from age 19 until I was 62. When I retired I went onto a local NHS stop smoking course and gave up cigarettes from then onwards, and that was 10 years ago. Try to encourage your husband to find a course. They are so encouraging and will try numerous aids to help kick the habit. Wishing you both well.

[kiltylyn]

Same here diagnosed with COPD .. Have been off the cigs 2 years now and am vaping, I dont say ive stopped smoking just chose the healthier option. Stil getting my nicotine fix just not all the stuff that comes with the cigs.. Dad is 80 , hes just given up also after being diagnose same COPD.. My PMR is more a problem for me...

[Zanthy]

I also have COPD and PMR . Have had COPD for 10 years. Your husband needs to stop smoking as apparently smoking is the cause of the disease. Exercise is a must just walking is good for him. There is lots of information on line about COPD just type it in and read on.The Asthma Society is also very helpful. was diagnosed with PMR in June coasting along with the Dead slow nearly stop Method. Exercise for this disease too.Just got to watch the exercising.Started Yoga all very new felt a bit sore after doing leg exercises and I thought is this the dreaded PMR coming back or over exercising so I am going to back track my prednisone by two days and see what happens as up to now I have had no pain at all. I rambled on about myself a bit. Goodluck trinitygirl62 there is lots of information on this site for you and your husband

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Zanthy]

Hi Zanthy,

Hopefully the pains from yoga are just because you're using different muscles than usual, or at least in a slightly different way. I found that with Pilates when I first started.

If you're going to a weekly class, then try and do just a little at home in between , even if it's only 10mins every couple of days, that way it shouldn't be so difficult in the class scenario- and make sure your instructor is aware that you have PMR.