PMR gone???????

[kingharold11]

I went to see my rheumy last week he says that he thinks I have not got PMR anymore my last two blood tests (6months apart) have been as he puts it normal. I have no symptoms other than feeling tired when I have done too much. I am on 4/half pred and he told me last December to reduce at half a mil every 8 weeks which I am doing so here goes. I am gradually increasing my exertions(for want of a better word) and do get tired so I just have to rest. Its been a long time since May 2011.

[Mary63]

The experts will be along later, but I would expect your levels to be OK because you are on the dose of steroids that is dealing with the inflammation that is PMR. Might not mean PMR has gone away...just that it is being treated OK.

[Charlie1boy]

I really hope you are correct kingharold. As Mary63 says, I would expect your bloods to be normal at this stage. I,too, am on 4.5mg, but I got a very sharp reminder last week when I forgot to take my evening 2mg pred, and I knew all about it the next day. The PMR was lurking just below the surface.

Anyway, good luck; you deserve to be free of this affliction after all these years.

Good luck

Paddy

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

I do hope so!

But as others have said maybe the inflammation is well controlled under the 4.5mg Pred. Plus of course, the old adrenal glands maybe a bit lazy as well - which would account for the fatigue.

The only way you'll really find out is to continue your reduction plan, which sounds spot on to me - don't even think about rushing it now you are below 5mg. As we're always saying at low levels the Pred isn't causing you any side effects, but, more importantly, it's keeping the inflammation (if it's still there) under control.

Good luck!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The blood tests SHOULD be "normal" if you are on enough pred - doesn't mean the PMR has gone. On that basis - I never had it...

However, fingers crossed your adrenal glands wake up nicely and you do get to zero! But as DL says - that may account for the fatigue at present.

However - all the very best!!!!!

[piglette]

Hi Kingharold, I do hope your PMR has gone into remission after all these years, that would be fantastic.

I really do not understand doctors who think that just because your blood tests are normal the disease has disappeared. It really is worrying for those who still need steroids and the PMR is being kept under control.

[katkawon]

Wishing you the best

[SheffieldJane]

Wouldn't that be wonderful Everything crossed for you!

[Seabyrd]

Best wishes to you... I hope your Dr is right... he is right about the slow reduction... take your time !!

[katkawon]

Good Luck!

[England05]

Great news I love a happy ending....

[navejasjoe]

I hope you really don't have PMR, but my wife's rheumatologist told her after 6 months of the PMR diagnosis that she no longer had PMR because blood tests were normal. When she was down to 5 mg of pred he told her to go to a orthopedic surgeon for a different diagnosis. The idiot was wrong of course and my wife went back to her GP who is now administering her pred.

Joe

[piglette in reply to navejasjoe]

Hi Navejasjoe, I cannot believe how bad some so called consultants are. What do they think the steroids are doing if they do not reduce the blood inflammation markers? A lot of them are extremely pompous in addition to not being very good.