PMR Newbee: Hello all, As ye can see I am a Newbee... - PMRGCAuk

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PMR Newbee

Christinemac profile image
β€’11 Replies

Hello all,

As ye can see I am a Newbee to PMR. Actually I don't know for sure if it's PMR or Fibromyalgia! I am on 25mg Pred going down to 20mg Wednesday. At the moment I have a little energy and little muscle pain. On and off my head aches and my left eye feels dry n strange! I am seeing Specialist early August for tests so hopefully this might show or solve ......

I am addicted to chocolate..... I just can't get enough and I am putting on weight..... No doubt this is going to stress me even more!!!! Is there any way out...... Help 😱😱😱😱

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Christinemac profile image
Christinemac
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11 Replies
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Marilyn1959 profile image
Marilyn1959

Hi Christinemac.

Welcome. I too am relative newbie diagnosed in June with PMR.

You will find this site very active, informative and supportive, if my experience is anything to go by. Others, more experienced will be in touch soon I am sure.

Meanwhile to get the ball rolling, and out of interest, I am wondering ..........

What tests / assessments have you had to date to determine both PMR and Fibromyalgia as possibilities?

Why the dilemma, since you have been prescribed pred which is used to treat PMR whereas, to my limited knowledge, painkillers are used to treat fibromyalgia?

What were your symptoms before you started taking pred and what has been the impact of pred on these symptoms? The impact of pred on symptoms is often a good indicator as to whether PMR is present.

With a bit more info, the 'experts' will be better placed to support.

Meanwhile in answer to is there any way out......... It appears there is no quick fix unfortunately but there is a way through. We each just have to find our route (with a little help from friends made on this site) that works for us.

Let us know how your appointment goes and the outcome of a firm diagnosis once you have it.

Best wishes.

Christinemac profile image
Christinemac in reply to Marilyn1959

Thanks so much for getting back to me!!! Yes it makes sense to me now that it has to be PMR. I had pains all over my body even my earlobes hurt. I couldn't get myself out of bed..... It was the worst I've ever experienced. I was eventually put on Pred and within 2 days I felt back to normal! Now my head hurts and I can get a headache in a split second......It seems like I have dry eyes and my eyesight feels worse!I am going to give up Choc tomorrow and go down to 20 mg Pred...... God help me!!!!!! 😩

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

Hi Christinemac,, My name is Jane and I am a chocoholic! Welcome!

Did you get amazing relief from Pred when you first took it, within a few hours or days? That is what points to PMR more than anything. Pred does nothing for Fibro.

I have woken with a sore right eye, this always worries me about GCA.

Christinemac profile image
Christinemac in reply to SheffieldJane

Hello Jane.... That is what worries me also!!! Hopefully they will do the necessary test for you as well to ease your mind!!!! πŸ˜€

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Two questions: Did you have raised ESR and CRP blood tests? Did the starting dose of pred make a difference to your symptoms?

If the answer to either if these is yes - you haven't got fibromyalgia. It is not an inflammatory condition - so the ESR and CRP would not rise. And pred doesn't work in fibromyalgia for exactly the same reason.

By the sound of it - it is probably PMR as you say you have "little muscle pain". The fatigue is something you have to learn to manage - the pred combats the inflammation caused by an underlying autoimmune disorder but it does nothing to that disorder and it is that that causes the fatigue. Pred doesn't cure - it manages PMR.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

Not quite sure to be honest what other tests a rheumatologist will/can do to show/rule out PMR that won't be affected by that dose of pred.

Christinemac profile image
Christinemac in reply to PMRpro

Hello.... Yes it makes sense... It has to be PMR! After 2 days on Pred I felt great...... Now I have slight pain and must go down to 20mg tomorrow whether I like it or not! When I eat anything especially Choc I cannot stop.... It is like an addiction .... Think I prefer the no appetite time!!!!! 😱

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Christinemac

"After 2 days on Pred I felt great" - and rushed around catching up on all you hadn't done? If so - that's why you now have pain! You have to pace - the pred is only dealing with symptoms, the real illness is still there and ongoing making your muscles intolerant of acute exercise. So calm down - do things in small bites and rest between times!

And if you don't want a weight-gain problem - be strong! Just a bit - not the whole bar!

Christinemac profile image
Christinemac in reply to PMRpro

You are so right!!!!! I try to get everything done while I have energy....... I still haven't got it in my head that my life has to change to suit! I'm reading and learning and am very thankful for the posts!!!!!!! Love the " not the whole bar". I actually ate 5x yesterday and I use to only like savoury!!! I will learn..... Thank you once again!!!!

IdasMum profile image
IdasMum

The only way I have found with chocolate is to go cold turkey for 7 days and promise yourself some at the end. You will find that by the end of the 2nd week your promised chocolate is too sweet.

We live in France and only eat dark chocolate now...and I only buy once per week. Once it's gone it's gone. I never thought I'd find my favourites Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons disgusting but I do....amazing.

So...just do it and do something positive during those times you're craving.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to IdasMum

Cadbury's buttons - and most other Cadbury's products if it comes to that - are no longer Cadburys - if you see what I mean. It is now heading for Hershey's level. I nearly wrote quality but that would be an oxymoron!

Christinemac profile image
Christinemac in reply to IdasMum

Hello I am just going to stop tomorrow as well as go to 20mg and suffer on.... I can feel extra weight going on and I 'm not thin to begin with!!!! So here's hoping.......😜

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