Greetings (again) Polymalingerers and Pred Playmates worldwide 
To quote an old saying, 'Resistance is Futile': and despite your wildest hopes, I'm back to plague You Lot with more irrelevant silliness. Or am I..? 
I was in touch with a fellow Polymalingerer today who kindly ordered my new book ('Write Me Funny'...etc). Yes, a Blatant 'plug' for THAT silly book. But unashamedly so, because PMRGCAuk will receive a slice of the proceeds - which they greatly deserve. Be quick if you want to order a signed copy in time for Christmas. Although I'm great at Time Management, I only have 27 hours in every day (ha ha - the old gags are the best) 
But that's not the main point of this latest Rambling...
My dialogue today with a fellow, long-suffering and frustrated Polymalingerer who's 'stuck' at 12mgpd reminded me of my recent progress on the Steroid Tapering Journey which, for many of Us Lot, can seem like a roll of the dice in a game of Snakes and Ladders despite the best of Pred tapering 'plans'.
When I say 'Never been so Low' I don't mean Depressed, necessarily - more about getting down to 2mgpd Preds after a long Journey form 30mgpd 2-ish years ago when first diagnosed with PMR. Although still not 'out of the woods', I reflected today on my own 2 year PMR / Pred Journey with all its twists, turns, uncertainties, frustrations and myriad of confusing symptoms including the dreaded DF (Deathly Fatigue) which many of us well-know is a by-product of various types of chronic Auto Immune illnesses. Yes, the DF really is as much of a 'curse' as the myriad of other PMR GCA symptoms.
I also reflected on those several tortuous months when trying to reduce the Preds from 10-ish mgpd to 6 (DSNS style) when my hopes to join Club Zero, return to Business as Usual and 'recover' from PMR seemed as likely as winning the National Lottery or beating Lewis Hamilton in the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix.
In Learning Psychology circles, 'Reflection' (i.e. looking over one's shoulder at, and making sense of the past in relation to where we are 'now') is said to be a great tool in getting a hopefully more positive perspective on the Present and Future. From my Day Job, I know this stuff theoretically: but I applied it to myself on my PMR Journey. A case of 'Physician, Heal Thyself'? ;-/
Conclusion?
Yes, I've finally got 'down' to 2mgpd after a long haul in the PMR / steroid tapering process and am suddenly feeling a massive sense of achievement as well as relief - Yay! :-D. I appreciate that getting down from (e.g.) 2mgpd to Zero can still be a slow process, as many here say: but my Message to all of You Lot here is that it IS possible with a little patience, careful 'pacing' (still!), and above all, Support and Encouragement from those of Us Lot on a parallel Health Journey. And, having a little Faith in one's own ability to Survive on - and possibly Thrive (?) during a Life Changing health Journey can help too.
Either way, to quote an increasingly-used (if 'Cheesy') term in Business and Organisational life: 'We Have Forward Motion!'. I'm up for some of that and hope you are too. In the PMR GCA game of Snakes and Ladders, sometimes the 'Snakes' can be our friends - despite their initially sinister appearance on the Playing Board of Life. Ironic, or what?
So, try to keep positive on the PMR GCA Journey. And.. don't forget to try to keep smiling through the Tough Bits - it can help in small, but important ways in the coping process..
Best Christmas wishes from a fellow Polymalingerer, and hopes for a positive and healthier 2018 to all of Us Lot.
That's it - I'm off to play with my Lego and my colouring-in book now. Playtime, at last!
MB
aka 'Uncle Mark' / 'Swivel Hips' / 'Old Four Eyes' etc
