Greetings All, from Benjamin Mansions in the UK - whether you are PMR Newbies, Seasoned Veterans or plain Confused.coms 'frozen' like the proverbial rabbit in the headlights somewhere on the often long, complicated and uncertain PMR GCA Journey.
If you've been Daft enough to follow my silly ramblings here (a sure sign of PMR / Pred induced Bonkers-ness?), you might know about my recent TOP SECRET appointment as a Double Agent - acting both for TPC (The Pred Club) and PCZ (Pred Club Zero) simultaneously. Being a Double Agent is dangerous work and I'm sworn to Secrecy by both organisations if I (q.) 'spill the beans'. So, please treat this Classified Information with the utmost care. And, if I 'disappear' mysteriously or meet an untimely end as a result of you reading it, I will hold You Lot responsible. ;-/
Here's my Confidential Update from behind the Zero Pred Curtain:
After 3 weeks of daily, cautiously hovering around Zero Pred (e.g. 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 mgpd - if you get the gist?) things aren't too bad, all considered. Yep, some continuing residual PMR pain and Morning Stiffness (no naughty 'Janet & John' type jokes please, Aunties), some Fatigue - although not so much of the Deathly Type - and a bit of temporary Hip Bursitis (Ouch!), but generally feeling better than for some time on my 3-year PMR Journey. And, all of this despite being more active and lively generally. So, 'Job's a Good Un' as we say in Western UK.
So, my Conclusions, for better or worse?
1. Joining, or aspiring to join PCZ shouldn't necessarily be seen either as the Ultimate Goal or Solution to coming through the worst of and / or recovering from PMR. That said: getting closer to, and surviving PMR when reducing from the critical sub-7-ish mgpd Preds without major setbacks symptoms-wise is probably a good sign that things are going relatively well overall. So, be patient in the process..
2. Even at, or when nudging closer to the elusive PCZ from any level of Preds, there are no guarantees (sorry..) - and Caution still Rules in terms of the Body and Mind adjusting to slowly weaning-off of a powerful 'maintenance' drug (Prednisolone) which, at the same time as relieving the worst of PMR symptoms, can be difficult in itself after depending on it for so long. So, again, Patience Rules in the process too - and especially after a (usually) long and chronic illness. Before you say it: I know, easier for some of us than others...! 
3. To my mind, 'Coping' is as important as 'Curing' in the PMR (and especially GCA) Survival Equation - not forgetting many other more serious and Life Threating illnesses which we dare not think about. Many of Us Lot (me included!) report a period of any or all of exceptional Physical or Emotional 'Stress' prior to the onset of PMR. This can include any or all of: Injuries, Viral and Bacterial Infections, Trauma of various types, challenging Personal / Professional Circumstances and Conflicts and, of course, the ageing process in itself. At the same time I know that, for some of Us Lot, it's just a Roll of the Dice..
4. Re. the above: AI (Auto Immune) illnesses like PMR and GCA can often seem to hit us 'Out of the Blue'. But.. could this also be at an age / time in Life (e.g 50+) when we are also dealing with an incremental (but inevitable?) slow-down in our physical and mental energy and Immune System resources? This is probably the 64 -Thousand Dollar question / conundrum until the myriad of possible causes of some age-related AI-related illnesses like PMR and GCA are fully understood by medical Science. Work in Progress for the Researchers... and with our input too?
5. In the meantime: it seems that 'Coping is Key' for many of Us Lot on our often difficult PMR / GCA Journey. So, How to 'Cope', therapeutically? Well, I know that we all have different approaches and strategies ranging from going to Pilates sessions to taking dietary supplements, walking the dog, gardening, walking, swimming, making and mending things, and much more besides.
All I can suggest is: do whatever works for you, trust your intuition, and also try to keep smiling on the Journey. Fun and Laughter are known to have great therapeutic qualities in the Mind / Body coping process too, and I'll pin my hat on that theory especially.
In the meantime: can any of You Lot please advise me as to how to wrestle my emergency supply of Preds back from Teddy (aka 'Tedski') - who has commandeered them and is now demanding a Ransom for their return..? He's a Tough Negotiator and I don't want to get on his 'wrong' side.... 
All best wishes - and try to keep smiling on the PMR GCA Journey...
'Uncle' MB 
At the last one he rampaged around like a Mad Dog and bit the heads off of the ornamental ducks at the local lake. His case comes up next week.. 
