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Saw usual GP yesterday he’s “ not convinced “ it’s PMR. Referred me to rheumatology as bloods normal - went up to 10 mg last Friday after seeing locum doctor - if not convinced can i drop back to 5 mg and see what happens after a week ?
Pain did ease a little on 10 mg but not a great deal.
Thanks
Just in case you have not read the diagnosis and treatment follow this link:
You can drop back to 5mg after up to a week on 10mg. However - 10mg may not be enough to delete (so to speak) the existing inflammation in a few days. You may need more or longer and as far as I can see you haven't been above 10mg? The history DOES make PMR a fairly likely option as do the symptoms and you really need to try a decent dose of pred (at least 15mg) to be able to see if this is pred-responsive PMR-type symptoms.
Why isn't the GP convinced it is PMR?
I think GP wasn’t happy locum put me up to 10. He says he wants rheumatologist to decide if I should go to 15 mg. I could probably manage on 10 till I see rheumatologist - early morning worse then eases to a dull ache for the rest of the day. He didn’t listen to my symptoms and he doesn’t like being questioned and as an ex health care professional I was asking.
I assume you haven't got an appointment yet? He does realise that it could be months? And you might even get a letter back saying it isn't serious enough for a rheumy to deal with! In which case - has he a plan B?
As an ex-healthcare professional I think I might be looking for a doctor who was more sharing (shall we say) in my healthcare...
Hi
I’m all at sixes and sevens I asked to be referred to QE gateshead about 4 miles from me but he’s insisted on sending me back to shotley bridge where I saw my rheumatologist for GCA. I argued but no way. I’m going to wait and see what happens next week. Then may , as you say go for my plan b. Thanks again for advice
Who staffs Shotley Bridge clinics these days? I assume Durham and Darlington? And their rheumy service is in tatters (I have it on local authority, according to my husband who was quizzing someone about former colleagues recently).
I would be having serious words with a doctor who refused to refer me where I asked:
nhs.uk/chq/Pages/902.aspx?C...
There are limitations since in some areas they now have referral triage who decides if you are in need of a specialist referral but I don't think QE is there yet. Dr Saravanan is the man I would be aiming for.
Hi PMR pro
Just a follow up - returned from hols on Friday and letter waiting from CDDFT (Durham) sorry big problems 4 rheumatologist left including don’t know when you will get an appt !
Rang my surgery asked to go to QE gateshead - appt came today for July 17th !
Hi PMR pro
Just a follow up - returned from hols on Friday and letter waiting from CDDFT (Durham) sorry big problems 4 rheumatologist left including don’t know when you will get an appt !
Rang my surgery asked to go to QE gateshead - appt came today for July 17th !
I had a 3 month wait for an appointment, so went privately to one, as Dr didn’t want to give me steroids without Rheumatologist diagnosis. I couldn’t have waited that long without some treatment. He immediately put me on a 15mg dose. I think it was worth seeing him, as he rang me to see how I was getting on, and included copies of his correspondence with Dr when he wrote to me.
The consultant I was under 2 & 1/2 years ago was dr saara Malik but when I’ve checked she’s not there now. And yes it is Durham and Darlington. I used to work there and it was going downhill then.
Apparently some have retired and some have left - not entirely sure of the details now. I wasn't impressed when my PMR started, one informed me I had OA, she could "feel it". Once the PMR was managed, so were the so-called OA symptoms. She was downright rude - and she worked with my husband and I was staff too. Lord knows what she was like with Joe Public! The guy I saw after I'd worked out what it probably was newly qualified in rheumatology and pretty useless! He wanted it to be anything but PMR despite a magic response to pred.
But QE are pretty good although one has semi-retired to do good things in Africa and concentrate on research I think. But Saravanan is pretty impressive and very approachable.
I love “ feel it “.
Dr Kelly consultant at QE has left to concentrate on research. I’m not sure who the others are. My sister has RA and under them, she was gutted when dr Kelly left.
My GP mentioned fibromyalgia but I don’t think I’m symptomatic . I forgot, he also said don’t read about it I said I would obviously read about a condition linked to GCA which I was presenting with symptoms of. Cheek.
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