Mycoplasma Pneaumonia ?

[Spooky76]

What member with PMR had his Dr. test him for Mycoplasma Pneaumonia, tested positive, went on an antibiotic plan and has been PMR free for four years?

Would like more info. Thanks

Ted

[markbenjamin57]

Greetings Ted

Your Post caught my attention and this is my story if it helps..

In early 2015 I caught Mycoplasma (bacterial) Pneumonia, otherwise known as 'Walking' or 'CAP' (Community Acquired Pneumonia) following much international air travel, and I'm convinced that this originated from being cramped in a pressurised aircraft cabin next to a coughing, spluttering passenger who probably had 'shared' it with me - nice. So much for air quality in aircraft cabins? My local GP Nurse reckons they used to be cleaner in the old days when smoking was allowed on board! Anyway, I digress....

After some initial Flu-like symptoms developed into increasing lower RH lung pain when breathing (until intolerably scary), I was eventually diagnosed with CAP by the Emergency Dept at my local hospital and treated with antibiotics. Result? 2 weeks later, lungs fine and given the all clear (despite being a naughty but moderate smoker). Hugghhh.

Here's the bit that might (or might not?) fit with your question:

Simultaneous with my CAP diagnosis / treatment, I developed classic, initially crippling PMR symptoms. Lungs / breathing fine, but getting (er, falling) out of bed, standing, bending, lifting, even walking around etc excruciatingly painful. And, Chronic Fatigue to boot. Some time later, my GP 'got it' and prescribed the Preds for suspected PMR - with almost immediate relief. A subsequent Rheumatology consultation confirmed PMR: and the Specialist agreed that it (an excessive Auto Immune reaction) could have been triggered by the CAP. The rest is history...

I've read somewhere that the Mycoplasma bacteria has been linked with the onset of PMR (in a clinical study in the Netherlands, I think). A few of Us PMR Lot here report bacterial and viral infections as being a trigger for PMR, amongst many other things.

But, of course, my experience seems to contradict yours, where you suggest that antibiotic treatment for CAP either reduced your PMR symptoms totally or assisted you in your recovery from PMR (if indeed you did have formally diagnosed PMR at the time, and for however long previously) - if my understanding is correct?

Either way, it will be interesting to follow this thread in terms of possible Causal links between PMR and comorbidities.

Best regards

MB

[Spooky76 in reply to markbenjamin57]

Hey MB

Let me catch you up on my story. I was a VERY healthy 76. Other that I have Osteoporosis. Genetics... Just found that out last year with a bone density test. Kind of figured that since I was 6' 3" in High School and I am 6' 1" now...

I have a really worn out Osteo right shoulder.Too much sports, etc. Been a source of pain for years. In my 70's I developed bone spurs in this shoulder. Last Christmas I was scheduled for a shoulder replacement. Date set, all the hoops jumped through. One week before the surgery was to happen I woke up with all the symptoms of PMR. You read my first post.

It's a year later. As you read I got my taper down to 1 to 2mgs. Felt livable until physical activities and mental stresses brought back some symptoms. Flare up... Got back on 5mgs.

Not to happy with feeling the symptoms again I started reading about the Member that NEVER had pneaumonia in his life. But did a ton of research and found out that Mycoplasma Pneaumonia my be one of the causes of PMR. He found a Dr. that would test him for MP. Tests came back positive. Was put on an antibiotic program. Can't remember how long but PMR left his body. His last post said no flare ups after four years.

This doesn't sound like your story of MP. This member went through a couple of arthritis physicians that "didn't believe." Found a Dr. in New York that believed and had him tested and proved he had it in his system. My Arthritis Physcian does not believe, so will not order a blood test. Narrow minded. What's the harm in having the test?

I am having my shoulder replaced on the 22nd. After which I will deal the possibility of finding a Dr. that will test me for Mycoplasma Pneaumonia. Thank you for story and how you are dealing with PMR.

Searching for a cure,

Ted

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Spooky76]

Hi again Ted, sorry for the delay in replying.

Thanks for more of your story - sounds like you've done well apart from the shoulder issues and PMR. And 'Shrinking' by only a couple of inches over 60 years isn't bad either!

I think the Jury's out on the MP / PMR causation / correlation topic. It seems that, for some, infections and viruses are a couple of possible triggers. Or, it could be down to a conspiracy of many different factors. Who can know, when even the medics are scratching their heads?! :-D. My money's on MP triggering my PMR, but then again it could just be co-incidence. Hey ho..!

That said, it does appear that some of these types of things (e.g. MP) can lurk quietly in the body for decades: and I don't blame you for pressing for further investigations, for peace for mind at least.

As you say: 'searching for a cure' (for PMR or whatever ailment) will resonate with many of Us Lot here. But, as I always say: until or unless a cure is found, coping strategies are Key to emotionally and physically easing the burden in the meantime. Uncertainty around health issues can be very wearing, as I well know from a previous brush with my mortality after a nasty cardiac virus many years ago. But that's a story for another time....

Keep your chin-up (a quaint English expression for staying Positive - ha!) and good luck with the shoulder job if we aren't in touch before

Best wishes from across the Pond. From where I live in coastal SW England, I almost have line of sight across the Atlantic to the East coast of the US on a good day (only joking..)

MB

[Daisychain12 in reply to markbenjamin57]

Mark I didn’t realise that you had such a horrible time You are very brave xxxxx

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Daisychain12]

Not really Linda - just Bl**dy Defiant

[Daisychain12 in reply to markbenjamin57]

Brave. You are brave xxxxx

[Bronni]

Initially, I was given a course of antibiotics to rule out Lyme disease, as I live in a high Lyme area. The meds did nothing - so not a bacterial infection, for me.

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Bronni]

It seems that bacterial / viral infections are only a couple of the myriad of possible triggers for PMR and an Auto Immune over-response...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bronni]

Or a different bacterium that wasn't sensitive to the antibiotic used...

[markbenjamin57 in reply to PMRpro]

Nice to see you back here PMRpro...

[Bronni in reply to PMRpro]

I think doxycycline is also used for pneumonia infections, though, to teds point. But can’t wrap my head around why this wouldn’t be the first line of treatment for possible pmr?

[Daisychain12 in reply to Bronni]

Yeah me too xxx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bronni]

Why would it? There is no proof that any specific bacterial or viral infection triggers PMR - it has been studied in the past. It is a disorder of the immune system - abx won't do much about that. However, in some cases doxy has an antiinflammatory effect.

[Bronni in reply to PMRpro]

Well, the antibiotics did nothing to cure my pmr, but this post has me wondering, if my preceding upper respiratory illness had been treated, would I have developed pmr? One things for sure, I’ll never know. Just ignore me, I’m rambling 😂

[Meggsy]

My PMR began after 6 weeks of coughing. No chest or head congestion, just coughing. It followed on from OH coughing for 2 weeks. He went to GP and was given Prednisolone and coughing stopped. I didn’t go to GP, kept waiting for it to go of its own accord, it took six weeks and I ended up with PMR. Silly me!

[Bronni in reply to Meggsy]

Lots of people mention developing pmr after stress & some kind of upper respiratory/ cough / flu type Illness. It would be interesting to know if these illnesses all went untreated? I never sought medical attention for the upper respiratory viral illness, which preceded my pmr. 🤔

[Meggsy in reply to Bronni]

Yes Bronni, I always just wait for conditions to get better by themselves. I guess I waited a bit too late long this time.

[ShirleyAb in reply to Bronni]

In the autumn of 2016 I too had a respiratory type illness (untreated) followed by PMR. Connection or coincidence?

New Year Greetngs.

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Bronni]

Bronni, that resonates with me.

My GP was very slow to recognise and acknowledge my increasingly severe Bacterial Pneumonia symptoms until I virtually hammered on her door in desperation after nearly handing myself into my local A&E Department when I couldn't breathe at night without excruciating, scary lung pain.

I think you have a point: if something like MP (or a similar infection / virus) isn't caught and treated early, it makes sense that it will place extra load on the (possibly already fragile - for whatever reason) Immune System with a possible over-reaction to compensate.

[Bronni in reply to markbenjamin57]

Yup. I’m not exactly sure what I had. My little granddaughter had, what, over here, they call the 5th disease, which I caught. Bad upper respiratory symptoms. Did nothing about it except suffer! - then pmr! Additionally I notice, that now when I get sick, my pmr flares and I have to up the pred again. It’s all a flipping mystery 🙄

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Bronni]

Again, I can relate!

[Longtimer]

There has been a report a few years ago on line, where a doctor treated a patient with low dose anti-biotics for PMR, but not sure what the result was, but that must leave you open to all viruses etc with an already compromised immune system I would have thought. My sister who has RA, went in hospital for gall stones, when she was given anti-biotics for an infection she had got in hospital, her pain went away for the RA, she told the doctor when he was on his rounds....but said it`s just co-incidence....she wasn`t convinced of that.

I had " walking pneumonia" 2 years ago....horrible, but the very strong two lots of anti-biotics that I had didn`t ease my PMR pain.....all a mystery really until research proves other wise I suppose...

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Longtimer]

The Plot thickens...?

[Longtimer in reply to markbenjamin57]

Certainly does😏

[peanutann]

Ted. I did. Don’t know if you can find my posts a while back. I only posted just for information for anyone desperate to get off pred and willing to try. To my knowledge, I had never had the pneaumonia, but apparently I did maybe years before (who knows) when I was young because it was “in my system”. The antibiotics “cured” me at least for these many years. I am always afraid it will return but so far so good.

[Spooky76 in reply to peanutann]

Your post prompted my long post. Thanks for replying. I live in the USA. I am 76 and retired. I don't mind the Prednisone that much. Been on it for a year now. Not much side effect on me. I did give up alcohol, totally, after having it in my body for sixty years... didn't want it messing with the Prednisone....and it does...

I am wondering why you are the only one that has been tested for Mycoplasma Pneaumonia, not even having it before or not knowing you did. I don't have Pneaumonia or ever think I have had. If there's even the smallest of chance it's in one's system and knocking it out with the right program of antibiotics...why not try. You did and are cured.

One common thread in PMR and people over 70 is usually arthritis and or injured joints. I wasn't hit with it til last year when my arthritis/bone spur shoulder was at it's worst. I read of other falling hurting hips and shoulders and PMR entered their lives.

I want a cure! For me and everyone suffering day after day, year after year from PMR/GC and Prednisone side effects. HealthUnlocked seems to be the only website having SO many members discussing openly PMR/GC. So thankful.

I'm going to get tested for MP. One thing to rule out. Move on to the next.

Thanks everyone for your posts. Everything helps.

Searching for a cure,

Ted