Recent diagnosis of PMR & likely GCA: Looking for supplement guidelines to mitigate future issues.

[Lucy2013]

Developed PMR symptoms in Early December 2018. Severe headaches developed on Dec 24th (I seldom get headaches) above the temples. No way to get a biopsy then, so I am currently be treated as if I have GCA. No vision loss. No cataracts. Eye pressure elevated, but not at glaucoma levels.

Started at 20 mg Pred. Upped to 80 with GCA diagnosis. Now tapered down to 35 mg.

In general, I feel quite well at the moment, working, and doing physical activities (biking, hiking) with my 17 yr old son.

I do have an osteoporosis diagnosis noted as a result of doing a baseline bone scan. Note that I am a robust person, no broken bones, but I am 65 yrs old. Still a surprise.

Will be taking Fosamax.

I have started taking Calcium & vitamin D3, C & K2. Any advice for something else? Also I take the supplements in the late afternoon with dinner to separate the intake from the time a take prednisone (5 am). Is this optimal?

Also note I modified my diet to be a little more healthy and completely removed drinking alcohol.

[Harbel]

Hi Lucy, I do much the same but currently take pred in morning and just calcium vit d and k2 evening. I also take magnesium but only twice a week. Of course I would not be taking it if not on pred and others. I recon its is hardly required but will continue till next blood test.

[alvertta]

I see a naturopath who looks at my blood test results and recommends what to take. Currently taking lots of B plus magnesium plus calcium and D

[PMRnewbie2017]

Hi Lucy. I was diagnosed with GCA + PMR in Nov 2017. I'm lucky, not suffering as some do and am now on 6 mg. At the start I read vast amounts about these conditions and decided to take large doses of omega 3 fish oils following some research I read about. I also ate lots of oily fish and slashed my carb intake derived from wheat.

I feel well and my blood results have been normal for six months now. In my case my symptoms mirror my CRP and ESR levels.

So to answer your question, you might like to look into the effect of Omega 3 essential fatty acids on Interleukin 6. Then you can decide if it's something you'd like to try? We are all so different, it may help you, it might not.

All the best.

Ps. I never stopped alcohol. I think I drank more because stress was a big trigger for me. I felt it was better to have a couple of glasses of wine as a relaxant rather then "pills"!

[Lucy2013]

Thanks for all the responses. BTW, Lucy is my Chesapeake Bay Retriever. She is the only one in my family who thinks I need a little more attention....so I guess I am doing okay.