In the end we have to be grateful for modern medicine...

[Marijo1951]

I had my rheumy appointment this morning at the Royal Free Hospital. My consultant was there, but there were so many patients she had 3 registrars also dealing with the queue - a result I suppose of rheumatology no longer being regarded as an emergency service, as the department gopher explained to me a while ago. I saw a nice young female doctor, who was very amenable to a slow taper. This was a relief as I've been apprehensive about what happens when I reduce from 10 mg to single figures. Also she didn't mention bisphosphonates which came as an added bonus.

Given the gorgeous weather, I then walked up to Keats House and ate my packed lunch on a bench in the garden - no nightingale these days of course, but a blackbird singing beautifully and a couple of parakeets squawking. I couldn't help thinking about that sublime genius who died of TB at 25, along with the millions of more ordinary mortals who died young because they didn't have the benefits that we now take for granted. So, much as we rightly research and question our doctors' advice, essentially we have to acknowledge that medically things have improved beyond what could have even been imagined 200 years ago.

[aladymo]

Friends come into our life for a reason, a season or a lifetime - I consider prednisone my friend !

[Marijo1951 in reply to aladymo]

I agree. I remember taking my first dose and shortly afterwards feeling the pain and stiffness draining away.

[Sandradsn in reply to Marijo1951]

I remember that too,the pain eased overnight really!😊Glad you had a successful visit with the rheumatologist.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

We always need to bear in mind - in the past many people didn;t develop PMR or GCA simply because they didn't live long enough!!!

[Soraya_PMR in reply to PMRpro]

I’d have been dead several times over.... appendicitis and PPH to name but two. Then there’s the more simple things which require AB’s. We take a lot for granted. Let’s pray we don’t end up back to ‘pre-antibiotic’ times!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Could well be heading that way though. Neither I nor the girls would have survived their births. Then there was the appendix at 16 as you so rightly say. I'd have been a widow at 48. He survived infant whooping cough, as did my brother. Scary really.

[Marijo1951 in reply to PMRpro]

I almost died from whooping cough when I was a baby. After that I was never seriously ill until I got GCA and PMR.

[9lives in reply to Marijo1951]

Me too, I was 6 months old and my belly button was popping up like a large cone, according to my mum . Never a day seriously ill till PMR, that could be the link!! 🙀x

[Angiejnz in reply to Soraya_PMR]

AB's in NZ usually means the All Black's rugby team, I'd be happy to be treated by some of them regardless I'm old enough to be their mother 🤣 just saying

[MamaBeagle in reply to Angiejnz]

OMG Angie! I'm behind you in the queue!

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Angiejnz]

🤣😂🤣 great giggle to start my day, thanks Angie!

.....just off to the docs to get some All Blacks, they’ll improve my mood 😉 One three times a day?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Soraya_PMR]

This conversation is getting a bit near the mark!! But I'm there in the queue with you!

[Chihuahua1 in reply to PMRpro]

Me too!

[SheffieldJane]

Good points, beautifully made. I need to remember to be grateful.

[Emerlad_70]

It was such a relief when the pain subsided after starting the prednisolone. I started on 20 mg and reducing slowly now on 12.5 there is some small niggiling pain but bearable, hoping if it doesn’t get worse on next reduction. If so I will go back up on dosage

Yes we should be grateful there is some medication out there to help us life would be unbearable without it

[Thelmarina in reply to Emerlad_70]

I’m 72, on 11mg and find it hard to distinguish between polymyalgia and natural aging achiness as high dosage of Pred banishes most of it!

[Thelmarina]

Thanks for such a poetic reminder. Love Keats - so horrendous for him to have witnessed his brother’s death from consumption then see his own symptoms of the same illness. If ever you feel low read some of his letters to his sister, Fanny. A most tender and funny brother 😍. Sorry - went off piste!

[Marijo1951 in reply to Thelmarina]

I agree about those letters. He's one of my heroes, a wonderful writer and a delightful human being - the two don't always combine.

[Emerlad_70]

Yes I know what you mean Thelmarina. I have arthritis in my knees and neck. But it is a different pain my Polymyalgia pain is there when I am resting but my arthritis is when I move about

The press have eased the arthritis a bit but not completely

[Emerlad_70 in reply to Emerlad_70]

Prednisone I mean not press

[Thelmarina in reply to Emerlad_70]

That’s a useful tip - thanks!

[AliDeJ]

Hi! I walk to my appointments at the Royal Free. I have a male Rheumy . He has been understanding about my not wanting methotrexate and suggested my preds increase again to counter increasing pain. However, he differs in how long pmr typically lasts from views expressed on this forum.

I'm in Cricklewood. If you are not far away it would be nice to meet up.

Ali DJ

[Marijo1951 in reply to AliDeJ]

I've sent you a private message. I've never done that before so hope it's worked.

[Louisepenygraig]

I do agree with this. Whenever I get fed up with all the meds I'm taking I just count up all the potential problems I'd have without them.

[Noosat]

Love your attitude. I will not allow this illness to become ME. I am watching the early morning birds through my floor to ceiling kitchen window, soon the woodpeckers will arrive. Looking forward to to-morrow when I am going to drop from 6mg to 5mg, hoping it will work. My daughter will arrive about 5p.m., after work, to pick me up and we will go gallery browsing, then stop for a snack and a glass of wine. I hope everyone has little pleasures to look forward to each week.

[Marijo1951 in reply to Noosat]

I know, and I'm so delighted that I'm able to do one or two exercise classes per week. This is definite progress - I couldn't have considered them a year ago.

[Jackoh]

Very true!! Glad you had a good consultation. X