TV portrayal of Polymyalgia in Waiting for God sitcom

[Louisepenygraig]

I recently bought a box set of the whole series of 'Waiting for God'. Apparently Diana Trent supposedly has Polymyalgia. In one of the first few episodes she mentions that she takes steroids so my immediate thought was that she had PMR. I think it's the next episode that she specifically mentions polymyalgia. She is complaining about the fact that she had to retire from her career as a photojournalist when she was 60. Tom asks why she didn't carry on as a freelance so that when she mentions polymyalgia. I would say that it gets a mention at least in every series! I'm not sure how accurate a portrayal it is though. She has a limp and walks with a stick because she has a bad hip and in a later episode she mentions a bad shoulder. I would have been oblivious to this when it aired originally in the 1990s!

[Soraya_PMR]

I recall this series, but can’t remember anything about PMR. But I had young kids and was ‘healthy’ then, why would I?

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Same here! If you'd never heard of Polymyalgia before it wouldn't mean much would it. It's different watching it now I'm closer in age to the main characters. It's still just as funny though.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Louisepenygraig]

I’ll see if I can find it online anywhere. (I don’t remember it being particularly funny, but maybe now?)

[Blearyeyed]

Wow Louise thanks for highlighting that series and the fact that it includes a TV portrayal of someone who is not just suffering physically but with the mental frustration of having to give up the " Old Normal" and accept the " New Normal" because of PMR.

I loved that series when it aired , it was one of my favourites , and I remember thinking how great Stephanie Coles character was , and thinking when I get old I want to have a mind and spirit like hers.

Perhaps my wish has come true to well , far too early , and with the curse of the PMR / GCA she was suffering from , silly me!

I am going to see if I can find it to watch on any of the channels on my TV now , or get a copy myself , not just to see how her life compares with our experience , but I know how funny and entertaining it was .

It will be a great distraction from the gloom , and much more interesting now we can relate to what's happening to her character.

Thanks for the tip , enjoy your boxset, hugs , Bee xx

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Blearyeyed]

I have tended to not watch television much but recently decided that watching comedies in the evening might help with sleep. I was trying to think of ones I'd enjoyed in the past and thought of this - Diana Trent certainly stuck in my mind even though it took me a while to remember the name of the programme. It's such a positive portrayal of old people and I love the way Diana Trent makes liberal use of her stick! I think I'm too 'nice' to be like her but there's nothing wrong with daydreaming is there. I was pleased to find you could get it on DVD

[Blearyeyed in reply to Louisepenygraig]

Yes , you can get so many great comedies on boxset , luckily I also have a smart TV so can find boxset on the different digital platforms like UK drama , Yesterday and ITVhub and the iPlayer.

How is trying to unwind and getting that oxygen therapy from a good laugh before bed helping with your sleep? Is it working?

Bee xx

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Blearyeyed]

I think it does help a bit at least. It's not a cureall but better than watching dramas or news in the evening because they definitely don't help.

[Yellowbluebell]

I used to love this programme and would be in hysterics over the things Diana did!! I am now going to have to look and seeing I can get hold of it to watch again. Isnt it strange that pmr was written into the programme as old as this and yet no one has heard of it still. Thanks louisexx

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Yellowbluebell]

That's what I thought too. I'm wondering if the author knew somebody with it.

[Yellowbluebell]

Got to have because as no one knows about it now I doubt a writer would have back then. I wonder if was even stephanie Cole herself?xx

[SheffieldJane]

Fancy that!

[S4ndy]

I adored the series. Diana Trent is my role model for growing old disgracefully! I defo have turned into her Had no idea the character had pmr though! It wouldn't have registered at the time as I hadn't heard of PMR then. Going to seek out the series for a rewatch

[Louisepenygraig]

My role model too! I was quite surprised when she mentioned steroids and then PMR. She doesn't appear to suffer from the dreaded deathly fatigue though. 😊