I recently joined my local U3A ('University of the Third Age'). I mentioned this in a response to Marilyn1959 and she suggested that I post about it in case some people aren't aware of it. Each local U3A has groups for different areas of interest.
So far, I have joined two groups, one a book group and one a 'leisurely walks' group. After just two meetings, I'm feeling better physically and mentally especially for meeting new interesting people. In a way I wish I'd joined earlier, but I know that this time last year I wouldn't have had enough stamina.
Anybody in the UK who is interested should go firstly to the national website where you can find links to local groups. This is
We have LIFELONG LEARNING in Ontario. Weekly lectures on eclectic topics. As well PROBUS offers many activities. All keeping us connected to the community and the mind going!
My elder sister in Richmond on Thames, (as opposed to Richmond Yorkshire, or Virginia!) joined art, Italian conversation and creative writing U3A groups. She is a recent widow and has made new friends through them.
My sister says they’re very interesting people, and she enjoys the classes. She also meets some of them socially for lunch or coffee. A couple of them have or had PMR I think.
Met someone who leads a walking group- Bushy Park area, not sure.
As mentioned farther down in the thread, Waterloo, Ontario has Third Age Learning that I have actually presented to a couple of times. Crowds of up to 200 older adults atttend events featuring a range of speakers/presenters who present in a variety of subjects.
I belong to the Rummikub group at u3a.It keeps my brain alert!while I'm there anyway👍😁There are so many groups to choose from eg book club, knitting,photography,walks ,lunches etc.
Very true. I had become rather isolated and, although some of the activities might be rather tiring, I think the psychological value will outweigh the drawbacks.
Yup. Get out and try. Endorphins will follow!! I was talking to some of my friends a few weeks ago. One woman took a course on good aging. They told her to find younger friends... 10 to 20 years younger....so we grow,learn, challenge ourselves. Never too late! I am trying that.
Until the GCA struck on top of my other illness , and then the PMR I was still dancing all day and night at music festivals , dressed like Catwoman , and being mistaken for a 20 something!!
The impact that this has had on my brain and body has been catastrophic. Even wearing my sunglasses ( which I even need indoors ) doesn't help , my face has aged about 40 years in 1 , and the only dancing I do now is my legs at night when the restless leg kicks in at 3 am!!
Dear Bleary. I am sure you will dance again. Keep faith. I too had better plans for my 70s than this. Hiking. Biking. Etc etc. I am sure I will Fingers crossed.
Oh Bee. I had no idea you had been 'struck' so young! I thought I was hard done by at 57! Yet, despite this, you are so positive and supportive of us all. A pretty special person by all accounts!
Oh , we are all special because we all help each other out on this forum , and everybodys successes on here are what keeps me positive.
I think us babies are often people who have suffered from other undiagnosed autoinflammatory or Autoimmune conditions in the past and the GCA/ PMR is the next one to add to a bitter tasting bunch.
I am finally getting closer to finding out if I either have Behcets , Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or Both , and this might add to my answers to why I got this so young in the first place , and most importantly will help them finally decide the best drug regime force to be on.
April appointment , touchwood a new regime for me . It will feel like Spring , then maybe I will be able to post about my successes too , instead of just stories about falling into bins!!
I would have continued to call my undiagnosed condition ‘M.E ‘ which I had for years, alongside osteoporosis. It was only when I had the typical swollen shoulder/unable to lift arm that PMR was diagnosed. Whatever it was probably morphed into PMR. I always put it all down to refusing to have my infected tonsils out at 10 and waited until I had no choice at 21!
I had had something that fits the ME criteria when I was in my late 20s, It eventually faded away after 6-8 months acute phase and about 4 years fatigue. There have been several people with similar stories.
I think if they can put a name on it they can finally start prescribing what they want to give , as long as the name is accepted to the list.
Perhaps we can add Blee disease , the Consultants would find it a relief , and you could have credit for discovering it on the NORD rare and annoying diseases list.
Or should that just be rare and annoying patients in my case 😋😁😂😂😂 xx
I'm in our local U3A Italian conversation group - we have a good laugh because it's nice and informal and friendly. For the monthly 'general' meetings, maybe we should think about offering talks about PMR and GCA............ (am I only joking?)
A talk about autoimmune conditions in general might appeal to more people. The speaker could perhaps focus for part of the talk on those conditions that are more likely to affect older people.
I have recently re joined and within months seem to be a Convenor, ever a bossy boots. However I do feel surprisingly well and maybe mental stimulation has helped me moaning about my body🥂🥂
So glad you put up the links for this amazing and eclectic group.
As we were saying on the other post it's really great , like an over 50's group on steroids.
I did some workshops before the PMR/ GCA hit with some local Welsh groups and got the chance to sneek in for some of the talks .
It's a real healthy mix of activities and talks for all , on all different subjects and the groups that I helped proved that it's just as good for Men as well as Women.
Their lunch club has 50 people ( they need to book in advance to get in ) and the mix was 50/50.
My friend , whom has a small railway in his 2acre garden , gave talks on Engineering and Global Warming from an Engineers perspective , the crowd was 2/1 men to women , so I think the crowd always depends on the topic.
University lecturers and experts often give talks , so the subjects and chat really keep any sort of brain active.
And they do lots of physical activities and assisted day trips to keep the body going too.
I saw a friendly , helpful and really helpful bunch . And I think I learnt more at my workshops than I taught!
It's the type of group that if you are signed up you can pop in when you want to what interests you , and because many have health issues of their own , if you tell them about your GCA/ PMR upfront ( no need to hide your invisible illness there , many gave one themselves) they will understand and people will be ready to offer you lifts or help to get there a short notice if you need it.
Please look them up and join your nearest group if you have one everyone , it will be really good for therapy for body and mind.
Our local u3a sometimes hire our ukelele group (we play for charity) - they look a lively bunch. (And so of course my next advice is to get a ukelele! I feel alive when I’m singing and playing and pmr is forgotten!
So glad you have shared your experiences and links to U3A. Seems others are endorsing. Hopefully it may encourage anyone looking to explore activities the incentive to do so. Certainly it is lovely that others, in contributing to your post, have shared their interests allowing us to know them better as real people rather than simply fellow sufferers. Thank you for initiating sharing and raising awareness.
I go to U3A for Tai Chi, photography and art, it is great to get out and meet lots of new people! especially ones who don't have PMR so that I can forget it for a while and be distracted by the class instead of the aches!
Hi Marijo1951. I totally agree. There are so many choices of activity it is hard to make a choice and in every one you meet different people, generally like-minded. I belong to one of the U3A groups in Brighton and Hove. At the moment I’m playing table tennis, short tennis and belong to a walking group. I also belonged to an art group for a while, but the choices are endless! As you say, it is partly the meeting of new and interesting people that helps lift the mood and stops you from feeling isolated with this wretched condition.
My walking group is called 'Leisurely Walks'. There are other groups for people with more stamina and I hope to be able to join one of them fairly soon. This morning my calves are aching from yesterday's 2-mile walk, but it's a fairly mild and bearable ache and won't put me off joining them again.
I keep thinking about getting a dog 🐶 nothing too big but something to encourage me to go for a walk in the fresh air, otherwise my walking consists of trips around well known Department Stores & Shopping Malls 🛍🛍🛍
My Husbands not so very sure & after reading an article in the paper yesterday as to how much keeping a dog costs...........
My children keep encouraging me to get a small dog. I must admit that I find some little ones rather appealing and I've no doubt about the therapeutic benefits of dog owning. However I'm completely alone and independent at present, so only have myself to please, and I'm not sure that I could cope with having the sole responsibility for another living creature. I don't know if that's being selfish or simply realistic.
Not forgetting grooming costs. I love my two dogs dearly, but since my accident have been unable to walk them. I am hoping to resume dog walking soon. They have gained weight as a result of my incapacity. Plus they desperately need grooming! Dog hair on carpets and furniture and PMR fatigue - not a good mix. Yes they are great companions, good fun etc but are a huge responsibility and a long term commitment. OH has already said no more after these, and I agree with him given our health issues.
Same as you, had to hire a dog walker for a while but its the dogs that get me out and about, even in bad weather I don't want to go but once out feel the better for it. I used to compete in agility I am now plucking up courage to enter a comp over Easter, just one run each dog (2) trouble is sometimes it falls that you have to run them consecutively, I can just about get round one course of 20 obstacles to do two in a row - impossible atm!!!
I'm more of a cat person really. However I have a second floor flat and, although I know many cats are indoor cats these days, I feel that they should be able to roam outdoors when they feel like it.
We live on a rural road. My cat follows me around the garden and maybe a few 100 metres down the road. Then he gets annoyed and goes home. He is a good garden companion.
Depends - I see people with cats on leads! Suppose if you start young enough they'll accept it. My daughter has a dog and 2 cats. The dog goes out on a lead, the one (lunatic) cat follows them and dictates the speed of perambulation. She goes all over the place - and one of the two cats is adopted by the local Chinese takeaway.
When I lived in Soho there was a woman who lived in Brewer Street who went everywhere with a grey parrot on her shoulder. It never tried to fly away as one might expect.
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