My latest visit to a GP I haven't seen before.

[pmrgcavictim]

I was sent a letter asking me to make a non urgent appointment about my blood sugar results. He said I am pre-diabetic at 5. 7 and need to change my diet, and do more exercise. I said that exercise is difficult because of enforced immobility as I have PMR and GCA. I pointed out that when walking, the front thigh muscle in both legs, and hip pain stop me from walking. I have to sit, or fall down again. Then, the highlight of my visit, the GP informed me that PMR ONLY AFFECTS THE UPPER BODY. I can supply his name and practice if you would like to visit him !!! Trevor.

[Yellowbluebell]

What a complete idiot. Sorry you have had to deal with him. Are there other doctors you could see? If not could you change practice? I am afraid I would have lost it and would probably have been thrown out. Fingers crossed you can deal with someone else in the future.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Hello Yellowbluebell, It is a large GP practice with plenty of GP's to work my way through. I've just added HIM to the top of the idiot list. Still got teeth marks in my tongue after 2 hours. Trevor.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Definitely one to avoid! We have 8 gp's in our practice and also have a chief muppet which I avoid like the plague!

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Yellowbluebell]

I shall have the Muppet tune in my head all day now. d d du d d du der, d d du d d der. Trevor.

[Hidden]

Oh Dear Trevor! Perhaps you could print off one of the excellent documents available & drop it off for him at the Surgery! 🙄

Try & see someone else next time!

MrsN

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Hidden]

Hello MrsNails, he's gone straight to the top of my idiot list. There are so many excellent documents, do you have a favourite. Trevor.

[Hidden in reply to pmrgcavictim]

I’ll look you one out later & send you the link!

I always used to have suitable references for my cynical GP back in the day!

[Hidden in reply to pmrgcavictim]

pmrgcavictim PMRpro has written a reply below with links included, l've been babysitting my Grandaughter.

Thank you PMRpro

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Well woop-de-doo - and how long has HE had PMR? Is he aware that thigh claudication is a listed symptom of GCA and LVV which are closely related to PMR? And last time I looked my thighs were LOWER body. Then there is HIP STIFFNESS - I do believe the hips are below the waist??? HOW much did the state waste on HIS medical training?

What a prat...

For his eddification:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

However - maybe it is his reading and comprehension skills that are at fault. This

rarediseases.org/rare-disea...

does say

"Symptoms may include muscle pain (myalgia) and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, lower back, hips, and/or thighs. The lower arms, hands, lower legs, and feet (distal extremities) are not usually affected by this disorder."

Maybe he doesn't know the difference between proximal and distal???

So this

academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...

has a pretty picture (Fig 1) which shows how PMR affects the hip girdle and upper legs. However, in Table 1 they list RS3PE syndrome as common in PMR and it is known that it affects upper and lower extremities, including the feet and ankles:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/108...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Pretty picture 😂😂😂

I know they cant keep up with every illness, but you would think some of them capable of doing some research when they are treating a patient with PMR/GCA or presenting with the symptoms of such.

🐂 ⚡

[HeronNS in reply to Hidden]

Especially as PMR (not GCA) is apparently a rather common ailment in the elderly. Which still surprises me as so few people have ever heard of it.

"Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease in the elderly. The incidence of PMR increases markedly with advancing age. It is characterized by abrupt-onset pain and stiffness of the shoulder and pelvic girdle muscles.

Polymyalgia rheumatica in older adults | Aging Health - Future Medicine

futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/...

[bunnymom]

I'll remember that when I have pain and difficulty walking. It must be my imagination then.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bunnymom]

All in your head ...

[HeronNS in reply to bunnymom]

My first symptoms were difficulty standing and those first few steps....

[PMRCanada]

How aggravating.

My former rheumy said that PMR doesn’t affect the knees, and although I have organic knee issues, when PMR symptoms emerged, they presented in my knees, thighs, hamstrings, glutes, and hips. Even my ortho surgeon said the 6 months of unchecked inflammation prior to diagnosis likely exacerbated my knees.

As far as you blood sugar levels, if it was the fasting test (AIC), 5.7 is right on the borderline of pre-diabetes (from what I’ve read on Mayo Clinic website), and can be lowered by lowering simple carbs and sugar intake.

Hope you can avoid that GP in the future!

[Longtimer]

Another one to add to the numpties list and avoid!!

[pmrgcavictim]

He will be avoided like the plague, but I haven't tried that yet.

[Hidden in reply to pmrgcavictim]

A low carb high fat "diet" should get you down to the "normal" hba1c. Diabetes uk offers a programme and if you look at the pinned posts below, there are several websites etc that may help you.

[Perkey]

Ah yes I was told that last year what a load of nonsense. I agree that some of the walking difficulty is osteoarthritis but not all. I think some doctors read different books on these things and I suppose they see a person looking well and cannot understand they are far from well.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Perkey]

Hello Perkey. As to some of the Doctors reading books, I think some of them can't read, and some of the ones that can, just don't understand what they are reading. Trevor.

[Nerak12]

Bad luck Trevor. I hope you can see a more knowledgeable GP next time. My PMR started in my hamstrings and then the shoulders joined in 2 weeks later, after I’d been unsuccessfully treated for sciatica which I didn’t believe I had in the first place. Experience not too bad compared to many others since then, which was 18months ago. I find the inflammation moves around, often depending on what part of my body I’ve been using the most. It’s been left hip for last couple of days, but a few weeks ago it was costochondritis - over enthusiastic singing and pampas grass decimation to blame 😀

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Nerak12]

Hello Nerak12. My PMR started in my right wrist, April 2018, thought it was just another one of my pains but it felt different. 2 months later in June 2018 I woke up in the morning and thought I had been smashed to bits. Everywhere hurt, not just a bit, just agony all over. Joints, skin, you name it, and it hurt. Movement of any kind was virtually impossible. I also find that the inflammation moves around, just to remind me that anywhere can , and does still hurt. It favours both front thigh muscles and just below my right hip joint. I also know the Costocondritis bit, usually agrevated by using arms in too wide a position. I try to keep my elbows close to my body, I find that helps ME. All the best on your unrequested journey. Trevor.

[Nerak12 in reply to pmrgcavictim]

Ooh!! Your induction into the PMR club sounds jolly painful!!! Working out what we can and can’t do and how much of it is definitely part of the PMR survival guide. Hope your journey continues to be less eventful. Good luck. 😀

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Nerak12]

I had a good inflammation marker to help with my diagnosis, ESR of 174

[Nerak12 in reply to pmrgcavictim]

Woohoo!!! That would do it!!!! Xx

[Suet3942]

I wish I’d known that when I couldn’t walk or cross my legs!!!! Stupid man!

[Blearyeyed]

Good Grief!!!

Next time take him a print out , he needs help , or another vocation !