Hiwassee : I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee, near... - PMRGCAuk

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Hiwassee

Hiwassee profile image
51 Replies

I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee, near my favorite trout water, the Hiwassee River. My diagnosis of PMR was in August of 2018, and I was prescribed 20 mg of prednisone and have tapered to 7 mg as of June 2019. I could barely get out of bed at first but get around now that I’m on prednisone. I’m stiff most mornings but better by noon. PMR and prednisone are not to my liking, but I try to keep a good attitude most days.

My hobbies include fly fishing, walking, hiking, reading, and cooking,

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Hiwassee
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51 Replies

Welcome to the Forum Hiwassee!

Let us know if you have any questions.

Sounds like you’re doing very well.

Kind Regards

MrsN

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to

Thank you! Glad to find some support!

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed

Nice to meet you Chattanooga ! 😋😁

Keep stopping in and letting us know how you are doing .

We are always here for a chat or some helpful tips.

Love the view , obviously another place I should visit when I'm on my feet again.

You sound like you have a great sensible and positive attitude to your misbehaving friend so I am sure you will be able to keep it under control

Hugs x

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to Blearyeyed

Thanks!

your background picture doesn't look like appalachian mountains. looks more like the rockies.

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to

Sierra Nevada; Yosemite National Park!

in reply to Hiwassee

Very Nice. Hate to see you have PMR. These folks on this site have forgotten more about PMR than I have learned. There is so much knowledge on this site.

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to

I’ve learned so much already

in reply to Hiwassee

Fantastic. Have you seen dawn wall.and free solo?

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to

Yes; very fascinating! Rock climbers definitely have a different brain structure when it comes to fear.

There were climbers on El Capitan using ropes when I was there.

in reply to Hiwassee

When I visited years ago too. Freaked me as I can't do heights!

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

Welcome to the forum Hiwassee. What a glorious spot. It must really help the healing!

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to SheffieldJane

Thanks! Tennessee is beautiful but this is actually the Sierra Nevada in California. Had planned this trip in 2018 and was going to cancel because of my PMR but started to feel better four days before and was able to go.

Glad the UK has such a great forum for PMR support!

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to Hiwassee

That was so lucky , I'd love to visit the beauty spots of the US , never been there yet and Tennessee and Sierra Nevada was on my American road trip bucket list .

Great history and such a colourful place .

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to Blearyeyed

There are some beautiful places here. Thanks to Teddy Roosevelt some of them have been preserved for the public.

in reply to Hiwassee

Go Mocs

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to

Right on! Go Mocs!

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to Hiwassee

I am so glad that you had the strength and courage to go on your trip.

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to Hiwassee

We actually have forum members from around the world but definitely America. Obviously there is a time difference between you and us but there are usually members on the forum whatever the time. Pred induced insomnia has its uses.

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to Yellowbluebell

Insomnia and night sweats. All my fears loom large during the night; I guess that is a universal experience. Glad to see the sun come up!

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to Hiwassee

Must admit night sweats are a symptom I havnt had luckily although lots of others have.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Yellowbluebell

Sure sign of a flare for me!!!!!

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to PMRpro

Will watch out for them

in reply to PMRpro

Me too...pre pred i was terrible every night I was getting changed a couple of times.

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to

I had a hysterectomy 23 years ago but they left in my tubes which meant I went through the menopause at a normal age, so at 53 when I started getting night sweats went to gp and tablets soon sorted them out. Havnt had one since thank god!!

YuliK profile image
YuliK in reply to Yellowbluebell

My mother always said that we ladies

Perspire. 😉

I suffer day and night sweats. Can't win 😂

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to YuliK

That sounds horrible having them day or night!! When mine started at night I couldnt sleep and opened the windows, put the fan on and my OH added more bed clothes and nearly moved out!!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to YuliK

Glow, please ...

Baileyw06 profile image
Baileyw06

We are so lucky, nothing in the states!

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee

Really. Very difficult to find information out there. I got Kate Gilbert’s book (used) on PMR/GCA and had to get it out of the UK.

YuliK profile image
YuliK

You have arrived to the right forum if you need advice and support about handling your PMR ..

Now that you have arrived to 7mg of prednisone, you really must start using the very very slow reduction method.

0:5mg per month or even longer. If you try reducing quicker then you will have a relapse

Good luck reducing, and welcome.

YuliK. Age 76

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee

Thanks for the welcome and tip on the slow reduction! Very much appreciated!

bakingD profile image
bakingD

Hiya

I was diagnosed last May exactly a year ago and have had several flares from reducing my steroids too quickly am now finally stable on 5mg prednisolone reducing now by 1/2mg steps so that is the answer don’t rush the reductions and be more careful once winter comes it seems harder for me to reduce

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to bakingD

Thanks! I’ve been going down .5 mg this month thanks to this forum. I saw my rheumatologist on Thursday and he wants me to go down 1 mg. I tried that last month but felt terrible for two weeks.

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to Hiwassee

Just remind your Rheumatologist that although you see his point based on the books , you have found a system that is working for you and that you would like to stick to , rather than trying the 1mg method getting the extra pain and potentially having to increase your dose again in the future that would end up making your success at tapering slower in the long run.

Get their blessing on things and reminding them you are partners in the fight against PMR helps take the stress out of dealing with the medical side and make all appointments alot easier.

It's better to run the race like a tortoise not a hare in this game.

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to Blearyeyed

Thanks. Good advice.

bakingD profile image
bakingD in reply to Hiwassee

My rheumatologist now is saying to go v slowly whereas Dec this last year was trying to hurry the reductions- he is now much more chilled as I haven’t put on weight and have no side effects from the steroids apart from osteopenia which I may have had anyway

Rosedail profile image
Rosedail in reply to Hiwassee

For some reason all the Rheumatologists I’ve heard of in the US, my own and others, want patients to decrease the prednisone by 1mg a month....like a rule or a mantra. I did that until the last 2-3 months and then I became part of this group. Wish I’d listened a bit more to my body and gone a bit slower for the last year...might have avoided pain and some injuries if I had. But I did get through it and of course I’m grateful to all my physicians and to the folks here. Anyway...my best advice is to pay attention to what your body says when it comes to weaning yourself from the prednisone 😊

PMRCanada profile image
PMRCanada

Welcome! Your story is similar to mine, I was diagnosed May/18, started at 20mg, down to 9mg.

I found taking my pred dose before 4am resulted in totally eliminating the morning stiffness/pain I used to experience. Splitting my dose also helped me stay free of stiffness all day.

Glad you found this forum. It’s filled with folks who “get it”, and who are filled with wisdom and compassion. Ask us anything.

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to PMRCanada

Thanks for the welcome! What time of the day do you split your doses? Do you take them with food?

PMRCanada profile image
PMRCanada in reply to Hiwassee

I used to take 2/3 of my dose at 2am and the remaining 1/3 at 2pm. I managed to find capsules that have an outer coating that I stuff my first dose into, and the don’t dissolve for two hours so that allows me to take it now at midnight, just with water. My 2am dose of uncoated pills I always take with food.

Chrob profile image
Chrob

Had a fantastic holiday in Tennessee 15 years ago , drove to Chattanooga singing the choo choo song . Naff I know . I’m so glad we did things while it was easier . The mantra now is ( do it don’t wait ) .

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to Chrob

Haha! We get the Choo Choo song a lot from people while traveling. Great mantra! When I was younger, the thought of compromised health never entered my mind. Boy, I was wrong.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to Hiwassee

I hear ya! Of course I was never going to get sick, I looked after myself too well. Still, I've found PMR/pred to be a learning experience, not all bad.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I wanted to do a road trip this summer - we have a science meeting in New Mexico - but it'll be a week and no more for various health reasons, Have to make do with my backyard Dolomites and Alps ;)

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to PMRpro

Haha! If you have to settle for something, your backyard sounds great-what a beautiful place to live. Enjoy your trip to New Mexico!

Sojourn12 profile image
Sojourn12

Welcome, Hiwassee, I have very fond memories of Chattanooga. My dad used to live at the very top of Signal Mountain and I remember driving up, up, up, past the mounds of kudzu and the the beautiful mountain views! Good luck with your PMR. I am currently on 5.5 mg of pred daily, and trying to be patient and optimistic. This group has been so helpful to me--I read it every morning.

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to Sojourn12

Yes, very beautiful views! I grew at the base of Signal Mountain with all of the kudzu.

Noosat profile image
Noosat

I was diagnosed with PMR last December 12th. Think I had it for many months before, but attributed symptoms to aging. I am 91. I have tapered down to 4.5mg - 2 in morning rest in evening. I just got home from an hour at river with my dog, Lily. I walk while she runs and swims. am trying to strengthen leg muscles, used to be a competitive runner. It is disappointing to have what I call, "rusty robot legs" now, but am thankful I can manage as I do. Always hoping to improve. Now out to fill Hummer feeders and water tomatoes. Good Luck. :)

Hiwassee profile image
Hiwassee in reply to Noosat

You give me inspiration! It sounds like you are getting around wonderfully. I know you miss running.

Noosat profile image
Noosat in reply to Hiwassee

Yes, also miss playing tennis, pickle ball, Zumba and mountain hiking. However, have become reconciled to the fact that bodies do age, so must enjoy that which I can do.

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