Not always PMR

[Noosat]

Hope there may be something of value in this post. I have had PMR since December 12th 2018. On June 2nd. I had the experience of fainting, while in my kitchen, having to go by ambulance to hospital. There for only 24 hours and diagnosed with gastric ulcer which was healing itself. Yesterday had a follow up visit with my GP. I was blaming myself for the incident in that I had been pushing myself, by will power, to walk every day and either go further every second day or do more hill climbing. I thought all this had stressed me mentally and physically. My GP said might be a contributing factor or may not. He found, on examininng my past blood work from lab. that my iron count had dropped. He had not really noticed earlier because it was not in the "danger" zone, but for my body was a significant drop. He said that the PMR symptoms I had noticed, fatigue, occasional headaches, muscle weakness, breathlessness, were also symptoms of low iron. Result is I am now on iron supplements, go to the Lab in four weeks and he will make another assessment. He is not a rheumi doctor. His is a family practice specializing in sports medicine and pain management. However he has had a couple of patients with PMR and is very familiar with "old bodies" as many people retire in this area. Of course I am hoping it is iron deficiency. Doctor also said "do not stop walking !" He said that he finds too many patients who have a traumatic (it truly was) event as I had decide they will just "rest," which he said is the worst thing they can do for their bodies.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

“Just rest” is probably not good, but with PMR, as with lots of other illnesses, there needs to be a balance between rest and activity. As with life really.

Plus, as post is titled, it’s not always PMR (or GCA), unfortunately the illnesses become all encompassing that we do blame everything on them - or the steroids!

Not always so!

Take care, and hope the supplements help.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Rest doesn't mean do nothing - it means rest and gentle exercise in an appropriate balance. And you can alternate activities to use one lot of muscles and then a different lot. Not just doing nothing as a couch potato.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Does changing channels with the remote control count! 😳

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

NO!!!! At least get up and do it the old fashioned way!!!

[Noosat in reply to PMRpro]

Agree. However, I have noticed that so many of us elderly with various ailments become almost immobile. Several years ago my GP said to me, "I admire you, because you have purpose." Me. "what do you mean by that?" He. "so many of my older patients sit on the couch and say "fix me" or I am just going to sit here and waste away."

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Noosat]

My husband does tend to that - and we aren't particularly old but he has had a rather INTERESTING year medically!!

[Noosat in reply to PMRpro]

I do not know how it is in other countries, however, here in the U.S. we are inundated with ads for medicines that promise to fix "it all." I think many people become brain washed to the idea that there is a fixable "pill" for every ailment. That all one has to do is go see the GP and have it prescribed. Must be frustrating for a lot of MDs

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Noosat]

Ads of that sort aren't allowed in Europe - but people still struggle to understand that often healing simply takes time, not a pill!

[SheffieldJane]

Thank you! That is valuable. All the best!