Finally got rheumatologist appointment

[Poppylop]

Hi everyone, I have at last been given an appointment, it's still not until 2nd October which will be exactly a month since being diagnosed but at least I've been put back to the GCA clinic and not the arthritis clinic which I had been moved to. I'm still not feeling great on the pred , still getting quite a few side effects, I seem to have a couple of new ones, I've got a constantly snottty nose, it sounds gross but it's proper thick green stuff ,I don't know where it's all coming from, I havn't got a cold, just totally full of snot , also i seem to keep dribbling out the corners of my mouth which is making me sore, has anyone else experienced this. I had a lovely relaxing weekend away in Bournemouth which I think I really needed, I actually started to feel a little better and have been eating more as I'm not feeling so sick, I'm struggling a bit with trying to cut out carbs and sugar, I have cut down on carbs but I'm finding it hard, hopefully I can get my head round it soon.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Just be patient with the carbs - takes about 6 weeks for your taste buds to change. Poopadoop recommends cutting carbs in stages to get used to it gradually. I remember the dribbling at night - but it wasn't high dose pred.

The snotty nose might well be an infection - speak to your GP.

[Hidden]

Hi poppylop, the snotty nose and drooling could be a sinus infection. I had problems for a while. I had antibiotics at one stage but the biggest help was the baby saline spray from the local chemist. If you can get some give it a try and if you can bear a facial steam, towel over head over boiled water then that may help.

One thing you find with the sugar like chocolate etc is that if you don't have it for a week or two you don't get the craving. Same with carbs like pasta and potatoes. I used to love a plate of pasta but have had about three lots of spag bol in 2 years. If you eat meat I should imagine it's relatively easy to eat what is a proper full meal. The main thing is you must have good fats. Put butter on your veg....not loads but a nice bit...seeing as you won't be mopping up with bread a lot stays on the plate after. Olive oil dressings on salads, and there are recipes for desserts on the forum that I have put up from time to time but I suggest you wait a month or so once you feel like you have cracked low carb, high fat diet...or way of eating (WOE) 😉

The appointment isn't so long away and hopefully you will feel more settled them. Just be kind and gentle with yourself.🌻

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi

Glad you enjoyed Bournemouth - nice weather as well last weekend!!

In the great scheme of things a month is quite quick for appointment - before you go just make yourself a few notes of what you what to tell him or ask him - assuming you get the chance! It’s all to easy to forget otherwise.

[HeronNS]

I cut out carbs from grains pretty much cold turkey and replaced them with higher protein foods - nuts, seeds instead of breakfast cereal for example. I didn't cut carbs from veggies, except white potatoes, nor sugar from fruit, and years of giving up sweet things for Lent had already weaned me off the sweet stuff for dessert or afternoon treat wagon. However a single square of dark chocolate, savoured slowly, has never gone amiss. 😋

Didn't gain weight, but kept blood sugar under control, although that didn't really settle completely back to normal until my pred dose was much reduced.