Positive progress

[squashie]

My journey so far. 79 yo male diagnosed with PMR October 2018. 15mg pred worked its miracle and have been symptom free since. Steady slow taper (despite mild bout of shingles ) and now just dropped to 2.5mg. Great GP and renal specialist who are happy for me to follow the very good advice on this site and let me manage my own taper. The absence of symptoms has meant that I've been able to maintain my previous high levels of exercise in the gym, on the squash court, and regular 15k+ walks.

I've noticed, as the dose has become progressively lower, that the old arthritic niggles have reappeared - more of an irritation than a problem, but I suppose this was one of the side benefits of pred.. I'm still managing to regularly damage hamstring/quad/adductor muscles, but that's down to regularly pushing an old body with pred affected muscles just a bit too hard.

I'm about to submit my application to WADA for a clearance to play in the World Masters Squash Championships in Poland in August (by then in the 80+ bracket) - Covid19 permitting..

Would I have chosen to join the PMR club? No.

Has the journey been made any easier by this group? Absolutely.

I'm regularly in awe at the fortitude and courage that comes through the posts - not to mention the years of distilled wisdom from the Mods and other members. Whenever I've had a doubt or a question I've been able to find the answer.

Thank you.

.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Well done you...and yes Pred does mask the aches of arthritis.

Good luck in Poland, hopefully all things Covid-19 should have settled a bit by then. Let’s hope so anyway.

[LemonZest11]

Amazing squashie, what great news and what an inspiration you are! I agree, the advice, kindness and support from this group is invaluable, don’t know where I’d be without them! All the best for Poland.

[SheffieldJane]

Lovely post, very inspiring!

Look out Poland!

[Melti]

Thank you for the lovely inspiring post, and very best wishes for Poland.

[Hidden]

The name makes sense now!! Good luck(^o^)

[Longtimer]

Heartening to hear.....all the best for Poland and the future.....

[Charlie1boy]

Wow! That's impressive. I turned 80 earlier this month and still get on court once a week, but that is to play racquet ball -the old mans squash.

My regular opponent has Parkinson's with quite bad tremors, but these go away when we are playing.

Have had PMR since Dec 2014, and am now at 1 mg daily.

Good luck if you get to Poland.

Paddy

[nuigini]

Love to hear good news stories. All the best to you.