Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease vs PMR

[bunch1974]

In December after months of weak thigh muscles and pain in shoulders, upper arms and fatigue I saw my general practitioner. She ran tests that suggested PMR. I was placed on 10 mgs of prednisone and had about 70 % relief in about 2 days and remain on that dose.

A week ago I finally was able to see the rheumatologist and he did a thorough exam as well as several more lab tests. Today I got a call from his nurse telling me that tests showed that I have what the doctor thinks is “Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease”. She explained tests showed I have symptoms of more than one autoimmune diseases but not enough of any of them to classify it totally being one or the other. The doctor is now adding Plaquenil to the 10 mg prednisone I’m already taking.

Has anyone else been diagnosed with this?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you go to the LupusUK forum you are likely to find a lot of people with UCTD.

Really it is the disorder that represents what I say about ALL autoimmune disease - the label you get depends on which signs and symptoms are rude enough to push their way to the front but we all have our own particular a/i disorder and no two are the same. Most GPs never look below the surface to find if there is anything else. Nor do a lot of rheumies to be fair.

[bunch1974 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reply. Yes- I was praying the rheumatologist would just re- confirm the PMR diagnosis and we could just get on treating it as that and move forward to getting better. Now it’s just more confusing to me. I will take a look at the LupusUK forum and hope for more clarity and information. Thanks again 🌷

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bunch1974]

Did he say WHY he wants to add plaquenil? Do remember to get an eye check now, before you start the plaquenil - you will need regular ones but not sure how often.