Introducing myself.

[Lico]

Hi, I am a English 70 year old living in Spain. Before this desease started in June I was one very fit lady, spinning instructor, underwater photographer, walking every day, pilates twice a week. I started with pain in my groin and shoulders, I thought I might have injured myself somehow maybe in Pilates, I waited for a few weeks hoping the pain would go. I spoke to my doctor who told me to go to emergencies to have some tests, three visits later to emergencies and two visits to my doctors they decided to send me tor a scan because they did know what was wrong with me

which was in 3 months. Pain was getting worse but now it was everywhere, hard to get of bed without help, could not bend to pick anything up of the floor, could not raise my arms, panicking. I got in touch with a private hospital to have a scan but was told I had to see a doctor first so made an appointment for the following day. The next day I could not walk so they had a wheelchair waiting for me. The doctor looked at all the notes that I gave him from emergencies and within 10 minutes he told me not to bother with a scan because he was almost sure he new what was wrong with me, he sent me for a blood test which confirmed for him that I had Polymyalgia. So my journey began!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hi and welcome! Where in Spain? How's lockdown?

[Lico in reply to PMRpro]

Javea, Alicante, no lockdown here as yet, just cannon leave our province to travel to other parts of Spain.

[piglette]

I am so sorry you have PMR. It sounds very much like my experience except I was told I had a virus, which went on for months. I then went to see someone privately, like you I could hardly walk by that time. The rheumatologist diagnosed PMR within seconds, organised blood tests and gave me pred. I never looked back.

[Lico in reply to piglette]

Hi, so similar to my experience , it’s great when you find a competent specialist and have correct medication , happy days!

[piglette in reply to Lico]

The main problem with him he was “over friendly”. My new female GP was horrified and suggested we could manage without him.

[SheffieldJane]

Hello and welcome Lico! I am glad you found us. This is a really useful site. Hopefully you will feel a lot better soon on 15/20 mgs of Pred. Take it easy though, it is not a cure, just relief from the pain and inflammation, pace your activities.

[Lico in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi, totally agree this site is fabulous!

[123-go]

I agree with SheffieldJane re pacing. Make the most of regular siestas.

[ImC_]

So glad that you got to see a doctor who understood your symptoms, and what was needed to verify them, before having to wait yet even longer.

I was diagnosed on July 31 this year and started that day on 15mg Pred.

Reduced over time, now just had 4 weeks on 9mg and today will have yet another blood test - my GP uses bloods and (listens to!) my own reporting of symptoms (if any) before she recommends each next step.

Sounds like your latest doctor is on the case - Good Luck, Lico.

IMC

[Lico in reply to ImC_]

Thanks, I know, after reading some comments here I realise how lucky I have been, even though at the time it didn’t feel like it.

[Cjcc]

So pleased that you have a diagnosis. What would we do without Prednisone! Your story gives me encouragement to talk about PMR more. It should be more widely known and understood so that people don't have to suffer for months unnecessarily.

Good wishes for an active future!

C

[Lico in reply to Cjcc]

Thanks so much!!

[Mick1234566]

Hope you have better luck than me. Here in my part of Andalucia health treatment is pretty grim - particularly if you are 70plus and fit where they can't imagine someone that age getting four hilly, training miles in before the cafe stop.

My treatment has been via forums like this, English doctor friend ( in England) and Spanish doc who hands out steroids like smarties. Down from 60mg to 3mg over 18 months.

Far more interesting for you is that you can cycle anywhere u want in Andalucia despite the village lockdown. You need to become a Federado of the RFEC , costs somewhere between 40 and 80 euros. Stopped by guardia this morning 30 miles outside my village - produced my license and he wished me bien viaje.

[Lico in reply to Mick1234566]

Hi, my luck changed when I went private, started on 90 mg and down to 15mg in three months, going down to 10 mg next week cannot wait, hate taking steroids side effects are horrendous. Must admit don’t have much faith in national health system here but the rheumatologist that I have is very good, only problem is that he is off sick at the moment so I am between private and national health treatment. On my good days still managing to walk 4 to 5Kms and maybe two dives a week not a lot but better than nothing. Stay safe and active.