MRI Results

[HappyDiamonds]

Rheumy phoned me this morning with my recent MRI of my head results. Good news is nothing sinister found and no GCA evident, which is to be expected as the steroids are doing what they should. But it has shown cardiovascular disease and I have been asked to contact my GP for blood pressure, Hba1c and cholesterol tests but I can't speak to anyone for another week.

I have been eating a very unhealthy diet since having a big GCA flare a couple of months ago when I had to increase my steroids and I have gained a stone in weight. Realise this now has to stop and considering Slimming World online, WW online or a low fat diet/calories but not really sure what I should be doing to help myself. I greatly fear a stroke. I walk a lot with my dog, don't drink alcohol or smoke but admit to over indulging on cakes, biscuits chocolate and the like - won't be buying any more!

Just to add that I started Methotrexate Tuesday by injection. Early days but I feel fine although yesterday I was totally wiped out and fell asleep several times. I resisted this for a year but decided to try it in the hope I can stop yo-yoing on Pred.

Would love a response from anyone who can advise or help please as this came as a surprise to me this morning and I went a bit numb and didn't ask enough questions..

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Whatever - NOT low fat. Low fat inevitably means high carbs - and that is now realised to not prevent heart disease and that Ancel Keys' work only really benefited food manufacturers and the sugar industry! Take fat out and you take taste out - and they compensate by adding sugar and "stuff". The use of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup and its equivalents) makes food last for much longer and improved profit margins. The pushing of low fat diets has not reduced the rate of heart disease but it has paralleled the rise in obesity.

I know one lady on the forum had a heart attack and changed her diet successfully. I'm sure she will pop up if she is still around.

[HappyDiamonds in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you Pro Im so glad you replied because my immediate reaction was to cut out fat although I had an Ocado/M & S delivery this morning with cheese & greek yoghurts I love! Will stop the junk and go back to low carb I think as I find that satisfying and very easy to do just so long as I don't indulge in the naughties and then I can't stop.

My GP called this afternoon and wasn't at all worried, said I could consider statins if I wanted to but I decided to leave it for now and concentrate on GCA and all the meds I'm on for that without adding in any more side effects. He totally agreed. I don't have high blood pressure and my cholesterol was only marginally high when taken 2 years ago.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HappyDiamonds]

Sounds like a very sensible GP!

It's true - low carb is easy to work out and to stick to until you eat something with carbs and then it is a slippery slope! Says she who had to go to the hospital to pick up supplements for OH and walked down to the wonderful icecream shop at the corner while I was parked so close ... But I have one scoop and maybe one a month - and that stops the deprived feeling

It might help you live a bit longer - but it would probably make it feel a LOT longer as there'd be no pleasure ...