Just wanted to ask if anyone else has been struck with PMR whilst going through the menopause? I am 52 and 18 months into my PMR nightmare but am convinced that the hormonal imbalance caused by my menopause ( terrible mood swings and night sweats therefore very little sleep ) has triggered PMR. I have just stared on HRT and within a week the night sweats have reduced in severity so fingers crossed! I am wary about HRT though but hope that if there is a link it may help me get off the steroids. I am currently on 7mg having just come out of a flare that has resulted in me being off work for 3 months.
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Pippz20
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The hormonal imbalances of the menopause can be a cause of the symptoms and there was a lady on the forum some years ago for whom hormone treatment was the answer. My PMR started within a year after stopping HRT. I was 51 and it was 5 or 6 years before my periods stopped so it could well have been perimenopause and that was what my GP was determined to blame - not that he offered any help! It is also impossible to sort out the sweats and mood swings of PMR from those of menopause.
I think the main positive about the 13 years of HRT I had had was that my bone density was great and hasn't changed because of 12 years of pred. I wish I'd not been persuaded to stop HRT because of the latest scare story - I'll never know if that is why I developed PMR. What I also don't know is whether PMR due to menopause would respond as dramatically to pred as mine did.
Thank you. I’m going to give the HRT a few months and see what happens. From the bit of research I have done it would seem that there are a good number of women aged around 50 who develop PMR, seems like too much of a coincidence to me but I have no medical qualifications at all!
I’m still waiting to see a rheumatologist after he sent my go referral back to her without even seeing me saying I was too young and for her to carry out a multitude of tests…… all of which have come back negative. To be honest I don’t really need to see him apart from to get a definitive diagnosis. This group has been amazing in terms of learning about the condition and the best way to manage it so thank you so much.
Seek recommendation for a local rheumy who doesn't bow to the ridiculous age card! They do exist. All the guidelines say is that it is more common in over 50s, not that it doesn't exist in under 50s.
Hi Pippz20Don't be afraid of HRT - it is amazing stuff. I credit it with saving my job and my marriage as the murderous rage that I experienced with perimenopause was endangering both.
I don't see any relationship between the perimenopause, HRT and my PMR but we're all different!
Thank you. How long did it take to feel the full benefit as I have only been taking it a few weeks and already the night sweats have improved, I am sure though my husband would like to see more benefits in terms of my moods!
It's difficult to remember now. Somethings improved almost immediately - as you have noticed with your night sweats - whereas with others there was a more gradual improvement over 3 - 6 months. The murderous rage and depression didn't disappear overnight but I do remember suddenly realising that I was feeling much more positive.
I was in perimenopause when I got PMR but mine has been very mild. My only symptom has been irregular periods for the last two years. I suspect a combination of high stress and rapid weight loss as my trigger. But hormones affect so much so it certainly sounds like ot could use some research.
My PMR appeared 18 months after starting a horrendous perimenopause - one I'm still in albeit symptoms improved on HRT. I'm not sure if they were linked but I had been through the most miserable and stressful times before HRT and I'm sure it played right into the hands of PMR
Don't be scared of the HRT, PMR is miserable at times never mind perimenopause if your suffering with it. I feel it's helping smooth out the large fluctuations that in turn cause PMR issues.
I found that the physical symptoms improved reasonably quickly (night sweats especially) and the mood took a few months. I didn't wake up one morning and go 'ta-da' it was.more of a gradual change.
Check out Dr Louise Newson and Diane Danzebrink online. They both have webpages with good current information on peri and Diane certainly has a good infographic for men to help them understand what's happening. Both well regarded in their field.
Hi Pippz20,I, too just started HRT for the same reasons as you a few weeks back. My PMR symptoms started in October 2020, started on steroids in Dec 20 at 15mg and slowly tapering. My menopausal symptoms worsen since I started the steroids which apparently is expected. This means that I was frequently woken up with hot flushes or persistent insomnia. I, too was a bit concerned about the use of HRT to relieve my symptoms, however, being 55 with no previous ill health ever, I felt that the menopausal could possibly be one of the triggers (apart from the stress triggers) for my PMR. Having watched Devina McCall's programme on Menopause which simply explained the risks and the evidence in the use of HRT, I decided to give it a go. At least, I could exclude one reason for my PMR. My Rheumy is perplexed at the cause and is encouraging me to maintain the tapering, however, prior to the HRT, and at 7mg for 3 weeks, I hit a wall and I had to temporarily increase to 10mg for 5 days before tapering again using DSNS method. Since started on HRT patches, I am now having less hot flushes, have been able to sleep through the night on a few occasions, my head is clearer.. possibly because I am getting quality sleep.
I hope my account is of some use to you.
I wish you the best Pippz20 and I look forward to hearing about your progress.
Hi. I have been looking on here for a link to menopause and PMR. On researching my PMR found a few posts Re menopause arthritis etc. I've been hell bent on blaming the Covid vaccine being the final straw to stress and triggering PMR. But being 50 and the doctor saying didn't immediately connect with PMR cos of my age. I have been wondering whether to ask for HRT too as I don't think I'm responding well enough to the steroids. But I wasn't sure if the two could be taken together. I have terrible night sweats. I put them down to the menopause prior to PMR who knows now. Periods been gone exactly a year. Had horrible unexpected periods and heavy ones at that without going into the gory detail for a good five or six years leading up. When used to be able to set my watch by them. So who knows what's going on with me. PMR fits test book. I could have written the symptoms myself. But driving self mad with so why do I still hurt then. PMR Pro has given me loads of good advice this week. Will be thinking oh it's her again 😳
I do know people who have taken both HRT and pred, I think there are ways of checking the hormones to see if that could be the cause of the symptoms - and it can because there was someone on another forum. She'd gone for a smear and could hardly get on the couch. The nurse suggested it migt be menopause and said which doctor in the practice to see - they have to be aware and know what to look for. It was decided it could be and HRT tried and it worked really well.
Ah. I wonder then. Thank you I'll mention it. I just hope the doctor takes me seriously when I refer to the forum I'll have to make clear no I'm not just googling I'm on an informed site with specialists and people in the know.
Wow…I feel like I have stumbled out of the woods and onto an information highway here. I have been going through a rough perimenopause time, as in nearly a decade - I am 51 now. Over the past 4 years things have spiralled, physically, due to stressful family events, and I had determined my body pain as a byproduct of not being able to process the stress due to fluctuating/loss of hormones. Jump to May of 2021 when I experienced high anxiety over getting vaccinated, and guess who developed bi-lateral frozen shoulders within the week following the vaccine… This was followed up with stress caused by the sudden death of my manager in July, my second shot, and by then my ROM was terrible, could not lift my arms in front of me higher than chest level. Thankfully, my ROM has VERY slowly been improving, though I still cannot reach my mid-back with my hands/cannot put a bra on normally, and pulling up tight jeans etc., is still troublesome. My GP did do a c-reactine test, which came back in normal range, therefore he ruled out PMR. I wonder if this is being overlooked and whether the other blood test is a better marker for diagnosis? (I cannot recall the name of it). My doctor also stated that PMR usually affects the hip area as well, but as time goes on I feel like I am very stiff here as well. Have been given the diagnosis of “mild” fibromyalgia, 3 years ago, however I would say this has increased to moderate to severe, depending on flares. The OP’s connection question makes me a little nervous, but also makes me want to push for more testing if possible. It seems to be a really tough go for me lately and I’m feeling rather depleted to consider PMR and possibly SCA if PMR is found to be my issue. Maybe terrified is a better word.
All sounds very PMR-ish - and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the "mild fibro" didn't turn out to have been the herald of PMR. They are very difficult to distinguish from one another until you know the feelings. I also think a lot of younger PMR patients are told it is firo because "you can't have PMR at your age" - which is rubbish of course!
C-reactive protein can be in normal range - and so can ESR - in up to 1 in 5 patients with both PMR and GCA. Mine were resolutely in normal range - but in fact, the ESR was high for me. It is also more common to meet that in younger patients.
The rubrics say that it can be either hip or shoulder girdle - or both. No two patients are identical - and it even varies in the same patient over time or if they have a relapse. I fear your doctor has blinkers on.
But there is no point being scared - I've lived fairly well since I was able to get pred. It gave me my life back.
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