I need some advice please

[Whatawonderfullife]

Advice please. I have recently been offered retirement due to medical grounds, GCA. There are 3 tiers of retirement offered based on medical records and telephone assessments. In the report sent to my employer the medical expert has recommended that I will never be able to return to my previous post but will be able to return to gainful employment within 5 years. This being the minimum amount of the 3 tiers I could receive, I ask those who have had experience of GCA, if 5 years is a true length of time before entering remission. I am 2 years into this illness and after 2 relapses I have now reduced the pred to 7mg with the help of methotrexate. If 5 years is a reasonable assumption then I will not need to challenge the decision however I would like any feedback on true time scales. Thank you for your time and advice. I am 54 years old.

[jinasc]

This is a very personal decision, however here are my thoughts:

Yes, GCA can and does go into remission around 5 years, but it is remission and not cured. Their is no cause or cure yet research is being undertaken but how long is a piece of string.

In 5 years time you will be five years older and we only get one chance at life. We just do not know what is around the corner.

So, if I was you - which I am not - I would take the highest offer and go with the flow.

I am sure others will be along to put their thoughts down.

Good wishes to you in whatever decision you finally make and do let us know which path you decide to follow.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Five years is a reasonable estimate - mine was nearer 6, but may have taken longer than the normal because of the time for diagnosis.

But as we know from this forum, one size doesn’t fit all…and steroid MAY cause other issues…didn’t for me, but does for some.

So is the suggestion you return to work in 3 years, aged 57? Is that feasible for you?

If so, do you need/want to carry on working for another 10 (maybe) years?

Most of the imponderables only you can answer. .,but as jinasc rightly says - we don’t know what’s round the corner…

…we had all sorts planned for when we retired, but late hubby had to medically retire with heart issues - triple bypass aged 58, which was only partially successful and passed away aged 71, and I succumbed to GCA which curtailed life for a few years.

Lots to think about!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

In my experience I'd say 4 to 5 years is a common time to need pred for GCA. PMR can be significantly tougher to put behind you - but if PMR is one of the symptoms of your GCA that tends to extend the time for GCA.

Does the assessment you can return to gainful employment in 5 years refer to the same area in which you are currently employed? It has also to be borne in mind that reentering the workplace at 54. never mind the projected 59, is a very tough proposition. I was younger than that and trying to get back into my medical technologist area and my husband told me I needn't bother applying for a post in his department that I quite fancied because I was far too old! By the time I'd completed the specialist training for the technique I wouldn't work long enough to make it worth it for them.

As it happened I had the last laugh, they gave it to a young woman who accepted it. Two weeks after starting she turned up to work one day to annouce she was expecting twins! She must have known at the interview. She did the training, just managed to complete it, went off on maternity leave and when she came back required some retraining (you lose the "touch" if you aren't doing ultrasound on an almost daily basis) and then they'd get phone calls on a regular basis "got childcare problems, can't get in". I pointed out to himself that that was one problem they knew they wouldn't have had with me!

[Whatawonderfullife]

Thank you all for your advice and experience.I knew you lovely people would help. I will have a good think about what to do next.