PRE-DIAGNOSIS, I THINK A LOT OF US COULD SAY, "I NEVER GET SICK!"

[LIVEORDIEHEREIAM]

This has been said here on the forum in many different ways but putting it directly like this, I realize that was me (mostly) for many years. And it gives rise to the idea that maybe my immune system was already "hair-triggered" all along and a time of added stress pushed it over the line into PMR/GCA land. Were you a "never sick" person too?

[Seacat30]

I used to work in a bookshop/stationers where mums took their sickly kids to entertain them. They encouraged the poorly ones to suck and finger the books and hand them to staff at the tills. I got the standard two colds per year for this reason. I worked through them all.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I got the odd cold - one humdinger a year was routine and that has been the same even with PMR and even on pred. I have had flu, proper stay in bed for a week flu, once, about 20 years ago. No real colds for the last 3 years - masks have multiple benefits!

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Weirdly, I've not had a cold for almost 4yrs, but not surprisingly since going back in to nursery as a volunteer helper one morning a week I'm now working my way through a humdinger! All covid tests have been negative and I don't feel particularly unwell...just uncomfortable. Haha! What I'd give to have a nose transplant right now..... blocked one minute and running like a tap the next! Tickly cough now too but sore throat gone! Yippee!

One thing that's really helped has been a mug of hot water with fresh ginger crushed into it, fresh lemon squeezed into it and a tsp of honey. Really soothes sore throat.

[discoballs]

I never get sick..... Since I was diagnosed I can't remember having a cold or flu!

My magic moment was going to Asthma clinic and get the once over from an Asthma nurse who actually had Asthma. I asked him what one thing he does that really helps and he said a Vitamin C with Zinc lozenge in a pint of water daily.

I started to do this without fail and, as I typed, can't remember having a cold or flu in years. Not even Covid.

I can't help but wonder if there is anything that can create magic for PMR????

[Omakaat]

I always worked with small children, and always catching every virus going around. And still I got PMR/GCA. Strangely I have had the idea a lot of my symptoms started with a particularly nasty flu some considerable time before my official diagnosis. Who knows?

[Koalajane]

I prided myself in not having time off work with illness for 20 years until the arrival of PMR. I still don’t get colds or anything

[agingfeminist]

such a good question. I have just taken antibiotics for the first time in 35 years. The doc said the pred has knocked out my immune system so I was very susceptible to cellulitis.

a tremendous amount of almost unending stress throughout my life but very very few infections.

I have also noticed that lots of people on here also say how active they were before PMR hit.

Fit and healthy...almost felt untouchable and then bang, wham ...suddenly have aged 20 years.

[diana1998]

I've not had a cold for 7 years since starting pred. 🤞🤞🤞 Coincidence? I've been in touch with lots plus avoided 2 covid bullets. I'm out and about every day so find it strange. Not complaining though!

[Broseley]

As a teacher before I retired, I used to get a cold virtually every month over winter for the first 10 years or so. I would just start to get better from one, when bam, another one would hit. I believe I must have had every cold virus variant there is to have, because I stopped getting them. I was rarely off sick, only in later years due to stress.

[ChrisinNam]

Pre PMR I was fit, healthy, and strong, cutting down trees that were stopping sunlight coming in, removing a whole hedge of leylandii, and another of all sorts, already six feet high. Etc. etc. etc. When not raining, I spent at least an hour in the garden. Baked all my own bread, and had been doing that for well over forty years. Now, since PMR? Just watching Midsomer Murders or whatever . . . . .

[ncfaaeos]

I was one of those people who were rarely unwell and if I did catch a cold it was quickly over. I must say that in the time I had PMR (which I got over) and now GCA (which I am in the process of tapering out of treatment for) I have not had colds or flu. I have though had a symptomless UTI twice.

[Jane424]

YES! I last had a mild cold in 107 but before that it was 1011 nd no flu since 2004. I do get mild symptoms periodically which go in a day and I assume are fighting off an infection I used to do that when the kids were small but never caught their illnesses. Is this also why I react violently to immunizations? Jane

[LIVEORDIEHEREIAM in reply to Jane424]

"Is this also why I react violently to immunizations?"

That would be my thinking. I can't quote it but I'm sure I read exactly that- a more violent reaction equals a more complete immune response, which equals better protection.

My point in asking the question was that I suspect that AI sufferers probably had an over-active immune system for a long time before that "break the camel's back" trigger came along and resulted in PMR/GCA/RA, etc. Too much of a good thing...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to LIVEORDIEHEREIAM]

The scientists say that there is no real correlation between reaction and the level of antibody development.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jane424]

By gum - you've been around a time

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

My thoughts exactly 🤣😂

[LIVEORDIEHEREIAM in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that clarification PMRPro! I must have been behind the door the day that came up or I would have remembered it! What does "been around a time" mean?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to LIVEORDIEHEREIAM]

Read the dates in Jane's reply! I was joking she must be old ...

[LIVEORDIEHEREIAM in reply to PMRpro]

Ah! I wondered what happened with those numbers! Now I get it! Thanks!