Finally got to see rheumatologist on 8 Dec for the urgent appointment requested by my GP in June (!)
He took a detailed history and did a thorough examination (I didn’t realize how much everything was hurting until he prodded all the muscles round my joints - been quite sore since.)
His conclusion - doesn’t think I have PMR. A bit young to have it. Hinted that it’s some sort of arthritis and has ordered a whole raft of tests - bloods, full spine MRI, MRI on shoulders (which he says look swollen to him though not to me!) and knees, and chest X-ray.
He also put me on 60mg daily of Etoricoxib. He’s hoping that this anti-inflammatory will help me reduce the Pred (though to be fair he was very understanding that it might not be possible to reduce the Pred)
I took the Etoricoxib on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. No noticeable reduction in stiffness.
Also I started slight menstrual bleeding and period symptoms on Friday afternoon (haven’t had that for at least 2-3 years). Is that a side effect of Etoricoxib?
How quickly should I notice an improvement with Etoricoxib? It doesn’t sound like a very nice drug and I’m inclined to stop taking it as soon as possible if it’s not helping.
Thank you