Happy New Year ...... AND

....my first flare in ages :/

I had to have a urgent appointment at my GP Surgery ... who are fantastic. Anyway my markers are up so I have now gone from 5mg to 15mg. All that hard work and now I'm heading upwards again

Early signs were the bruises on my arms and then yesterday I could hardly get out of bed as I was in so much pain. This was at 5am and on getting up I surfed around the web and the general opinion was call your GP when they open.

Even when I was first diagnosed it wasn't this bad. The pain was the worst ever and everywhere. I cannot put into words the pain I am in. I could barely get around the home and, now, 24 hours later I'm not quite as bad but this is awful!

Anyway you guys have a happy new year xoxoox

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sorry to hear that…are you sure all the pain is a flare, and you probably need to allow a bit longer to get under control even though the increase of 10mg is more than usually recommended.

Hope you soon feel better…..

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sorry - what a disappointment. Had you been hatching it for a while but ignoring things? Bruising is an unusual effect of PMR - have you experienced that before?

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Hi there! I think it could have been "hatching" for a while as my wrists were hurting a lot and THOSE bruises on my arms. They aren't huge but are most concerning. I have had bruising appear before. HNY PMRpro

[powerwalk]

Ah that's rotten, hope you get on top of it. Feel like hell myself so totally empathise! Let us know how you get on.

[Jackoh]

what bad luck ! Hope you soon get it under control. 💐

[Poshdog]

Oh dear, not the best way to start 2023, but very best wishes and hope it all settles soon 🥂

[Bcol]

Sorry to hear that news DCS, that is certainly not the way you were hoping to start 2023, best wishes and hope you manage to get it under control quickly.

[Darkchocolate1]

I hope you have your pain under control again. Talk more about the bruises please. I had several on one arm a couple of weeks ago and now have a large one on the other arm. No falls or injuries that I know of. I have had no bruises previously for two years on prednisone for PMR. I just had another flare of pain so severe I could hardly walk, used a walker to keep from falling. Difficult to do anything just wanted to cry. I had to go from 15 mg to 20 mg to get any relief. This is where I started when first diagnosed very discouraging. I will try again to taper after a Week of getting it under control. My ESR sed rate stays high always, last one was 80. I had my 5th covid vaccine, the bivalent in early Dec prior to the flare, perhaps they are connected. In spite of all the vaccine I had covid disease in Sept. maybe I won’t take anymore jabs. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Hidden in reply to Darkchocolate1]

Hello there! HNY. Yes those bruises. I had been getting them randomly and without warning ever since I was put on Prednisolone about 4 years ago. 80mg .

I had been getting the bruises without bumping into anything and often, throughout the day, I could look at my arms and a new bruise was there. I have asked about it several times with my GP and his colleagues and they say it's pred and PMR/GCA doing it. I agree with them as during this present flare a couple of half inch bruises appeared "just like that" then another on my other arm and a couple of red pin prick dots on my foot.

So I would say it's Pred and signs of a flare.

My wife insists on the bruises being called Purpura.

I hope you are well soon and I've found the best thing for me is to watch my diet I'm almost a Vegan (no preaching here) and have been a Vegetarian for over 40 years. I really try not to eat sugar and love Marks and Spencer prepped food as mostly it's very healthy.

I also take my Pred at about 4 am - 5am

[Darkchocolate1]

Thank you for your reply. I agree bruises seem to appear with flares. I do believe diet is helpful. I try to eat no sugar and as little salt as possible and as low carbs as I can manage. It is just a long confusing journey. I too take prednisone at 5-6 am. Best wishes for pain free year ahead.