Welcome to our new members May 2023

[Fran_Benson]

Hello and welcome to all our new forum members.

We hope you've had a chance to look around and find answers to your questions. Here's a quick guide to get you up and running and a couple of key housekeeping rules to help you and the rest of the community.

1. Fill out your profile - let us know whether you have PMR or GCA (or both), how long you've been diagnosed, what gender you are, what country you're based in - these are the basics, do tell us any other relevant details. (And message to the longer standing members - if you haven't filled out your profile or it's out of date, please fill it in or update it now - thank you.) If you’re not sure what to put in your profile, please take a look at Mrs Nails’ healthunlocked.com/user/Mrs... and Dorset Lady’s healthunlocked.com/user/Dor...

2. Got a question? Before you post, check out the FAQs. You'll often find the question you want to ask has already been asked and there will be lots of replies to browse through. It's in the pinned post section or you can find it here healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

3. Remember that we are not doctors and that no advice or information you read here should replace the advice given to you by your own clinician. If you are worried about your symptoms, do consult your doctor.

4. Read our guidelines so you know the rules. In short, show respect to your fellow members, no spamming (promoting products or services), if you post details of treatment etc please provide links to the research. No political posts and no covid related posts unless they are to do with PMR or GCA. If you are concerned about someone's post or reply, simply use the report function beneath the post. Here is a link to our guidelines in full:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

5. Finally, this forum is one of the many services that we, PMRGCAuk, provide to support people with PMR and GCA. Please consider joining the charity to help support us or make a donation.

pmrgca.org.uk/how-to-help/b...

pmrgca.org.uk/how-to-help/d...

Thank you

The team at PMRGCAuk

[LMali]

Thank you Fran. This is such a great forum. I don't read everything every day but I scan and pick the posts that are relevant to my current stage. The quality of responses and time taken to make them is heart-warming. I have a friend who was recently diagnosed with LPR and I was hoping there would be a similar forum for her condition as she is really struggling but unfortunately I couldn't find anything. Keep up the good work on this one - it is really appreciated.

[Ladyhillingdon]

Thank you Fran for an amazing site. I have been dipping in over past 3-4 months. I am seeing a Rheumatologist now, because my GP was unhappy about diagnosing PMR and prescribing steroids . I am one of the 1in 5 with low inflammatory markers, my rheumatologist is equally puzzled .

However on second appointment he agreed to a trial of a tapering course of pred which I commenced this morning at 20mg for Five days, reducing by 5 mg every five days untilI I see rheumatologist again five days after I finish the course. The information on PMR/GCA is exemplary I wish my GP and Rheumatologist would familiarise themselves with it!