Hi GCA and polymyalgia

[Strider68]

Hi, it took a while for me to be diagnosed with GCA. I had never heard of it before and it was February 2022. Once diagnosed and confirmed with a biopsy my treatment was good.

I'm now on 5mg of steroids reducing by 1mg per month. Once diagnosed with this it seemed to trigger so many other things, polymyalgia, atrial fibulation, psoriatic arthritis (I already had psoriasis for 15 years), etc . Jy psoriasis meds have been changed again recently..

I don't know if anyone else feels as I do, now I'm seen by rheumatology, heart clinic, dermatology etc what happened, have I had these things for years or is my health just getting worse. I don't think I have rver felt so low about my health. On top of that my joints hurt so much

[SnazzyD]

I’m sorry to hear you’ve joined the club. Unfortunately if you have one autoimmune condition, you can be predisposed to others. Is your PMR ok on 5mg?

[Strider68 in reply to SnazzyD]

Sorry new to the group, what is Pmk?

[SnazzyD in reply to Strider68]

What you’ve called Polymyalgia. At what dose of Pred did your joints start to hurt or has it been there all the time?

[Strider68 in reply to SnazzyD]

They have always hurt with the arthritis but we're particularly bad at 15mg

[SnazzyD in reply to Strider68]

How did they diagnose SA? I often wonder how they decide between these things.

[Strider68 in reply to SnazzyD]

SA?

[SnazzyD in reply to Strider68]

duh, sorry I mean PA Psoriatic Arthritis

[PMRpro Ambassador]

PMR is allied to the GCA - some people have symptoms of both, so it isn't really a different diagnosis. The a/f may be down to the pred, it is a known adverse effect or it may happen when you get to low doses of pred and are in the realm of adrenal insufficiency. My a/f was caused by the autoimmune part of the PMR as they started at the same time. But a/f is also increasing common as we age so there are several reasons for it appearing.

If you hadn't got GCA, but just PMR I'd have wonder if the PMR symptoms are really due to the psoriatic arthritis. Nothing is simple!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

By the way - joint pain isn't typical of GCA and PMR so that is much more likely to be due to the PsA but it could be a side effect of the pred or other medications - amazing how many can cause joint pain.

[Viveka]

Many people find that reducing by 1mg a month after 5mg is too much, particularly if there is also PMR. Many do 1/2 mg per month/six weeks (dependent on symptoms) or one of the slow taper protocols you'll find in FACs. It's not just for the PMR but to help adrenals wake up gradually. 3 and under definitely not a good idea to do it by the 1m per month.