Remission

[Preacherball]

I want to thank members of this forum for your insight and support over the past 2 1/2 years I have been dealing with GCA and everything that goes along with this disease. I have been off prednisone since last July, and Actemra since last October. I have not had any further GCA symptoms. I had an appointment with my rheumy earlier in the week and he feels it is safe to say it is now in remission. In my profile you can read some of the challenges I've had tying to figure out of if some of the issues I've faced were from GCA, or other viral/respiratory illnesses I've had that may have been a result of being immunosuppressed. Regardless, I'm hoping GCA is in the rearview mirror. I'll probably be signing off from the forum in a week or so, but want to wish everyone good health as you deal with your PMR/GCA diagnosis and treatment.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Would be nice if you didn't sign off altogether.. there will always be new patients as well as current ones who will benefit from your experience.

You imply we helped you, so why not return the compliment - if only occasionally.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

We do like a success story - and even more when you hang around a bit to keep telling your story to encourage others. Without people who stay, there can be the same level of help.

[Preacherball in reply to PMRpro]

I 'll hang around. Hope I can encourage someone else!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Preacherball]

👍

[HeronNS]

So glad things have been going well. Yes, do drop by from time to time. I'm hoping pred is also in my rearview mirror but after so many years this community seems ike part of my family....

[Grammy80]

Sure hope you don't sign off completely~! I have GCA and am hopefully nearing the end..... I knew nothing about it and felt doomed. The forum aided me but even more important.... I met someone who had gone through it and came out the other side. I clung to that fact. 💞

[Preacherball in reply to Grammy80]

Several have encouraged me to hang around on the forum and share my experiences/insights as appropriate. It's tempting to just want to be totally done with this and move on, but I can see the value of staying on the forum as well.

[Grammy80 in reply to Preacherball]

It would be wonderful if you did pop on.....you can turn a negative that someone is experiencing into a positive hope.💞

[LemonZest11]

Great news Preacherball, this gives hope!

[random901]

Yes, please don't disappear altogether. I really need some happy ever after stories!

[kalgoorlie]

Me too! Please dive in occasionally, you may help someone. I thought the same as you when I was in remission from PMR last year, but hung around, 'just in case'. I touched base occasionally and dived in when I thought I could contribute. And unfortunately, the 'just in case' ( GCA) has just happened and the forum is once again my life-line!

[Brooklyn747]

Good on you. Certainly it's uplifting to hear of one's success stories. I wish you well and hope your good progress continues forever. 👍

[Seekingasolution]

hi Preacherball. Delighted to read that your illness is in remission. I’ve read your bio. So you were diagnosed with GCA but never had PMR? I wondered if apart from tapering, was there anything else that you did that you think might have helped your recovery ?

[Preacherball in reply to Seekingasolution]

No, I never had PMR. I was fortunate to have been able to live pretty much normally through it all,ie. worked part time, normal daily activities, travelled, remained active. I took the meds as prescribed, tapered, and had weekly Actemra shots for quite awhile. I did gain some weight while on pred., 15 pounds or so, but some of that has come off recently.

[Preacherball]

Thanks for all the kind comments and the encouragement to "stick around" on the forum. I can do that and jump in if my experience might be helpful to others along the way.