Totally Confused

[daisylazy]

I posted a few weeks ago asking about what I thought was a flair. I doubled the dose 5mg to 10mg as per instructions for a flair. Didn't solve the problem which is predominantly shoulders and arms, sometimes thumbs Went to doctor who put me on 15mg for 14 days. Definitely improved but when I reduced all came back. Now I am wondering should I go to 20mg and start all over again. I can feel boned in my shoulders grating so could it be something else. Even to lift the kettle hurts.. Thank you for any advice

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you ever seen a rheumatologist or have you been diagnosed and managed entirely by your GP?

When PMR lasts a long time you can end up having relapses of the disease activity that take you right back to the beginning, not just because you overshot the dose you need, an increase in the autoimmune part of the illness.

But your description makes me feel that you need more investigation into what is going on because it could be an inflammatory arthritis that is causing the problem - it might not be, but I think your GP needs to look more closely just in case. Or it could just be osteoarthritis that has been masked previously. Or it could be the PMR that has woken up again. But you obviously have something different going on to what was there immediately before.

[daisylazy in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for speedy reply Pro. Saw a rheumy at the start nine years ago but GP managed ever since. Will do as you suggest and get an appointment with the rheumatologist I saw at the start. As you say it's so hard to know especially since I had a fairly straightforward taper to 3mg until my adrenals failed to function. It is so hard to get anything done with bad shoulders and to make matters worse I am big busted which adds another dimension. I am tempted to ask for a breast reduction but wonder if it would be foolish in my 80th year. Thanks again for all your suggestions.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to daisylazy]

I've always said there are 3 procedures I would consider if it didn't involve an operation and anaesthetic: 3Bs, boobs, belly and bags under my eyes!!!! Why anyone wants a boobs enhancement is beyond me, what wouldn't I love about needing a B-cup bra!

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Couldn't agree more!

[daisylazy in reply to PMRpro]

You are so right, my big boobs have been the bane of my life.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to daisylazy]

Wouldn't it be lovely to lie on your front comfortably!!!!!

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting to hear that viewpoint. I'm a AA cup and hate my boobs. I find it difficult to buy bras that fit now most women are bigger. No one except M&S do a 36AA. And now they've stopped doing their double your cup size bra I end up using chicken fillets. It's difficult to get clothes to fit too.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

That's too far the other way! My problem was always that you couldn't get a 32F in most places! They would insist that I needed a 34 - I raised my arms in the air and slipped out of the bottom! Same happened to my very slender built daughter - she needs a 30 on a big day and preferably a 28 but when she was pregnant with her first baby the stores were trying to tell her she was a 36DD. I took her to my bra shop in Consett, then it was Sadie the Bra Lady, and in under 10 minutes she left wearing a 30H! In the car on the way home she said "I didn't know a bra could be comfortable"!! Silly child threw it out when she went back to something more "normal" when she stopped breast feeding but I noticed it in the bag and retrieved it - much to her delight as nothing fitted again when she was expecting her son!!

As for clothes fitting - you need tops that are a couple of sizes bigger so the bottom half of a dress never fits ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

But we know designers don’t make clothes for normal people - and who said women had to have a perfect hourglass figure anyway… undoubtably a man!

Oh and modern, if you look at the old masters portraits, some of their females are much more lifelike than today's ‘image’ …

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Certainly are!

[Broseley in reply to DorsetLady]

I have discovered dresses on A*****. The lovely sparkly Gatsby style. Ok they're made in China - but maybe that's why they fit so well. Good value too!

[krillemy]

...."I can feel boned in my shoulders grating..." I can too when my shoulder is really acting up. Its PMR the rheumy says

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to krillemy]

Wonder how he works that out as PMR does not cause erosion of joints.

[krillemy in reply to PMRpro]

I didn't mean literally bone on bone. So I think what the doctor means is that the crunching sounds are due to bursitis or synovitis. You can also feel it if you put your other hand on it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to krillemy]

If it is due to PMR - then that suggests the PMR is under-treated.

[krillemy in reply to PMRpro]

Yes it is a flair due to me trying to come down to 10 mg (now on MTX) - but no good. 7 days on 11.25 is much better, but not quite there yet so 12,5 yesterday and today - still waiting.... 😀