blurred vision and steriod reduction

[Flrchrs]

On my last appointment to the rheumatologist he informed me that the pmr was gone and the pain in the shoulders was wear and tear. I had a steriod injection in the one shoulder which helped with the movement but the pain in the muscles on both shoulders was just the same .

On his advice i reduced to 1.5mg steriods from 2.5mg . Over the next few days an head ache slowly got worse and accompained with blurred vision . Went to the opticion who gave a through examination then to the doctors. She put me on 40mg reducing by 5mg a day! until i'm back on 2mg .

Since then i've been waiting for an emergancy appointment with the rheumy . thats over four weeks ago and still no letter . I haven't reduced like the doctor said only down to 12.5 now . Worried that it might be GCA which i was diagnosed with in 2022. Although the blood markers were all normal this time

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yet another doctor with a faulty crystal ball! There is no way he can know the PMR is "gone" when you are still on pred.

I would go back to the GP, tell her what you have told us, and explain that this rheumy obviously disputes her assessment that there is a clear risk of GCA here and is ignoring the emergency referral. Is there a way of seeing a different doctor.

Have the symptoms resolved on the course of higher dose pred?

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

You read my mind on what I was going to say! I must find out where you can get hold of these crystal balls.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sorry to hear this - and rheumy department should be treating this as suspected GCA and dealing with it pronto. Please contact your GP who obviously is of the same opinion and get them to chase up.

No sure how Rheumy can say you don't have PMR any longer whilst still on Pred - his crystal ball must be good!

As for blood markers, they aren't the be all and end all.. symptoms reign.

No more reducing until you have received medical advice... or at least more sensible advice..