Welcome to our new members - April 2025

[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 (And message to the longer standing members - if you haven't filled out your profile or it's out of date, please fill it in or update it now - thank you.)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 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...

PLEASE NOTE: We request people not to post about Covid or the vaccine unless there is a specific PMR/GCA element. We cannot advise individuals on whether to have the vaccine or not and this should be a discussion to have with your clinician.

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 - every £ counts and helps us to keep helping patients with PMR/GCA, including providing this forum.

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

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

Thank you

The team at PMRGCAuk

[AmberGamble]

Thank you Fran for the lovely welcome!

We are most grateful and appreciative of the invaluable information, support and help that PMRGCAUK provides for us.

[LindtGoldNiecy01]

Hello Fran, Thank you for the welcome message. I have just become a member as I was diagnosed with GCA two weeks ago and finding everything a little overwhelming. I found out about this group from the booklet I was given at the hospital and am interested in finding a local support group. I am also interested in hearing about other patients who have GCA and their experiences with health and the prescription tablets.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to LindtGoldNiecy01]

Can I suggest you raise a new post -then you’ll get plenty of advice- but if you look at the charity webpage you can find all local groups -

pmrgca.org.uk/get-support/g...

Also have a look at this

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[LindtGoldNiecy01 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi, thank you for the info - very useful.

[Fran_Benson Partner in reply to LindtGoldNiecy01]

You're welcome. DorsetLady's suggestion is a good one. If you start a new post with a similar message about being newly diagnosed and wanting to connect with other people with GCA you will likely get a lot of replies ☺️. Tip: give it a relevant title too eg. Just been diagnosed with GCA or Feeling overwhelmed with GCA diagnosis

[GrandmaPirate]

Many thanks for this forum and your work. I am sure new PMRGCA patients will find this forum very useful as I do.