And now my hips ache too ...

[Louisepenygraig]

(I started this post a week ago and my hips are fine now!)

For the last few days my hips have been a bit achey. At first i thought it may have been stiffness brought on from flying overnight from NY to Manchester last Wednesday night. Now I think it's more likely PMR as its so similar to the shoulder aches I've had, mainly the muscles just below the joint. The thing is up to now it's seemed that any PMR symptoms I've had were above the waist only.

I was away over Christmas, a week on the Queen Mary 2 sailing across the atlantic followed by nearly two and a half weeks with my daughter in Jersey City. About a week before I'd tapered down to 9mg, via 9.5, after being on 10 for a couple of years. The strange thing was that after I'd been on the Queen Mary for a couple of days I really couldn't tell how I felt! The absence of any landmarks or internet access really left me feeling all at sea. We'd taken the wheelchair but had mainly used it for our luggage until a day came when I needed a break from walking - the QM2 is a large ship - so I used it for one day. It was good to arrive at my daughters with little jet lag but, to my surprise I felt 'land sick' for a while. Once at my daughters I still wasn't sure if aches and pains in my neck and shoulders were because the bed, and the position I sat in when propped up in bed were different from at home, although I did get one or two PMR twinges.

I started writing this post a week ago and my hips no longer ache, I suspect I was having a bit of a flare after all the travelling

All in all I still feel a lot better energy wise and am able to do small amounts of housework (see post from 2 months ago) but I need to make sure I don't overdo it. I never thought the day would come when I actually enjoy doing some of the chores 😁. When I first felt so much better I though maybe the PMR had gone but I have enough twinges to know that's not the case.

My next decision is when, or if, I decide to take the next step down to 8.5mg. My first attempt at going from 10 to 9.5 was disastrous but a couple of months later it was no problem at all. I suppose one way to find out is to suck it and see, although may be not just yet 😁

Photo is my 'American' grandson.

[HeronNS]

Do you"step down" using a slow taper method, or do you do it overnight? I could not have managed without the dead slow method.

[Louisepenygraig in reply to HeronNS]

I use the dead slow method and within that slow down or speed up depending how it's going

[bunnymom in reply to Louisepenygraig]

I have been repeating weeks on this taper and found it easier this time. Good luck to you ❤️

[SheffieldJane]

Your American grandson is gorgeous! I am so glad you came through all the symptoms and had what sounds like an amazing experience. The change has clearly done you good. I loved my time on the Queen Mary. When we came into NY our little balcony was just opposite the Statue of Liberty. We kept having to pinch ourselves. Welcome home!

[Louisepenygraig in reply to SheffieldJane]

He is gorgeous isn't he. He'll break some hearts when he's older.