Books on PMR

Thank you, yes I have read it and heartily recommend it. Have also read Giant Cell Arteritis One Man's exciting Experience by Mason A> Clark which is of some interest but not much practical help.

Mason was a member of one of the forums for a long time - he was somewhat obsessed by his graphs! His suggestions then were really not at all practical unless you wanted to spend all your time on the computer and he struggled to understand that medicine is not quite the same as engineering - it doesn't stick to mathematical rules! He was well up on his 80s and had GCA - but was still amazingly active so one thing you can take from him is that things do improve!

Pleased to hear that your op went well and you are gradually recovering. On the subject of books if you have not already done so you must read Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: a survival guide by Kate Gilbert. It is not expensive and  royalties from sales are donated to PMRGCAuk. You can buy it from their website or from Amazon.

I think anything that required bypass can be classified as a pretty proper op!!!

Hi there, great that you're back. Well your cardiologist is the man - if he said it was heart surgery, it certainly was!!  And you're out the other end of it which is brilliant. I'm really sorry if you thought I was minimising what you going to have done as I know from experience that awaiting any 'proceedure' of ANY kind is nerve- wracking. When you feel up to it, let us know what you had done. Was it a bypass which of course is a different ball-game completely?  Anyway, rest and recover, read all the books you meant to catch up on, watch all the box sets, eat good food - and listen to the physio re. light exercise. Love

There are two meaning to bypass. One is when you are attached to a heart/lung machine so your heart and lungs are disconnected - it is used if the heart has to be immobile to do a procedure and there are a lot of them really.

The other meaning of bypass, and probably the better known one, is when coronary arteries are blocked and have to be "by-passed" by inserting new bits of blood vessel. In order to do that they usually use the bypass technique I described but also bypass bits of your circulation. 

Personally I don't fancy being sent for any combination of the above...

Thank you June it was an ICD [cardioverter Defibrillator] as I have had two heart attacks and had two stents after first one they only lasted the year then  had another two fitted the next year they have been in 10 years now and all was well but because I was about to have  a hernia Op  they did a echo cardiiogram and found I had heart failure so had to do this so lucky that they tested  me and found this out.They said because I have the PMR and Diabetes 2 from the steroids and very bad athritis and osteoporosis and a few other things its a nightmare !!!  but Hey I am alive and kicking !!!! at 75 not bad eh .  the nightmare was I broke my coxis a month before the op and my back is so painful nothing they can do you just have to rest. Our Bodies atre amzing what we put them through and they bounce back. I love this site so glad I found it  all those years not knowing much except what the Rhuemi  told me  they are finding out more each week which is so good  15 years ago when I first had it no one had heard of it. take care all of you smile  and remember it does get better    even if it comes back it goes again x

 

Hi, well problem solved re. what you had done - we were wondering! Lord you really have been through the mill recently. BUT the really good side of this is that you're in a country where these high-tech proceedures can be done - and they are so successful. Also, as you said, finding out early about your heart failure is a lucky thing. It used to be a serious diagnosis, now it's a very treatable condition and your ICD helps sort this. One thing to say here - this is all new to you, I presume you have a nurse/advisor from the hospital if you have any questions or if you feel unwell and want advice? I presume they gave you booklets about what an ICD is,explaining the proceedure, and what to expect afterwards? From what I know Harefield is a world- class hospital - so you'll get world-class attention!!  The other conditions (arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes) are very treatable also. Finally, this is a time where you can give yourself permission to rest and relax WITHOUT GUILT!!  Take care - and well done. x

Neither do I Eileen!  However, things seem to be working out well for her now. Kind regards. J   (PS. Your eagle-eye and sharp brain are impressive!)

Hi June yes they are world class  been with them since my first heart attack I am so very lucky my heart is well cared for wish the PMR was as good !!! had it for 15 years  now it does go away now annd then but very much part of my llife worse luck. like they say when you have had it that long you get to know the flare ups when to take the Prednisoline and when to cut down

very slowly I might add my doctor is brilliant he lets me manage it my self with a little support from him. I am under the arthritis clinic at NW"P hospital its a very good clinic with very good Rhuematoligists.Has any one else on here got type 2 steriod induced diabetes. they tghink it came about because I have had GCA twice now and of course Moorfields put me on 60/70 mg of preds to correct it.love to you all

 

Hi hope you keep improving and wish you all the best.

tj, here's wishing that you bounce back from this latest operation as well as from the previous ones.  It sounds as though you are having wonderful care from both the hospital and your GP, so hang on to all of them.

My hubby took our neighbour to Harefield for some scans last week in preparation for forthcoming heart surgery there and was impressed with their efficiency.  Much better than the care he received when having a pacemaker inserted a few weeks earlier at our local hospital.  He quickly developed breathlessness and high pulse of 102.  On contacting them, he was told everything was fine with the pacemaker.  He finally saw the GP who told him to go straight to A&E where he would be dealt with more efficiently.  He was admitted and it was found that the pacemaker simply needed setting properly, and he has now recovered.  This experience made him more fearful for the major heart op, but I will now be able to reassure him from your good experience at Harefield.

After your many years experience with PMR and GCA, there probably isn't much we can help you with that you don't already know!  But you sound a very positive and upbeat person, and I take my hat off to you with all that you have been through - keep coming out on top!