depression with polymyalgia
Posted , 4 users are following.
I was told I had Polymyajia in February of this year. Doctor started me off on 30mgs a day. I suffered quite horribel side effects. Heart pulpations , seemed to be away with the fairies if you know what I mean. My memory also suffered. Could'nt remember not paying for some goods in a shop, but thought when I got home that I had'nt paid and went back. Seemed detatched from things. I am now down to 15mgs a day, still wake up in the morning with very achy muscle pain in thw top of my arms and shoulders.
The thing I want to ask is, does the polymyajia cause my fatigue, also I am very low within myselfand must admit do have a cry now and then, can't seem to stop it. Or is this down to the side effects of the steriods. I do have alot on my plate, a husband who is quite a few years older than myself and has various health problems that have been on going for a number of years.Before this started with myself, I was always a get up and go person, had to be, this at the moment has semmed to knocked the stuffing out of me. So sorry to go on, would be grateful if anyone could tell me , is it the steriods, or is this something I have to live with while I have got this.
0 likes, 8 replies
mrs_k
Posted
So sorry to hear you have joined a 'club' that none of us wanted to be in.
However you do need to read up on PMR. At the beginning of this thread there are two 'pinned' items and they refer you to a website for PMR & GCA UK North East Support. On that site there is a wealth of information on the Diagnosis and Treatment of PMR and also other useful information and people's stories.
Currently there is no known cause or cure for PMR and steroids are given to enable to you live as pain free as possible. Unfortunately they come with side effects. Nobody gets them all. Fatigue can be difficult to deal with and you have to learn to pace yourself. Whilst PMR is not life threatening, it is lifestyle changing and one of the most difficult things to come to terms with is to learn 'how to go with the flow'.
The paper that comes in the box with your steroids, does list the most common side effects and you need to read it. Highs & Lows, Fatigue, Moon Face, Peach Fuzz etc. But they do get better as time goes on.
PMR does seem to occur often in 'get up and go people' but it is livable with, albeit a different sort of life.
Do visit the website and read all about it. By the way, never ever apologise for 'going on' we all do it we need help, mostly family and friends have never heard of it and as you do not look ill it can be difficult for them to understand. Keep on coming back and ask your questions, someone will always answer.
carolk
Posted
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
I do so sympathise with all that you are going through. Some of the things you are experiencing can be as a result of the inflammation caused by the PMR whilst others are down to the steroids, or sometimes even a mixture of both. Rest assured though that all these symptoms will lessen, if not disappear completely as you get down into the single figure doses, but don't rush the reductions, slowly slowly and by small amounts is the key to keeping the inflammation under control.
I found one of the ways to keep my spirits up was to have a short walk in the fresh air each day, even if pain allows you only 5 minutes at first and gradually increasing as pain levels reduce - such exercise is known to increase those feel-good endorphins and it will also help to avoid muscle weakening from the steroids. I also find that meeting up with a favourite and understanding friend for a coffee and a chat can lift your mood. It will get easier, I promise.
MrsO
melv
Posted
I am a young 64, in my head. always have been lol. Usuall I try to be the person that can be there to help someone else out, or listen to them or there problems, but like you said , I don't look ill, especially when the old makeup is on, but underneath could be feeling rotten. I have this thing whereby I have to carry on doing the housework or whatever even if I feel pooh, brought up that way I suppose. Like you said, go with the flo, this is something I MUST LEARN to do. I think maybe have tried to lower the striods a little bit to quick maybe. Since taking them I have put on over one stone and a half, this does not help your self esteem, as I was over weight to start with , and was just going try to loose some weight, then this hit me.
Thanks girls for ALL your advice, really appreciate it, I will let you know after taking all your advice, and learn to say to myself, JUST GO WITH THE FLOW lol x
carolk
Posted
melv
Posted
This was okay, and until about a couple of weeke ago I was taking 15 per day. In the last week I have experienced quite abit a pain again in the top part of my arms, in the muscle and also in both the top part of my legs . Today I upt the dose to 20 myself, so hopefully that will help. Does being under stress make the condition worse. I was involved in a car accidentabout two weeks ago, I was'nt hurt , some elderly gentleman went into the side of my car while I was staionary in a Tesco carpark. It all the hastle that goes with it, insurance bods etc, Iknow its not the end of the world, but can't seem to take things how I used to. I also think I should have an eye test, which is due, do';nt think I can read at times as good as I did, could be my imagination, but I must get it checked out. I shall see my doctor just before my steriods run out, he is VERY good , I do have a good rapour with him, which means alot. I have also recently had to undergo test for bowl cancer, which does seem to be ruled out, thank god.. Do have to go into local hospital early next month just for a little procedure, just a day thing. There, you have had ALL the moans Carol lol.
One more thing if I may, I do not sleep very well. I can wake up most nights around three oclock, read for a while try to go back to sleep, but can't, end up taking pillow and cover down into our lounge, telly on, eventuall y go to sleep with it on. Could be abit like this before taking steriod, but has definatly got worse since being on them. Any advice would be welcomed most gratefuly. x
mrs_k
Posted
The teely is a good sleeping pill, but have you tried a radio in the bedroom, tuned to a 'talking' station they occupy your mind and stop you thinking and can be soporific.
carolk
Posted