I am 62 female newly diagnosed with pmr,

Hi Paula,

You so are so kind, I have not felt isolated before, and this is what prompted me to register with this site.

I am usually a fixer, family work pets, I sort things out.

So can't understand why I can't get my head round this.

I hope you are well.

Thanks again, Julia

Hi Erica,

Thank you for you're quick response.

I started on 15mg about four weeks ago and felt like super woman, had severe headache so consultant increased it to 30, never felt so I'll in my life.

Anyway was down to 12.5 heavy gardening now back up to 15.

I have always been so lucky to have a lot of stamina, think I am learning with pmr, you do too much on a good day and have quite a few non- days as I call them, when you don't do anything.

I hope you are well.

Julia

"Anyway was down to 12.5 heavy gardening now back up to 15"

You have to learn to pace yourself - and learn what is your new normal. It is very unlikely to include heavy gardening! The pred is only relieving the inflammation that is caused by an underlying autoimmune disease that makes your immune system attack your body in error as if it were an invading virus or acterial infection. Your body remains intolerant of acute exercise - and you will feel as if you have run a marathon after walking up a hill. 

This is a link to a lot of information at the other end of a lot of links

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/pmr-gca-website-addresses-and-resources-35316

This is a thread with links to articles about pacing - an essential in PMR, as in any other chronic autoimmune disorder, because they are all characterised by fatigue:

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/pacing-in-chronic-illness-some-useful-links-that-explain-it-and-how-to-do-it-516000

Once you get the hang of it you will be able to do somehting most days - and overall, when you rest appropriately you will find that you get more done than if you rush at things and then collapse in a heap. Eventually you will find that you can do far more - but you will also have learnt to miss out the non-essentials. It is amazing how many things don't have to be ironed for example. Or that dusitng every third day takes about the same amount of energy that each day takes - but you had 2 free!

Swallow your pride - and ask for help. Learn to say "No" - it is the most useful word in the English language when you have a chronic illness. You may have been the go-to person in your family - they will have to find someone else for the moment.

Of course you are confused and angry - the carpet has been pulled out from under your feet without warning. You will learn your way around, you will feel better - but NOT until you learn the hard lesson of putting yourself first and making time for yourself. 

Hi,

Thank you so much.

I am kicking and screaming about it at the moment, but I know you are right.

The links will be a great help.

It's going to be a lovely day tomorrow,

so a little light weeding, not the big boarder I had planned to dig out.

Hmn, not good at being sensible, but learning.

Hope you are well.

Julia

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Eileen, but what's this about dusting every third day? 😳I only dust once a week and if I have better things to do even less. I dust 2 items of furniture in my main room which show the dust, otherwise I can live with it. This is the new PMR me. Life has more interesting things beckoning and I save my energy levels for them.😄😄

Dusting?  What is this dusting of which you speak?  

Ha ha. I like that. It has been removed from my vocabulary on most days. I sometimes leave a duster out on a windowsill and if anyone arrives unexpectedly it looks like I am about to dust. It can be there for days and I sometimes remove it without using it if I think it has been out for too long. Heaven forbid that I may be tempted to use it.

I have been known to haul the vacuum cleaner out before opening the door if someone arrives unexpectedly....

Does the person then offer to vacuum?

I wish!

Suggestion just seen on Facebook - Use laundry to add a pop of colour to interiors!

I don't even dust that often myself! But I didn't want people to think I was a total slut!

Did you know that after a few days the layer of dust doesn't get any thiicker? It just consolidates. And that means it doesn't whirl up in the air when you show it to a duster? So it is less likely to make you sneeze (allergies...). 

Dust is very patient - it will always wait.

I do use the laundry trick - the piles of just ironed t-shirts, bedding and (folded not ironed) towels are often left sitting...

I'm a t shirt and jeans guy and I prefer them not to be ironed anyway. Nothing of mine is ever ironed. If I dust once a week I think I'm being fussy. With 2 dogs and 4 cats who are in and out all day long it's not worth trying to keep the wooden floors clean so just a sweep when my bare feet crunch when I walk. The kitchen is the only animal free room in the house so is the only room we keep "clean". I see members of my family "work" so hard doing housework yet people say that they feel more comfortable in our house as they can relax without thinking they're gonna leave finger marks everywhere. 

You are spot on. I always feel comfortable where I can relax and not worry about squashing the cushions. I can remember that from childhood where I preferred visiting houses where I didn't have to sit on the edge of the seat.

Ah ha, now we know. I gave a fridge magnet to a friend which said, " You can write in the dust but please don't date it."