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Just diagnosed for PMR. Wondering what to expect during this process?

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wayne45
wayne45

I was just diagnosed with PMR about 10 days ago.  Put on Prednisone 20 mg daily.  Remarkable improvment in days....gone from a 10 pain level to about a 3 in just over a week.  My wife and I had travel plans this year. (Happy New Year to everyone by the way!)  and I am now realizing this condition, in particular the prednisone tapering etc can make it impossible to get travel insurance. So how does this usually go?  Will I be on a steady dose of pred for awhile with eventual tapering?  My Doc said sometimes the pred is stopped and the disease goes into a type of remission....sometimes it comes back......Just wanting to get my head around this and happy to have found this forum.  Thank you.

0 likes, 29 replies

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  • amkoffee
    amkoffee wayne45

    Posted

    There is one thing that a couple of people have made a bare mention of but I want to emphasis that you will be tired. When I was diagnosed with PMR I already had a bad back and was on opiates so I really don't feel any more tired then normal. I just don't do much anyway. But I am always reading someone's post about how they did to much and are having a flare now. So I would caution you to rest a lot during your travels so that you don't have a flare. I'm sure you will do just that though. One day you will over do and then hurt the next few days and that will give you a guide of what's too much. But for your body's sake please take care of it and rest a lot.

    • wayne45
      wayne45 amkoffee

      Posted

      Oh thank you for that........I am tired, and have been a long time....unusual tiredness that was really scaring me.  PMR is not a great diagnosis, but I did think it may have been something much worse.  I will take care not to overdo things..:-)
    • EileenH
      EileenH wayne45

      Posted

      PMR may not be a great dx - but it is the best of the autoimmune disorders as it doesn't kill and it doesn't maim! 

    • wayne45
      wayne45 EileenH

      Posted

      Yes I am thankful this was not a "terminal? diagnosis.  It is not a great one, as I already have heart issues, and am diabetic.  Had a triple bypass 9 years ago, and everything is looking good...then THIS shows up!  A challenge for sure, but we will get through it.  There is an insurance we will be able to get eventually, but I will be seeing my Doctore regularily for at least the next few months. No worries.....we live in BC Canada... a beautiful place!

    • EileenH
      EileenH wayne45

      Posted

      I spent 3 weeks there this summer, a week in May at a rheumatology conference in Whistler, a week tour from Calgary down to Vancouver in June and then a week in Vancouver after an inside passage cruise. 
  • barb30898
    barb30898 wayne45

    Posted

     Hi Wayne, 

    Just putting my two cents in.

     I don't live in Canada, I live in the United States 

     if my husband and I wish to go on a trip  anywhere, outside the country, I just buy my insurance within the first 15 days,of making the decision and putting money down. Any good  Insurance company will cover any, and all preconditions if you are stable and able to make the trip,  at that moment, when you sign up.

    i must admit,  I carry a larger quantity of  prednisone in case of a flareup, which has never happened. 

     Happy, healthy new year and many wonderful travels. 

    Barb

    • wayne45
      wayne45 barb30898

      Posted

      Hi Barb.  Great advice!  Thank you.  We will probably buy per trip instead of the usual annual plan. :-)
  • Mrs_CJ
    Mrs_CJ wayne45

    Posted

    Hi Wayne,

    i have sent you a personal message.  Let me know if you don't know how to retrieve personal messages. 

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