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Just diagnosed with PMRA. Anyone successfully negotiated working full time with this conditions?

Posted , 16 users are following.

caroline79970
caroline79970

i got my diagnosis a week ago, and started to get some relief with the symptoms after 4 days of 15mg prednisolone. I'm due back at the doctors on Monday. I had been hoping that I would be ok to go back to work on Tuesday (I'm a 53 year old secondary school teacher), but still feeling so washed out and exhausted after the slightest effort. Is this something that eases once the inflammation gets under control a bit more?  I just want to feel normal again, 

3 likes, 18 replies

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  • bob73443
    bob73443 caroline79970

    Posted

    Caroline,

    I've been dealing with PMR for a year now, and I've been on prednisone for 9 months of that year.  I travel all over the USA and Canada to teach a 4-day class to industrial audiences.  I'm 67, and It's gruelling even without the PMR.  My morning's are rough, and I'm exhausted after each day, but all in all I've been blessed to be able to continue doing what I do.

    I recently got clobbered with the flu, which has set me back much more than the PMR (in terms of fatigue, coughing, digesetive upsets).  It's been a week and a half and I can hardly get offthe couch.

    But all in all, things could be a heck of a lot worse.  Thank goodness for this forum, thank goodness for prednisone, and I only pray that this leaves me sooner than later.

  • mariemb
    mariemb caroline79970

    Posted

    Hi Caroline, I have had PMR for over 3 years.  I was prescribed steriods after 3 months.  Those first 3 months were terrible as I not only worked full-time and long hours but at 57 years of age I decided to enrol for a post graduate degree. I couldn't walk up the stairs, found it really difficult to get in and out of a bath, was always in pain which kept me awake at night and was so tired too.  I recall holding on to the office furniture to walk around and couldn't reach down to the bottom shelves to pick up a file without dropping it.   I did not take any time off work although looking back I wonder why I didn't!  I thought by the time I'd finish my degree it would have gone but that wasn't to be.  I have twice reduced the Prednisolone down to 3 mg and twice gone back to 5 mg.  A month ago, the specialist prescribed Methotrexate; I take 10 mg weekly and am really hoping that this will help me to come off the Prednisolone eventually.  My advice is to take as much time off work as necessary and would not recommend over stressing the body like I did.  Yes, Prednisolone eased the symptoms but I am still often extremely tired.  Last year I didn't even use up my annual holiday entitlement but this year I am determined to take every last day - plus the days that I was allowed to carry over and will enjoy those days to just rest as much as I can.  Good luck with managing the condition, I hope things calm down for you soon. 
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