Methotrexate

thank you. I have only been married to him for less than 3 yrs. I saw red flags of some serious health issues before we got married, but wrote it off as pre-wedding stress, etc. Aside from all of these health issues, he is a recovered alcoholic (sober since 1990) so I am worried he has liver damage from 2 decades of heavy drinking. I worry about him more than he worries about himself.

How long did you court before you were married?  I was widowed twice had been married to wonderful men, whom I had known well before marraige.  Two years ago after 8 yrs. alone, i remarried after knowing him for only 8 months.  Not really long enough, but we are working on it.  Somestimes it can be very stressful.  I'm sorry you have to go through all of that, it isn't easy for you.

we got engaged 5 weeks into dating, then married 9 months after our first date. Way too soon. But we had both been single a very long time and were lonely. Back then (this was 2013) he seemed healthy for the most part, but the normal aches that go along with middle-age. Then about 2 months prior to the wedding, his health started rapidly declining. I thought it was pre-wedding stress but now I see its the COPD, the PMR, etc etc. He has 4 health issues going on. The PMR seems to aggravate all the other conditions.

"The PMR seems to aggravate all the other conditions."

Or a vasculitis is aggravating all the others - and that might fit with the relatively sudden decline. I think you need to try to find a vasculitis specialist - are you in the UK?

When we are dating and attracted to the gentleman, we seem to fail to see some of the so called negative attributes, not that we all don't have them!  If you really love or care deeply about him it's worth working on it.  Fortunately my husband is in super health.  He came from a different country where the "women follow the men"  So we're working on it.  Life is a challenge in so many ways, it does help us to grow.  My first husband had COPD and severe ashmatic bronchitis  and was very ill the last 2 yrs of his life, but very active before.  I understand whatit is like and wish you the best.  Elinor.

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate it. Everyone on here has been so kind and caring

oh dear... the site must have been playing up again - not all of the responses showed up when I started replying. Looks like everyone else has sorted your questions out!

Might want to challenge that diagnosis. Methotrexate is often used to combat rheumatoid arthritis or a related inflammatory disease.  When MT works, it is often a sign of something other than PMR. That and the fact that you were able to live for weeks without prednisone, the only true "go to" for PMR leads me to suspect whether you should be convinced of your doctor's conviction. As we have seen, they are often wrong,

funny you should say this, Daniel because I too have thought the dr doesnt really know whats wrong with him. The MT isnt working yet. He started it last week. 2nd dose is due tonight. Still having pain. But he wont stop going to the gym every day and exhausting himself there so he doesnt co-operate at all, not with me or his drs. I talked to my therapist, his GP and my religious advisor, they all suggested I wash my hands of this. Take care of him to the best of my ability but stop obsessing over him since he wont cooperate at all. I think he has something other than PMR as well. It might be RA, I dont know. He also has early dementia signs and COPD and heart failure. Yesterday he told me he knows he is winding down, all I can do is sit by and watch. He wont let me help. Thank you for responding. This has been a caring group of ppl

Rose I am so sorry for all the stress you are going through. I am amazed that someone with PMR can go to the gym every day, I find I need a day to recover! I suppose it depends what he does when he is there of course. I think the advice you have been given is good, don't get stressed, if someone does not want to do something they will not listen to others giving advice. I do hope things get sorted out.

I am amazed too. He uses up all his energy at the gym and comes home and crashes. Thank you for the reply

MTX can take months to be seen to work whether it is in RA or PMR, although if it has done nothing after about 6 months they do usually reconsider. 

Exactly my thoughts - at least 10-12 weeks. And it's not like you wake up and feel better.....more like a gradual improvement and the ability to reduce the pred, leading you to feel better.