Polmyaligia rheumatica
Posted , 2 users are following.
0 likes, 5 replies
Posted , 2 users are following.
0 likes, 5 replies
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Guest
Posted
I do not want to dampen down your spirits in anyway at all, but your Mother could be in for a long haul.
PMR does not vanish overnight. Currently there is no known cause or cure for PMR or GCA.
Prednisolone is excellent for relieving the symptons of PMR but it is not a cure and it comes with side-effects. Please read the leaflet which accompanies the tablets.
I would also recommend that your Mother sees a Consultant Rheumatologist to confirm the diagnosis and ensure that she has a blood test which includes CPR rate which is one of the best indicators of PMR.
Good luck
Grumpy Cat
chisnal_1944
Posted
Guest
Posted
Re your query regarding weight gain caused by Prednisolone, I have been on Prednisolone for PMR and GCA for approaching 2 years, starting on 40mgs. The weight does increase at first, mostly on the face and stomach areas. I watched my diet like mad and have gained between 2 and 5lbs, yo-yoing depending on what I eat. However, from reading other people's experiences, it seems that whilst some people gain a lot of weight, others gain none. The problem is that when you first start on a high dose you feel so hungry you could eat a horse! That's the difficult bit and knowing the right and wrong things to eat. However, as you come down on the dose it will be easier to lose the extra weight, albeit it is still necessary to eat a healthy and non-fattening diet! I am now down (again)to 4mgs for the last 3 weeks (the same dosage as exactly a year ago) after being on 5mgs for over 5 months. However, today I am feeling more discomfort and just hoping that it's just a blip and that I wont get a repeat of increasing pain and the subsequent raised ESR and CRP blood test markers of a year ago. Once on Prednisolone, decreasing the dose very gradually is the most important factor. Hope this helps.
Mrs O
Mrs_G
Posted
chisnal_1944
Posted