Saw GP today, better than a visit to Rheumie!

​The reason I wanted opinions on AA is because a friend of mine had breast cancer 6 years ago (fine now thank goodness) and was put on AA, she has now got gum problems....but her back was painful and bent over when starting AA......she has said the gum problem is worth it compared to the back pain etc she had....and bone density has increased.....now she has to stop AA, because like you say her 5 years is up....

​The doctor said to me Adcal is not enough....

​I will push again for a Dexa scan, and if not, will look into paying for one....I told her I don`t tolerate meds very well either, another reason I don`t want to take it....she said make sure you are sitting up when you do take it.......watch this space, have prescription, but......

​Thank you everyone for your imput....because of my friend I was torn about what to do....but think I know now......

Thanks again for all replies.....

She can't tell whether AdCal is enough - it is all I have ever taken and have spent a lot of time of the last 8 years at above 10mg. The only reliable aid to the decision is a dexascan - and even then some doctors just won't accept it.

Had to smile this morning told my daughter-in-law that doctor said I can lower  pred at my own pace, she said surely they agree at doctor`s and the hospital how it should be done.....as a mother-in-law kept my mouth shut....but La La Land came to mind!  Thanks again....

Wouldn't it be nice if the doctors and hospital could dictate how PMR/GCA and other autoimmune diseases will behave????

La-la-land indeed...

them such insight. Did you see the piece on Brexit?

I said somewhere else that I know people with more letters after their name than in it - and they still don't have a clue. My dear spouse included sometimes...

Sorry Michdonn - I watched some of it but didn't have time to see it all. I've not heard of him but that doesn't mean much - however, what I saw seemed a fairly accurate representation thus far! Must find time to watch the rest!

Oh, Elijo you are so right. Many of us knew that, but he got in with help from the Russians, how much we may never know. Almost every day something else comes to light. I also believe the Russians were involved in your Brexit movement. Check out where some of your politicians were before the election. Nothing would make Russia happier, than break up the EU. The French did not let the Russians change their election, good for them. US 😔

EileenH, as an admirer Winston Churchill, I am sorry to see the state of the UK. Maybe a wake up call for Europe, but the USA is still in a deep sleep. People are very angry, gunman fired on Congressman, gunman attacks people that are black or Muslim. Both sides totally out of control, very sad! 😢

I'm in the USA  and have a great problem thinking of him as our president.  He's a narcistic clown who can't be trusted, all about him.  Yes, Many of us from the United States are worried about how this is all going to turn about.  He's undoing everything Obama tried to do and accomplished, including the new so called American Health Act which will leave so many people in bad straight.  Next thing he'll try to fiddle with Medicare.  He's a rich money man with absolutely no feelings for mankind.  He's gotten away with too much.  Time will tell!

not "blaming" you, but  bringing it  to your attention considering you  are the expert on PMR, and this is a PMR blog.....

I have no control over what is posted by others I'm afraid. 

So we went off the track.  We are all fellow PMRers and sometimes like to share other opinions, appropriate or not to the subject.  It can even bring us closer together as a cohiesive group.  No, politics and religion are not related to PMR,  it's kind of like thie body and mind are not separate, but connected and have effects on us.  How do you all feel about that?

Actually - thinking about it, politics DOES have a big effect on any chronic health condition that you cannot manage without medical care and PMR comes under that heading.

After the referendum result I didn't sleep well for months because I have no idea how my EU healthcare entitlement will play out here as a result. And pre-Obamacare, however you feel about it, I was faced with offering advice to people with little or no medical care in a system I know little about.

I think the hate-filled  rheteroic from the Left is destroying the  USA. As Jesus said "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand"..yes,  I know I will keep scripture off this blog......

Jean, way back in the days when I was tapering from 9 to 8 I read what was to me a very upsetting piece of civic news just before bedtime.  I could literally feel my body going up in flames.  Advice on this forum suggested a little bump up to 9 mg wouldn't go amiss.  This I did, returning to 8 a day or two later.  From this I learned to actively avoid situations which I think will upset me.  And not to read or watch news before bedtime!  I'd say anything stressful affects our condition, and this includes the present political "situation" in the world.    

I do get it.  But is is also a place where people need to get things off their chest, and all things considered, I think we do a pretty good job of steering clear of the politics.  You should hear me rant in real life!  But then it's over, and of course here the words stay waiting for some unsuspecting person, such as yourself, to trip over!  

This morning (now nearly 2 pm here) I had my usual walk along the harbourfront trail and today's sightings included several American goldfinches, a mourning dove, and a small blue butterfly.  Lupins and hawthorn trees are in full bloom. The day is clear and sunny and just about perfect! 

Excellent idea, however we can't bury our heads in the sand.  The hate is in the Whiite House right now, and how he hated Obama and still won't let it go.  It's a global world now.  we have to think, can't always hide in our garden, although that is very relaxing.  We DO want to know what is going on.  Yes, on this site PMR is the subject of choice, a few other comments gives it some spice!

"Man does not live by bread alone" and we are not defined by PMR alone     ( or whatever else ails us ) ; I absolutely agree with you Elijo.

How can we not be affected by the obvious evils in  the world especially at this time in UK. ? My sister's solution is not to read or listen to the news but that would not suit me.

Hate filled rhetoric comes at us from all sides and so often the Bible come up with the perfect expression.

I would hope that Facebook or other "social " sites would  be the  avenue for people to vent about politics.....congressmen  were shot  during baseball pactice, because they were "republicans" ... Kathy griffin holds a blody head of trump as "comedy" , and the Shakespeare in the Park assainating Trump every performance( dubbed as "art" along with snoop dog shooting trump in the head in his rap video.....this is way beyond politics...his  pure evil and hate...

Elijo, I suppose we can sit on our hands and wait and see what happens or get involved in 2018 elections. My wife and I were discussing this at breakfast. We live in NM, one of our Senators is up for re-election and a gubernatorial race to replace a conservative Governor. Which one to work for? That's the Question?

Ricky, I believe some research has been done, concerning what happened to stress levels, etc, after 9/11.  Yes this event (and all the previous and subsequent ones) did affect people's emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.  I now studiously avoid attending council meetings, etc, and limit my community engagement to things where I know I can make a positive contribution without undue personal stress.  We only come this way once and it really is past time for me to stop and smell the roses!  On the other hand, I do what little I can to make the world a little more likely to be a place where our descendants can smell lthe roses too.

I was thinking a few minutes ago - I don't know about the rest of you, but my feeling is that life in the last 15-20 years has been more stressful than the previous 40+. Most of us were born post WW2 and for the first half of my life I perceived life as improving steadily. I didn't live in the UK during the Thatcher era returning in the very early 1990s. Things had changed and it wasn't nice. But since the last financial crash - far worse. 

Or am I just getting old?

Well, yes, you are and, as you know, I am even older, dating back to pre  WW2!  and, yes, I do think that things have got worse probably back since the Thatcher days. Greed is good and all that.

My generation saw huge improvements in the prospects of what are called "ordinary people" which are now being reversed. I think I have been very fortunate indeed but that does not make me  optimistic for the future of this country or the world. 

If despair is the unforgivable sin then I am damned.

I think you are right.  Here things started to change with Brian Mulroney, who sang When Irish Eyes are Smiling with Ronald Reagan - so, yes, same time frame.  And now we learn that Mulroney was the "greenest" prime minister Canada has had, so he wasn't all bad, in spite of NAFTA (free trade - free trade for whom, certainly not thee and me).  And unfortunately the response to 9/11 changed the world and we still suffer the fallout.  As for financial crash, there is a certain advantage to living in a place which never experienced the dizzy heights pre-crash.  We didn't have nearly as far to fall, although things are a bit more pinched than before but I put most of that down to government mismanagement, not really to global pressures.

It's like people have forgotten why the social seafety network was put into place, why we developed social housing, why trade unions are important, why all people deserve to be treated with respect and cared for.  Watched Victorian Slum House a few weeks ago and it disappoints me that within one hundred years we've forgotten most of the lessons learned - includng the importance of exercising the right to vote!

The right to vote, I don't know how many people vote in my Mother's land, but here in the states it is not good. We a family who parents were voting immigrants have never missed a opportunity to vote and never will!

Think about what you just said.  Which came first - growth of the middle class, hence more equity in access to amenities, services, education, good jobs, etc.  Or events, policies, which create greater inequity and push many in the lower middle class into poverty and even make those who are doing relatively well feel hard done by because the super-rich have nothing better to do with their extra money than buy up and level entire neighbourhoods and build luxury condos.  It's known that even when people are poorer if they feel there is some equality in their society they are happier than in societies where most may be better off, but perceive great inequities.

Betty,  Thought I'd finish the scripture sited "Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Yes, so much pure evil.  Look at the evil, nasty, mean campaign the president conducted, and a newer more violent time has been set.  He didn't care who he crucified, horrible!  and the rhetoric continues from his mouth to suit himself, not the nation. Unbelievable. This all must change.

My dilemna is that my husband and don't agree on any politics, so we have agreed to NOT discuss them.  We can go to our separate corners, and even separate houses!  This probably is a savior for my PMR, no flares!

We sold our house in the UK to a couple who were living next door to one another. I couldn't understand it - I thought they had a perfect arrangement!

My first wife and I could not live in the same state, my second wife of almost 40 years, we can live anywhere together. She has to put up with me ready to fight at the drop of a hat. She only the second person who has ever been able to calm me down. I am a lucky man! 🙂

I don't know about other people - the hardest thing I had to come to terms with in marriage was losing my own space. For a long time in Germany I had an office, "mine". When we returned to the UK we had a joint office - and I hated it. David always liked music when working, I needed silence (different sort of work). Now we have separate rooms in that he uses the spare room, I have a corner in the bedroom. I have a good view though 

I'd buy that!