Today is a really bad day for me and i really needed it not to be.
Good news, I have a new Rheumatologist in Orlando who lists PMR as his number 1 specialty. I had been to him several years ago for my knee which is good because he is not accepting new patients. Also, right before I called they had a cancellation for tomorrow. Otherwise next appt. Is October.
Aside from my lower back pain and headache and fatigue I have a UTI and the antibiotic is upsetting my stomach. I'm a mess!
i will bring you up to date later tomorrow and perhaps I will have some new information to offer. It's the slight headache that frightens me.
Hi Audrey, all the best for tomorrow. Regards, christina
Hello Audrey,
I am in central florida, and I think that the heat and humidity has effect on how we feel with PMR. Hope today is better.
sending your positive thoughts. i hate it when it seems like everything happens at once. hope this doc is a good one.
Hi Audrey,
Sorry to here your having troubles. I to have a UTI, first in 35 years or so. Don't know if we can blame this on PMR or pred???
best of luck with your appointment tomorrow. Hopefully he will help you get straightened out, I wonder if he knows about this website?
Hope your day gets better🌻🌺.
Hugs, Diana🌸
That is great - hope he lives up to his claims!
What antibiotic are you on? This is a good moment to repeat the advice: DO NOT EVER TAKE A QUINOLONE ANTIBIOTIC if you have been/are on pred. The combination can cause achilles inflammation which can mean months on crutches! Always check.
The UTI may not be a UTI - have they done a culture? PMR can cause comething called irritable bladder syndrome, the lining of the bladder becomes very sensitive, and the symptoms are identical to any other form of cystitis. It is componded by the PMR affecting the bladder muscle and the bladder doesn't empty fully. The stale urine can easily lead to infections. Make sure you empty your bladder properly.
Also, if you are taking calcium supplements and have a day where you don't drink enough it is possible for calcium grit to form in your urine - it irritates the urethra (the connection between the bladder and the outside world) causing pain - and you think it is an infection.
Audrey, as if PMR isn't enough! Although, a pain, I wouldn't have felt you need to be too concerned about the "slight" headache at this stage and, in any case, that probably isn't being helped by the UTI.
Do you already eat 'live' yoghurt? If not, that may help with your upset tummy, helping to line it against the antibiotics.
I hope you feel better soon - the new rheumy sounds a good find...hope it goes well tomorrow.
I did have my urine tested at a walk in clinic on Saturday. It showed a slight infection.
i am on Nitrofurantoin 100 mg. 2x a da
I do eat live yogurt every morning
I hesitated in mentioning this but the heck you'll never see me😃 I also get a strong uncomfortable pressure in my rectal area from time to time. It is not constipation, (I don't think) but I don't know. It comes and goes.
i don't take calcium
I never heard of a Quinolone antibiotic. If it has sulphur in it I wouldn't as I am allergic.
Hello. Canyou tell me what Quinolone is in English please. I tend to get UTI's (checked with a dipstick) and have been given an 'in case Antibiotic for my forthcoming holiday. Incidently this is my first in 3 years because I havent been well enough and I'm so excited and making myself ill wit worry, in case I get ill!!!
Wish you the best. I'm near Orlando and curious about doc that
specializes in PMR when a lot of them know absolutely nothing.
Quinolones are a group of antibiotics - like penicillins are a group.
As a general rule, all quinolones substance names (not the same as brand names) finish with -oxacin: such as ciprofloxacin.
Always ask your pharmacist to be sure - though that didn't help me, neither the GP nor my pharmacist managed to put 2 and 2 together and make 4 until it was too late!
Thank you again Eileen. Unfortunately that is just what they have given me!
Back on the phone tomorrow.
Will be interested to hear what New Doc says. It is the slight headache which frightens me too. Mine is fairly constant but have had it for weeks. Never suffered from headache before.
I have had optholmic migrains in the past but they are controlled with Botox injections in my forehead. Insurance won't cover it but it's worth the expense and it makes me look better too so I'm getting a 2 for 1. Lol
This headache isn't constant but comes and goes throughout the day.
I noticed one of the side effects of Predisone is a headache. So perhaps thats it. My previous rheumy told me as long as I was on prednisone I would not get GCA. However, I read this is not so and he's the same guy who said fatigue was not a symptom of PMR..
Hi Dan,
i wrote you a long note in response to this mornings post but my iPad froze and the post disappeared. This heat is bad and I think unusual for this early. Besides that we are having our kitchen done over and they turned the electric off for most of yesterday and today to knock the dropped ceiling down and redo the lighting so no AC. A bad time to do this but I can't tell when it will be a good time. I think this is the worst part of the job at least I hope so.
Loved your poem.
were you an Admiral?
Hi Flutterbie57. Do read my reply to audrey re the headaches, would be interested to hear what yours are like too. I think we are all terrified of gettng GCA
Hi Audrey. I also have been having headaches for 8 weeks now. They tend to move around my head a bit, but always end up on my right temple. Sometimes I get little stabbing, niggling pains in my temple too. I have had my eyes checked regularly, last time yesterday and was told the optic nerve looked healthy. Got home and had a sudden pinky film across the top of my eye which faded after 10 minutes or so. Went to the doctor who said it all still looked fine, my eye was still dilated. But my temple was quite tender to the touch and he said that he accepted that I had an inflamed temple artery! I asked if I shouldnt raise my pred dose up from the 8 I am taking now. But he said not at the moment, he would speak to my rheumy first. I am constantly worried about my head aches and am sure the stress is not doing me any good. I am sorry to hear that you have a similar problem, but its comforting to know that someone else can understand how I am feeling! Also, i nearly forgot. My doc also said that I couldnt get GCA because I was on pred. i told him that wasnt true. Not sure if he believed me. Does my description of the headaches match yours?