To-day is the Lucia Day in Sweden. She comes with candles in her hair and in her hand. She enlightens us in the darkest period of the year with light and songs. This morning, I didn´t have time to watch TV programmes with Lucia and "Star boys" accompanying her as I had to go to rehab early. I thought back at celebration of Lucia when we went to school and when the children celebrated Lucia. If you are interested to find out more you can google *Lucia in Sweden* and also find songs on Youtube**. On December 13 in 2008, I got off pred after 3 ½ years of pmr and GCA. I had found out a new way of tapering slower than before and finally got off pred. I chose to say that I did it on December 13 - the Lucia Day in Sweden, because it is easy to remember and it also is a positive day. For us who have or have had pmr and/or GCA it is nice to know that Lucia is there with a light at the end of the tunnel. I have now been off pred for 10 years and I hope when you read this that it helps you all thinking about a happy end soon. At last, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Welcome for your annual visit Ragnar!!! Ten years and still free of PMR and pred - great news.
what a fun post–and how i needed it today! Im in the states…used to think about this holiday when i was a little girl, and wonder how i would do…it just seemed so magical to me. thank you for taking the time to think of us, very sweet and kind.
much appreciated happy holidays to you too !
Hi Ragnar
One visit I will always remember and the outcome.
Yes, you can choose St Lucia’s on 13th December, the day we finally met in the North East led reduction plans which have been of great benefit to so many others during the past 11 years and are still being followed and now medics now do not put up to much stiff opposition when patients discuss those plans.
EileenH won’t tell you, so I will, the DSNS that EileenH developed was tried out by a Researcher on a small project and gave it the ‘thumbs’ up. So Dead Slow and Nearly Stop and Tortoise and Hare have been sent to many patients all over the world. I have sent them out so I know where they have gone.
Meeting Captain Bob on the Good Ship PMR on the Canadian site, by sheer accident, was meant to be.
My GCA 9th starting on 1 January 2019 in remission.
Stay well my friend and your family healthy and happy.
You aroused a dreamy memory of my 9 year old mind’s eye, when I spent 4 years in Europe.
The image of that beautiful woman,
luminous in every way.
My image for the day.
Not prolific here in the US.
Thank you
Dan
So timely! I had my 6 month checkin with my Rheumatologist yesterday and showed her the DSNS Protocol along with the Bristol results. In front of her 4th year med student. She wasnt thrilled. The student looked intrigued..
Grateful for this thread and the opportunity to say ‘merci!’ Wishing all the empathetic and informed folks on this platform a warm and laughter-filled holiday season.
Can’t compete with you… only five plus years so far but ever hopeful.
With all good wishes for Christmas and 2019.
Candles in the hair sounds a bit alarming!
Thank you for reminding me of Lucia Day. It brings back good memories from years ago. And especially thank you for your words regarding PMR, pred and tapering. Thanks to the information about tapering much slower, I have been having a much better time reducing. Your words are timely as I was having a rare day of feeling very depressed. Your words remind me to keep hoping and working towards that light at the end of the tunnel. Merry Christmas to you as well.
How kind! What a great message - thank you. And Happy Christmas to you. May 2019 sparkle!
Two beautiful stories. Thank you RD Swede.
I have never heard of Lucia. I will look her up.
I hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful, Christmas season ahead of you.
Thank you all for all greetings and well wishes. I am now at the Copenhagen airport on my way to relatives. It is crazy with all the long walks in airports nowadays. It said 17 minutes and another destination was 24 minutes. Being 81 with a painful foot I would have asked for assistance had I known.
Merry ChristmasRagnar
God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Should tell the forums before you travel - we’d remind you!!! In many airports it is possible to get assistance at the last minute though - at the check-in or Information. I assume it will be miles…
I had a similar experience in Brussel some weeks ago. Had to change from one pier to another. Maybe 15 minutes walk incl some moving ramps. I think the airports should recognize that we have a much larger number of old people. I can normally walk at transfers but if I suddenly land and get the information of 15 minutes to the next gate it is too late. I will try to figure out where I may get a long transfer time.
At the arrival at Stavanger airport the distances are short but when arriving on some smaller aircraft you have to walk in stairs to get up to the arrival level and no lift.
Exactly - so I assume it will be bad!!!
Thank you! And thank you for sharing all those years ago your method for slow tapering. 
Now they have electric except when they televise
I came to Stavanger today but I made it as I didn’t have any cabin baggage
There is usually a goods lift - and you get to use them when you have asked for assistance. It really is worth it - and in some larger airports which don’t have enough seating at the gates, it also means you get a seat somewhere even if it is only the wheelchair!