mental problems with pmr

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Could i get someting off my chest.

Before my doctor told me i could have pmr, i was having problems walking without pain, bone cancer was ruled out, and then my doctor did blood tests and said they were higher than should be, so she said pred was the only medication that would help.

After reading the leaflet i went back to her, because my sister has bi-polar, and my mum developed mental [problems when my dad died suddenly.

My doctor said they would monitor me and told my hubby to watch for signs, 

My worry is if i had to increase my pred (due to GCA, which i do have symptoms - pain over forehead, temple pain, cheek pain, and a cough)

would they be able to treat me, and i know my hubby would not be able to cope.

Yes i know there are people worse off then me, and i thank god when i wake up on a morning and have another day to look forward too.

I have learned a lot from this forum, and all you lovely people are helpful, i am coping a lot better now and do not panic as much.

At the moment i am still reducing from 10mg to 9mg, and find some days are better than others(if i do too much i suffer, and i know thats my fault)so the next day i rest more.

Well i feel better for talking about this, and i have talked to my doctor who is very understanding about my worries, i feel as if i am in a catch 22 situation.

Sorry for moaning!

2

Worrying about mental problems is the last thing you should be doing!  Worrying, If you have PMR, is counterproductive.  Try to relax.  I know it's difficult, but it's all we can do.  The fact that you are learning to cope says you are improving. Congratulations!  

 

3

You are getting off to a good start every morning Margaret, - confused looking forward to another day. I have been telling my children not to waste worry on things that haven't yet happened, so now I have to take my own advice. I do have  those same head symptoms as you, but we are in good hands with our Dr's keeping an eye on us. I too am so pleased I have found this site and can share with people who do understand what we are dealing with. Have another wonderful day - from Sandy in the South Pacific

4

Margaret, I have followed your discussion here and elsewhere and I was surprised that you are already getting to 9mg of prednisone (mainly because I am not yet there after a year and I always take note of other people's progress. Call it "prednisone reduction envy", if you will.) I do hope to be there by August. And I actually got to 10mg last September but had to go up to 12 again and the descent since then has been slow (currently on 10.5). Anyway, this is about you. I am just using my own "limited" experience as a reference. I noticed before how you said you were having a difficult time at 9. If you are having various challenges in life, wouldn't it be better to just postpone the reduction and try to get to a dosage that might at least afford some sense of physical equilibrium? Keep "moaning" as necessary, but please do not moan unnecessarily if it is due to an inadequate dose of prednisone. I do not know if this is the case, but just thought you might consider it and be gentle on yourself if you feel upping the dose is warranted. I do hope you feel better soon. 

5

Hi Margaret, I am newly diagnosed with PMR and GCA along with my Post Polio Syndrom and Pernicious Anemia.  Hang in there girl your mind is stronger than you think and while I had very dark days where I didn't have the energy to do anything and giving up seemed like a good option I am now climbing slowly up the hill to where I was 10 years ago before all my various illnesses kicked in.  The key is don't worry about what has not happend but focus on what is happening and especially the positive aspects.  It will get better for you and as so many folks have said here.  Slowy does it>

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Hi Christine, that is wahat i like about this forum people make you aware of what PMR does to us, and hope to copwe with it.I only started this January and started on 10mg because of the family histry, and i am doing Eileens dead slow system, which i am trying to do some days are better than others, but Eileen did say your body has to adapt, and i should have patience to go along with it, wise words as always from her. Many thanks have a good pain free day yourself.

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Your doctors are well aware of the family history and the possible problems - and medication can be used to manage them in the same way they could be managed for your family. 

In the meantime stop looking too far ahead and guessing what is round a corner. It might be a bridge, it might be a road junction - it might be the end of this path and there is a pub with lovely tables outside and a lovely guestroom upstairs for you to take a holiday before coming home, back to normal. 

I know what you are like - my MIL was just the same, she panicked about so many things that never happened and made today's life harder than it needed to be. I also realise it is difficult to ignore these fears. But you have done so well this far - keep taking it one day at a time and cross any bridges when they appear.

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Margaret I have mental health issues had them before PMR anxiety that morphed into depression,that is better now, challenging to go out and do anything.Point is you have to push on and not let the fear of what might happen stop you from living. Worrying about what might happen is counter productive and bad for your mental health focus on all the positves in your life,family,friends etc. PMR is just one more bump in the road of life! Hugs...Carol

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yes to the pub with lovely tables-- a great image. Our minds want to make this malady rational and linear but it is not that kind of path. So yes, when we imagine the future we need to include the possibility of unexpected good fortune as well as challenge.

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Forgot what a nice English pub looks like.  Still, we have the outside cafes and Biergartens.  Weather still not broken here.  Farmers and gardeners are desperate for rain. I'm not though!😎😎

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See - I prefer a nice Biergarten (though preferably with chairs not benches) with nice shady trees. I miss them here - they are very few and far between. Tends to be a patio with sunshades. 

There's a really cheery article in one of the UK papers today about how the world using more water than is being stored in the aquifers. France is one of the "at risk" countries. It's all very green here this year and the rivers seem very full - and we haven't had anything like the rain southern Germany has had thank goodness.

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Hi Margaret,

I think most of us worry a little about where our lives are going while dealing with PMR but, like the others have said, we need to focus on the wonderful things in our lives.  I will often lie in bed for a few minutes in the morning and think of all the things I have to be thankful for.  It starts my day off on a positive note😊.  I also sometimes attend yoga classes that include a bit of meditation which can also be helpful.

 I have a very dear friend that suffers from anxiety. She worried about everything.  A bout 6 months ago, on the recommendation of her Cardiologist, she started seeing a psychiatrist who gave her some anti-anxiety medication and she met with her a couple of times a month (for the first 2 months, now every 2 or 3 mths).  The Dr. also suggested she read a book called Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy by Dr. David Burns. I believe she downloaded the ebook version from Amazon.  I am so happy to see her so much more relaxed (not drugged out either) and she feels so much better about herself.  

I hope you find what it is you need to enjoy each day a little and not worry so much about what's going to happen next.  Like the others have said, worry and stress are not PMR's friend and may be the cause of your difficulty decreasing.

Hugs, Diana🌸

 

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thank you my doctor has just rang me to say an appointment is being made at Chapel Allerton for me to see a Rhumy.I have taken on board all you have said Eileen and managed not to have anti depressants as she wanted me to.

14

thank you Carole, as i have said this forum has the best people who understand, sometimes i just worry, as i had to look after my mum and sister and would not want to go there myself. Hugs back. x

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Thank you Diana i think speaking about it to people who understands does help, and i am trying very hard to relax and thank my lucky stars that all i have is PMR ass i know there are people worse than me. 

16

That's good - do tell me who you get to see. 

You are doing so well Margaret - onwards and upwards (not in pred dose though!)

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Talking about English pubs and Biergartens, can we actually have the odd tipple while we are on Pred or do we just have to enjoy the atmosphere ?. We are off on holiday in July and I am really hoping I can have the occassional pina colada under a palm tree. What would be the suggested daily dose of alcoholic beverage ? I will hopefully be down to 14mg a day before we go away.

18

Alcohol isn't really advisable when you have PMR, but honestly must we give up everything?😠. Life is difficult enough, we have to have some pleasures.  I think most of us will admit we do take the odd tipple.

Have fun on your holiday.

 

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As I said on another forum just a day or two ago - if we can't have a drink I'm in dead trouble! I've tried no alcohol - didn't make any difference. 

Why isn't alcohol advisable? I'm not advocating drinking too much but many people actually find that a moderate intake of acohol helps the pain and stiffness - because it leads to vasodilation and better blood supply to the muscles. I know all the theories about adrenal glands and alcohol and all sorts of other things - but it isn't poor adrenal function that causes PMR. My GP is rheumatology trained - OK we live in Italy and people don't get paralytic here like they do in the UK but in terms of PMR it wasn't stopping alcohol she was keen on but meat. She was horrified at the idea of eating meat every day - she obviously felt once a week was better in rheumatic disease. I haven't cut back that far but I eat very little compared with what I would eat in the UK and definitely compared to what I would eat in the USA, not sure about Australia but I seem to remember a lot of meat being around when I was there.

20

 I will take your expert advice, and I will have a Pina Colada or two around the pool, in Hawaii. We do have lots of meat readily available in NZ, but we do have lots of seafood too, which I am having more of. My Dr grave me a grimace when I mentioned alcohol, but as you have put it to the test, I will not worry.