Was this link on the forum before? I thought it gives a clear explanation about the relation between PMR and GCA, but also a good review of the best treatment, which is still Prednisone...
I have CGA no Polymialgia associated with so I do not have any personal experience about it.
What I know is that there has been links on that .
Although I d o not have it I am quite interested and try to read and get all information available.
We never know what comes next!
Interesting. I think it's pretty clear the two diseases are closely linked and are manifestations in different parts of the body of the same processes. A Dr Dasgupta recently gave a talk which is available online describing the most up to date guidelines for diagnosing and treating GCA.
Must say I'm pleased it's now called polymyalgia rheumatica, not senile rheumatic gout!
It has been mentioned in responses to posts.
Interesting article. I devour everything on the subject, having started with PMR which led on to GCA.
Suzanne, I am doing the same. I read everything about this disease that I can find and this article is one that sees PMR and GCA as two extremes of the same condition, with every mix of each also possible. Since I was first diagnosed with pure PMR and I am now seemingly sliding over to a mix of both, this made a lot of sense to me.
I am now 8 weeks since the first diagnosis and just started going back to work, which is much harder than I thought. I still have a fever, light headache and nightsweats each day and drag myself home after 4 hours of non physical, but always stressfull work.
I was on sick leave with GCA when first diagnosed and then started back on a gradual return, a few hours each day and trying to build up gradually.
Unfortunately, I caught a really bad chest infection from a colleague, which put me in hospital. More time off work. I was so drained and exhausted and didn't seem able to get back on track. I was also getting very stressed about taking so much time off that, in the end, I took the decision to retire. It was a sad day and I did wonder how I would cope with no longer working in a job I loved.
I've had periods of feeling reasonably ok, but they are few and far between and I know now that I couldn't have carried on working.
It's early days for you and hopefully you won't be as bad as I've been, we're all different in our PMR/GCA journey. If you still have a fever though, it sounds as if it's too early for your return to work. I wish you good luck.
The fever is quite low, 37.5 up to maybe 37.8. More elevated temp than fever. I was doing pretty good at home, feeling guily about not going to work especially if my work is not physically at all, actually might be easier than at home. I forgot about the connection between stress and the fatigue and my job is very stressful. So while I could mow the grass at home (1 hour on a riding tractor..), at work I am really done after a meeting from 9 to 10 in the morning and drag myself home.
I have seriously considered retiring, since I will be 64 soon, but have decided to go for 1 more year and retire at 65, if I can make it of course.
You seem to be - and you are an active person.
The same as you, I would wait one more year to retire.
After retirement most part of people tend to move less than they did before.
Stay well and set good goals to keep in good shape for a long time!!!
Thank you everyone for taking time to respond!
"After retirement most part of people tend to move less than they did before"
I don't think that is necessarily true - my husband and I both had jobs that necessitated us sitting in front of a computer quite a lot! I have far more time to be able to go for walks now that I did when working - and other forms of exercise aren't an option really.
But with PMR and GCA I don't think it is the amount of movement but the stress of working. If you have a non-stressful job (is there such a thing?) that is one thing. If you are in a job where you are constantly exhausted and under stress as well it doesn't help your health or make for a particularly enjoyable experience. I couldn't face having to drag myself around at work or home at night because I was exhausted.
We retired early - maybe we're lazy, I don't know, but we have had a far better quality of life since despite having a considerably smaller income. I wouldn't go back.
Yes, it sounds much better!!!
I completely agree!