Thank you so much for all your wisdom.
Seems strange to be conversing with complete strangers on vital circumstances in my life. I live alone and family far away so I do not have the outlet here to discuss such things.
I wonder if viral infection has a hand in all this PMR nonsense?
I have felt totally rubbish since the morning of my 46th birthday, at the start of december 2014, when I woke with an ear infection and virus that I was not able to shake off for ....... well I don't know if I ever have.
Also I have been unable to complete a routine smear test Four times because of internal muscle pain.
The last attempt I was prescribed valium to relax me but still when it came to the crunch I begged the nurse to stop. Just after this, I fell into PMR agony especially in the pelvis and groin.
Must be a link there surely!!
Any way it is 5am and I am wide awake and a bit lost.
Wonder if is going to be sunny later today?
Funny - I dread the PAP smear appointment for the same reason. Hmmm, wonder if there is a connection!
But viral infections have been considered and - for the moment - ruled out since there isn't anything to be identified consistently. What may be the case is that a viral (or bacterial) infection is the final straw that sends the immune system haywire and it starts attacking the body as a "foreign" agent.
By the way - where are you? Europe obviously if it is 5am at the moment!
Keep posting Gone Girl - we will then not be "complete strangers" but become "friends".
Viral infections, or the aftermath, often seem to precede PMR. Our experts will soon be along to explain more.
Regards from C. 💐
Oops! Didn't see the replies!
Hi
I guess like all of us with this condition wonder what has been the trigger. I wonder if it is stress related, as my self and my husband both have different auto immune problems, both have been under extreme stress over the years for different reasons. I know stress can make this condition worse as well.
Follow up from my previous message last week. I have been to the doctor to check on why I am having blurry vision, he has given me medicated eye drops as he said they look a little red, not convinced its an infection though, hey, maybe wrong. My eye appt is this afternoon, hope she maybe able to see if there has been any changes since last appt a couple of months ago, fingers crossed all is not as worrying as I feel it maybe.
Thank you for all your support x
Hi Gone girl. I feel your pain.
I am 44 and have all the classic symptoms of PMR. My blood last 3 blood test show raised crp and esr.
My mother also has PMR. But my doc wont diagnose me. I have had so many blood tests now to rule out other things and they all come back negative. He now wants me to have a chest xray to rule out something else.
They gave me a steroid injection last week which has been brilliant. I am still struggling in the mornings but it is so much better.
My pain started after an ankle injury and the flu. So i don't yet know if i have PMR but if so i would say a virus kicked it off.
Hope you feel tons better soon xx
I was diagnosed after having a really bad chest infection ( my first ever) I am sure thats what triggered it, I dont do stress and had been pretty healthy before.
Hi Pebbles,
good you're having eyes checked but blurry vision seems to be common for some of us on pred. Usually it comes and goes.
I had high eye pressures (pre glaucoma) pre pred but they went very high once I started the pred so I know use drops. My specialist said the glaucoma wouldn't be causing the blurry vision because the pressure is now low.
Hope you get an answer from your Dr
Diana🌸
Pebbles, I have been waiting to see the result of you eye appointment.
If you are still not happy, insist on seeing a Consultant Opthamologist. PMR can sometimes lead into GCA and when already on pred can sometimes mask some of the symptoms. I would not let anyone say to me' it might be an eye infection' I would want GCA ruled out.
In January of 2014 was on the antibiotic ciprofloxacin for a urinary tract infection. Had some shoulder chest pain but contributed it to skiing at the time. Came home and did some physical therapy. Pain wasn't too bad. Then in April went on ciprofloxacin again because of UTI, again. That's when PMR reared her ugly head. My GP diagnosed it and put me on Pred.
i know that Ciprofloxacin can effect the Achilles' tendon but was wondering if any other PMR sufferers may have been on this antibiotic..
Roberta, whilst I cannot answer your question about the anti-biotic, I can tell you what works for me when faced with a UTI.
It is not nice to take - 1 level teaspoonful of Bi-carboate of Soda in as little water as possible (just enough to dissolve it) throw it down followed by a big glass of water. Repeat at 2 hours. This is an 'old folk' remedy.
I have only had to go to my GP once who prescribed Pituitrin.
I believe it was stress that caused my PMR but a few months before I was diagnosed I had a number of urine infections, all treated with antibiotics. I think I have seen it mentioned on the site in the past that quite a few PMR sufferers do report having had urine infections. I think I am right in saying that Eileen did mention once that this had been brought to the attention of the experts and they had looked into it but I don't know what the outcome was.
Eileen is currently in China.
What I can tell you is that there currently as many theories as grains in the sand. An International Survey has been running for nearly six years, take a look at http://www.quantisurve.com/cgi-bin/pmr.asp to fill it in and then http://www.quantisurve.com/pmr/reports.htm for the results.
Thank you, I will have look at that.
Hi
Sorry for not posting yesterday but exhausted by the time I returned from eye appointment. No infection detected as I thought. Cateracts not changed either. Going back next week for drops to make eyes dilate. Seeing doctor again tomorrow. I will ask for blood test to see if diabetic.
Thank you for your reply, means alot.
I have a strong feeling that long term stress plays a major part, and this is also what I've heard from other people who have developed PMR.
I was diagnosed five and a half years ago with PMR and looking back, I had experienced overwhelming stress over the previous years, stress that is not normal everyday stress and that should have caused severe mental problems, but being me, I soldiered on, what was the alternative, give in and collapse?! Not an option.
Thinking I was over it and being on a maintenance dose last November, I then developed GCA, no particular stress involved, apart from a very busy job.
I've had to retire from work and looking back, it was the only option. After 7 months off work, I'm still not fit and suffer fatigue and pain. Since I formally retired 2 months ago, after being on sick leave for months, my stress levels have reduced and I feel generally better.
It is not so much urine infections as cystitis symptoms - which you can have without there being a bacterial infection to cause them. There does seem to be a link between PMR and bladder problems - and it was confirmed when the consultants asked patients if they had had such problems. They just weren't aware of it before.
As for causes - it is a multitude of things and eventually one thing becomes the straw that breaks the camel's back. There is no one proven cause - and it is unlikely one will be found I think.
One of the common ways of PMR being diagnosed is when a steroid shot is given for something else and it improves all the other symptoms. If your doctor won't accept that as being suggestive you REALLY need a different doctor!