@654321, @beaver, and all...It sounds like you've made some decisions about your treatments and are moving forward. Congratulation!

Beaver, you're at a place in your thinking process dealing with the plethora of medical issues we in the autoimmune community face daily, where I was a couple of years ago. It was a turning point in my life caring for myself like none other. I had a difficult diagnosis, have been helping my 55-year-old now 100% disabled and dealing with my growing limitations, and made some difficult decisions we all must face at some point.

I didn't stop fighting. I am a quite determined woman, focused on solutions, have been forced into making my own decisions alone most of my life, and am very alone now. As we know happens every year we get older...I continue to fight tooth and nail for my well-being, my son's well-being, and our health care, and I fight the medical system daily in some way...but, I accepted my life, my body, my health, my illnesses, and my situation from the inside out. What a change in my life!

Acceptance.

I'm 77 in 2 weeks! YEA! That's a good thing. I let my hair go all natural...I'm a lovely gray-haired woman who embraces her gray, and loves my body as it is!!! so very not the way I'd like, but it is as it is! I'm embracing getting older, thrilled to be in this position of getting older. But, as you said, I make decisions now about my body, my life, and my care based on acceptance of my mortality, on the fact my body is more fragile than I'd like, and that there are procedures, treatments, and medications I don't think will improve my life or make me healthier, live longer or indeed enjoy life more. When faced with those options, I chose to say yes or no based on how I think my body will react to the treatment. Do I think the next infusion or this medication will make my life better? Will it lengthen my years and improve their enjoyment?
If not, then nope. I'll not do it. I think possibly, I'll consider doing it. If yes, then yes I'll do it.

I've been taking 10mg of Prednisone now for the last 8 months. Tried to taper off but the PMR and GCA pain returned severely and I'm staying presently at 10mg. I'll see my rheumatologist this week and we'll go from there. He's found increased SED rate, high urine protein, wonky blood work in some areas, and good in others. I have another new autoimmune disease on top of these and more, so we'll see what he suggests. I'll hopefully take hydroxychloroquine in addition to Prednisone to help taper off the Prednisone or perhaps go on another steroid and biologic, or whatever, to perhaps get this thing in remission. It's very rare and no way to know. But, if the treatments help reduce the discomfort, great. If they help with remission. Great. If they don't, I'll deal with that and accept it as life. My life.

Thank you for sharing. It's the most helpful part of dealing with these issues. Your sharing, allowing and welcoming me to share with you, helps us all get through tough times we don't understand nor know how to deal with effectively. So, thank you so much, every one of you. You are dear, special friends...my Connect Friends from around the world!!!!

Blessings, Elizabeth