Hello @bluffton, I see you've been following Connect for quite awhile and this is your first post so I would like to welcome you to Connect. You are spot on about being able to relate. I'm sure many of us fit that category as we grow older and more experienced 🙃 I hope you have a fun and enjoyable 75th birthday. I recently celebrated my 81st birthday and am wondering what ailment will find me next.

There is some good news - It's easy to connect with others who have shared their experience on a condition. Just click on the search at the top of any Connect window and type in a few symptoms or words. Look what searching for PMR gets you - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=PMR.

Since there was heart disease in my family, thought I’d get a cardio workup. I’ve been a runner since I was 35, vegetarian since 35, then vegan for last five years. Also off and on cyclist. Was I knocked off my blocks when I was told I had an extremely high level of calcium buildup after the CT scan to check my arteries, plus my AlipoproteinB was high, plus left bundle branch block (which I’m still not sure what that is.) Wow. I was full of myself because my lifestyle was so good. Lifestyle didn’t beat out genetics

The disturbing thing is, my cholesterol totals were always very good, generally totals of 180, and I guess no docs saw the family history of heart disease in my chart and just said all was good. This is where self-advocacy really, really paid off. I’m not pleased to be on 2 cholesterol meds and 2 BP meds, but I am grateful I thought to get a cardio workup.

So sorry for a new diagnosis of PMR. My RA is a witch but PMR is another level because of the high levels of prednisone required.
Good luck!!