PMR after COVID

I did have a relapse of PMR after I contracted COVID, but I managed to get off of 2 mg. prednisone within a few months. I, also, have eaten an antiinflammatory diet for many years (whole foods, organic, primarily plant-based). I intially got PMR after my second Pfyzer vaccination and it took about a year to wean off of 10 mg. of Prednisone. I always had a mild case (only hurt while laying down), so it took 4 months to diagnose.

I was diagnosed with Covid end of February, 2020. I was extremely sick for two months, but refused to go to the hospital. I finally started feeling "okay" by end of April, but never felt 100% ever again. In the beginning of June, 2020, I woke up with a very strong taste of salt in my mouth, and so it began. The aching muscles, the pain in my joints, and ended up in physical therapy for my neck and shoulder pain for 3 months. Let's talk about the cough....it went on forever and wouldn't stop. Ended up getting a CatScan of my lungs and left lung has two nodules, which the Pulmonary doctor was not too concerned about. Also had major fatigue, out of breath (gasping at times), dry eyes and mouth, inflammation throughout my body causing me to feel very stiff, headaches, etc. After 3 1/2 years (last year bedridden) I finally was diagnosed in August, 2023 with PMR. Specialist was concerned with me having headaches and blurred vision, so they immediately put me on 60 mg Prednisone, and did a bi-lateral temporal artery biopsy (test results came back least likely to have). I am now weaned down from 60 mgs of Prednisone to 2 mg of Pred. every other day and 3 mg of same in between. Oh, I forgot, in 2008 I was diagnosed with Hashimotos (which is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid; had thyroid cancer and cancer was removed therefore disease is dormant), and have been told that you can form other immune diseases once you have one. The Specialists feel that Covid triggered a new immune disease. Also being checked for IGG4 disease (have to go for a liver biopsy), and Sarcoidosis since my bloodwork came back high for both (not doing the salivary gland biopsy since there are a lot of complications). Sjogren testing was normal. So the saga continues.

I'm going to throw this question out there, because according to the doctors I am a medical mystery when it comes to one symptom. I've been to UPenn and multiple Rheumatologists, Allergist, Immunologists, Post Covid Clinic @ UPenn, etc. I cannot intake a regular amount of salt, and I am not talking about getting older and having water retention issues. I have had anaphylactic issues where my tongue has swelled and has closed my airway. I am not a hospital type person as you can see from my message above. The only time I went was when my family thought I had a stroke. The only thing that saved me was my son being in the right place at the right time, Benedryl and ice water. Looking back now I realize things could have ended up very badly. So, my question is: Did anyone ever have a reaction to salt (not including shell fish) that was so extreme and continued to happen repeatedly? During that time when this was occurring I had to limit my salt intake to under 50 to 75 mg a day compared to the normal amount you should be able to intake which is the maximum of 2300 a day. I'm wondering if the inflamation throughout my body from my PMR caused this reaction to occur. Once I went on Prednisone it reversed this reaction to only my lips burning and peeling, and my esophagus burning (GI doctor did Endoscopy and results were normal). These are the symptom I currently experience on alternating 2 and 3 mgs of prednisone daily for my PMR treatment. No one knows how to treat this because it is NOT an allergy. Any response would be greatly appreciated.

I also seem to puzzle some doctors as symptoms of different problems don't meet the normal criteria. I also suffer from angiodemia of the tongue and have been given every allergy test out there and all come back negative. My one lifesaver was actually my PCP who suggested we try a higher dose of allergy medicine daily which has been working. My tongue starts to swell now on occasion but stops at a certain point. I have Hydroxyzine on me all the time and still carry an EpiPen when travelling but haven't needed it. I also flare up with hives at any given time all over me from my face to my torso with no given reason. I take antihistamines but struggle with the itching until the flare up stops. I have learned to live with these unusual symptoms but see I am no alone in this strange medical dilemma!

Is your swelling of your tongue related to anything you eat? I find it so strange how my tongue swells and throat closes yet there is NO SUCH THING as an allergy to salt. Then why does allergy meds work to reverse the symptom? Is there no such thing as an allergy to salt or has it just not been discovered yet?