First meeting with Rheumatologist for PMR, need suggestions

Appreciate finding this blog. I was diagnosed with PMR 1 month ago by my PCP after having symptoms for 6 months.
She began me on Prednisone 15mg . I have my first appointment with Rheumatologist tomorrow. Does anyone have suggestions on some questions I should be asking him? I'm a little overwhelmed. Thanks.

I would ask him what he thinks of your prior lab results.
Is my case much like the usual he sees.
What side effects should I be aware of.
Do I need to prevent osteoporosis.
How much should I exercise.
What can I take for pain.
Does my diet require some changes.
How can I communicate with you between visits if I have questions.
If I can’t lower my dose is their alternative treatment.
How do I get refills. Does your office have My Chart.
Will you report visit summaries to my primary.
Do you suspect any other underlying conditions.
Will I be seeing you regularly for management or my primary
Do you suggest any educational resources.?
It may be a good idea to ask the front desk how busy they are and
the best way to communicate if you have problems.

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@gingergirl24, how did your appointment go? What are next steps for you?

Thanks for asking! Really liked the Rheumatologist, straight forward and answered all my questions. Decreased my Prednisone from 15mg to 12.5mg × 2 weeks then decrease to 10mg. So far I am doing well with decreased dose. I am grateful for this blog and reading about others experiences and advice.

I have been on 15mg of prednisone for weeks and I am much improved. I am not symptom free, still achy in shoulders. Should I be entertaining the idea to ask to increase the dose to say 20? My inflammation rate is down to 9 from 42 so there is improvement. In conversation with my primary about this. Thanks

I thought the same thing as you after my first few weeks on 20 mg per day but my rheumatologist has only ever put me on lower doses. Reading these wonderful posts has given me much more understanding of what is happening, and I see that the pain, especially in the morning, is normal. It had been almost 4 Mos on Prednisone and I am now on 10 one day and 12.5 the next. I've added Methotrexate weekly, so we'll see what that does. Good luck!