Hi @neztrop, I am so sorry to hear that you have had problems with tapering, but that you have started on Kevzara. I also had difficulty with tapering and am on Actemra due to suspected GCA. I have been taking weekly injections since mid December and I am starting to really feel the difference despite a two week period with no medication due to a pharmacy shipment issue. My doctor recommended that I hold tapering until the medication started to work and that I also delay when my shipment was missing. I think that was wise advice since tapering is counter productive when you are in active disease.

I definitely think you should mask, when in close contact with patients, when flu and Covid are active in your community. I ended up retiring earlier than anticipated (age 63) due to PMR pain. My daily waking pain was significant so I basically started over every morning. I have learned that stress also has an impact on the severity of the PMR symptoms so you must factor that in too. My husband strongly encouraged me to retire and we were in a financial position for me to make that leap earlier than anticipated. With the hiccups that I have had with tapering, I am grateful to have done that. I am praying that your answers are crystal clear and that you remain healthy to fully recover from PMR. Let us know what you decide and how you are progressing. Blessings! ❤️