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@dreamer38

Hello again, John...I’ve had PMR now for 1.5 yrs and am still on Prednisone...down to 4 mgms ...went down too quickly and PMR returned. Could you please tell me if PMR is a compromised autoimmune disease. Now that the new COVID-19 VIRUS has arrived, do you know if people who have this are being told to stay at home? Especially if they are over 70, which I am! Once again, I thank you for any advice you can give me.

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Replies to "Hello again, John...I’ve had PMR now for 1.5 yrs and am still on Prednisone...down to 4..."

Hi @dreamer38, I'm 76 and even though my PMR is in remission I have the same concerns as yourself and other members of our age group. I think it's prudent for us elderly folks to take extra care of ourselves. We have a new health group on Connect to help members get through the COVID-19 pandemic with many discussions to answer your questions, as well as share with and support other Connect members. If you don't find a discussion that answers your questions, please feel free to start a new discussion. Here is a link to the new COVID-19 health group and a list of the discussions in the group:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/covid-19/

I was on Pred for two years, dosage up and down several times. I kept trying to lower it but pain was too severe. Last year I ended up in the E.R. with bowel problems. I came out of it with a colostomy followed by several unexpected complications which led to more gastric/bowel surgery. Long/Short I was in hospital for 5 Months. Wounds would not heal and in that 5 months I saw many, many doctors. The one thing they all agreed on was that I must get OFF the Pred. at once. It had suppressed my immune system to the point where the wounds couldn't heal and were the cause of several different infections. I am home now and take zero Pred. Yes, I have a lot of pain but from what I learned the damage that it does to us makes it dangerous for seniors (I am 85) re the COVID problem and any other medical problems that might occur. I hope this first hand account will be of some help to you.