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I’m newly diagnosed with PMR and I am not taking well to Prednisone..
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (14)Comment receiving replies
Hello @marie709, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @vjm0223, @jeff97 and others. You mentioned having tender scalp and vision changes which sounds more serious than normal PMR. My doctor and rheumatologist were always asking if I had a tender scalp or any pain in the temporal or jaw area which are red flags for folks diagnosed with PMR. Here's some information from Mayo Clinic on the symptoms - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/giant-cell-arteritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372758. If you do have GCA, this should be addressed as soon as possible by your doctor or a rheumatologist. I'm not a medical professional but I don't think this is something to mess around with as vision loss is a real possibility if not treated sooner than later. I would discuss it more with my primary care doctor right away. The starting dose for GCA is much higher than for PMR.
I agree with @vjm0223 that a trip the emergency room sounds like something I would do if it were me.
Replies to "Hello @marie709, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @vjm0223, @jeff97 and..."
@johnbishop I have just read up on gca and I agree it is very familiar to some of the symptoms that I am having. The bulging vein on the left side of my head, and blurry vision my scalp is tender but I am not experiencing a lot of headaches. Definitely tender scalp and neck pain I would have associated that with my shoulder and arm pain. I’m so happy that you pointed this out to me . I think it warrants a visit to the ER as much as I don’t like going there. It’s absolutely disgusting and not very hygienic. No private hospitals here. Our staff are incredible and over worked. I thank you all for bringing the importance of this part to my attention. I will keep you posted. Fingers crossed. I wish all of you well until I can get the time to update you on this.
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@johnbishop thank you for your concern, my nurse practitioner is concerned about this. And she has put a rush in for the rheumatologist. April 3rd. Meanwhile, she had to lower the prednisone. I have been going for weekly check ups. I am more concerned about the prednisone because I am not feeling well at all on it. I still try to do my normal daily living around the house. But I am much slower and I don’t get to complete most of the things I try to accomplish. I am trying to keep positive but it is starting to affect my mental health. It is frustrating.