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I’m newly diagnosed with PMR and I am not taking well to Prednisone..
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jan 25 6:48pm | Replies (18)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.
@johnbishop I agree from reading up on GCA it sounds like that is happening to her @marie709 I a new to PMR but have read up about GCA and sounds like she has a lot of the symptoms. They say go to ER especially due to going blind. Severe headaches, low grade fevers and scalp tenderness with blurred vision are all signs of it. I’m not a doctor but hope this helps
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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.