I was diagnosed in January '26. Suffered (for easily a year) from what I thought was "just getting old and out of shape." Pain, overall discomfort, mobility issues, and inability to sleep, and lots of brain fog. Getting out of bed in the morning was a comedy routine. Getting up from the dinner table became almost impossible without assistance. Until then, I lived on a cocktail of Tylenol and Motrin every 4 hours. It helped a bit...gave me the ability to get through the day.

I didn't think these were symptoms to tell a doctor...Until Christmas Day, after hosting the day before, I couldn't move. And the headaches (which I never realized could have been GCA). The progression from bad to impossible was amazing. And no doubt, some stress we had in our lives contributed to it.

Earlier in 2025 I went to my GP for a checkup. She was retiring, and I shared the achiness and tiredness I was experiencing. She did a Lymes test - of course, it was negative. As it was a year or so earlier when I complained of the same thing.

I wish I trusted what I was feeling and not tried to think I needed to push through the pain. Also wish I didn't listen to others who were my age or older offer their advice that "I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning," or "This is what getting older is like." Bull shXt! That's my biggest lesson.

This board has really been a savior to me. I would not have considered that methotrexate (which I tried), could not be right for me (it wasn't BTW). I would not have considered Kevzara (just took my third dose). And I would have continued the thought (like we all may have initially) that prednisone was amazing...it made me feel good again. I was cured!

No, it's not, and no, I wasn't cured.
It's like being addicted to an opioid. So I am on this same tapering journey you all are - which I learned here is not a straight path.

My doctor is on board with some of the strategies I learned here, even though she initially tried to drop me too quickly.

Thanks to all who have been on this journey longer than the rest of us and for sharing your wisdom and empathy. Nice to meet you, but would have preferred it had been under another more enjoyable circumstance!