Hi @annettetompkins that is a true horror story! I'm sorry that your doctor was so blase. Too bad he couldn't experience the pain of PMR, then he might have phoned in your prescription sooner!
I am in Hawaii, on a neighbor island to Oahu, so not all medical procedures are available here. I had the symptoms of PMR and GCA for a year before diagnosis, partly my own fault for assuming I had fibromyalgia, and then the fault of my Primary Care Physician (PCP) who didn't follow up when my inflammation markers were slightly elevated. Long story short, I developed shingles (after having had the vaccine a year prior), an infectious disease specialist whom I know started reviewing my lab work, suspected Giant Cell Arteritis, and told me what blood tests to ask my PCP to order. He was quite resistant, but I pushed him. My inflammation markers were off the charts, then I was referred to a rheumatologist, and within a week had the temporal artery biopsy and a diagnosis.
If you can see a rheumatologist for treatment, that is best.
What I've read, prednisone has to be tapered slowly, as it takes over adrenal function. My rheumatologist put in a standing order for me to have a CRP blood test every month to monitor inflammation as I taper the prednisone.
Another thing - about 30% of people with PMR develop GCA. Be on the lookout for changes in your vision, headaches, tender scalp, trouble chewing food, lack of energy, loss of appetite. I had a neck so stiff I couldn't turn my head. Especially if your vision changes (I had a couple bouts of not being able to see out of my right eye, which I stupidly ignored) it's considered a medical emergency. Untreated GCA can result in blindness or stroke. I don't want to scare you, but be on the alert. My mother-in-law had GCA, diagnosed in her 80s, and lived to be nearly 100. All the best to you as you advocate for yourself !

I too was being treated by a PCP and had a ragged start to diagnosis and treatment. I was on and off prednisone with the usual tapering. When the doc finally had my inflammatory markers measured, I was referred to a rheumatologist. And I think it's a very good thing to have a rheumatologist treat you. There are so many side effects from the prednisone and the rheumatologist is being diligent at monitoring things like bone density, kidney function as well as the inflammatory markers. When I got to 10 mg of prednisone he had me start a taper of 1 mg per month. Now I am at 5 mg and my next steps will be to reduce prednisone by 0.5 mg per month. So far, so good, no reoccurrence. And at 5 mg I'm sleeping much better. As much as I'd like to be off prednisone, I'd rather take it than be in the pain I had from PMR.

Hi there. I recommend you ask your doctor to prescribe 1 mg. prednisone. Once you reach 10 mgs. you should only drop 10% at a time. I went even slower and went to 9.5 for a month and then 9. Slow and steady seems to work for most people.