So sorry that on top of everything else, you had a bad experience with your rheumatologist. Mine is so young, I refer to him as Doogie Howser, MD! I initially told him that I had learned so much from this forum, and I think he appreciates that I don't waste his time asking the obvious. At my first appointment with him in February of this year I had tapered down to 9mg of prednisone and am now sitting at 5mg for the next two months. I have all the usual stiffness in my arms, hands and pelvic girdle first thing in the morning, but no pain. Sometimes the need to take naps is a nuisance, but I have learned to embrace it and also to pace myself during the day. After a lifetime (I'm 75) of being a high energy person and not retiring from a very active career until I was 70, I was frustrated at first, but now I count my blessings that PMR is not life threatening, and I will get through this. Good luck with finding a "rheumie" who is more empathetic and will listen to you. In my family we always say that your present doctor is the way she is because she doesn't get enough love!