Hi everyone, Two months after recovering from a bad bout of Covid (tested positive in late February, 2020), I never felt 100% better. Two months later I woke up one morning with the taste of salt in my mouth, and my symptoms have snow balled ever since and not in a good way. Fast forward, 3 years and 2 months later and 15 Specialists and 3 Hospital visits over this time period, I was finally diagnosed (this past Tuesday, 8/29/23), with PMR, by an excellent Rheumatologist in NJ. This coming Tuesday, September 5th, I am having a Bilateral Temporal Biopsy done, due to my experiencing double vision over the past week and a half.
My questions are: I'm currently on 60 mg of steroids for PMR, I'm sure as a precaution that I could have Giant Cell Arteritis.
1. Besides the steroids, what have you found to be helpful in managing these inflammatory /autoimmune diseases (I am also on Gabapentin, 900 mg/day for pain)?
2. Has anyone tried a holistic approach, in addition to the Prednisone, that truly helps support your overall health?
3. What has been your experience with having Giant Cell Arteritis in balancing the short term and long term side-effects of the medications? What has been helpful or what has not been working for you?

PS - I'm overall a very positive person, so I've added pictures of my pups to put a smile on your face for you animal lovers.