1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

GCA (Giant Cell Arteritis) and PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)

Posted by dar9216 @dar9216, Jan 7, 2021

I was diagnosed a little over two years ago with GCA (Giant Cell Arteritis) and polymyalgia. Down to 1 mg of Prednisone/day, started at 60 mg. Anyone else have this combination?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

marieameehan | @marieameehan | Sep 28, 2023
In reply to @joan7 "Eat clean. I grilled and baked most of my meats with seasoning only (spices offer a..." + (show)
@joan7

Eat clean. I grilled and baked most of my meats with seasoning only (spices offer a variety of flavors to the meat). No gravy, cream sauces, etc. Eat a lot of vegetables and some fruit. I also watched my carb intake. I drank water and added a grape flavoring liquid to it that had stevia, once in a while for a change of pace. Drink almond milk, a small Gatorade Zero for hydration, etc. and add ice to your drinks. Stay away from soda and sugary drinks and desserts. Most importantly watch your portions. Prednisone can also give you the munchies, so I would make popcorn (kernals - Orval Reddenbacher). In a pot with a lid, add 2 tablespoons of Canola oil on medium heat. Put 1 kernel in and wait for it to pop. When it pops, add 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels and shake the pot once in a while. This will make about a gallon bag of popcorn. Also had for snack fruit and mini pretzels unsalted. I tried to stay away from salt since it was one of my triggers that started a while ago and caused a lot of swelling throughout my body. I also would take Vitamin C 1000 mg, B12, Elderberry, etc. to help with inflammation in addition to my women's multi-vitamin. Also took D3, Calcium for Osteopenia since that is affected as well by the Prednisone. Hope this gives you a good start. It's easy, eat clean and watch your portions!

Jump to this post

Thank you so so much for
Your suggestions.
All sounds good but missing dairy for bones!!!I do take goat kefir every day and a glass of grassfed milk.
Thanks again!!

REPLY
samara66 | @samara66 | Sep 28, 2023

What were your GCA symptoms?

REPLY
1 reply
marilynredder2367 | @marilynredder2367 | Sep 28, 2023

Too fast. I would be Leary of flare.

REPLY
marilynredder2367 | @marilynredder2367 | Sep 28, 2023
In reply to @samara66 "What were your GCA symptoms?" + (show)
@samara66

What were your GCA symptoms?

Jump to this post

Temporal pain and scalp extremely tender. Fatigue and high ESR

REPLY
joan7 | @joan7 | Sep 30, 2023

That's fine. I drink Almond milk because I have less digestive issues with it than regular milk, and I know it's higher in calcium than other types of milk. You can Google to find a list of milk and calcium in all types. I just do best with Almond.

REPLY
joan7 | @joan7 | Sep 30, 2023

Here's a link that provides a good list of milk and milk products per the FDA there are others out there that include more milk types. Hope this helps: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/food-sources-calcium

REPLY
joan7 | @joan7 | Sep 30, 2023

I hope my second post I sent you from the FDA's website's calcium content in drinks and foods helps. I also take 3 tablets of Bone Maximizer III, take 1 tablet monthly of Boniva prescribed by my doctor, and eat calcium rich foods. I have had trouble since 2009 when I started taking Synthroid and Cytomel for post Thyroid Cancer which depleted my Calcium. I also take Vitamin D3 to help with absorption. I have not progressed into Osteoporosis thank God, and still trying to reverse the Osteopenia. My mom died at age 87. She left her Osteopenia untreated until a year before she passed (refusing the injections) and then it was too late. She ended up with Osteoporosis of the spine. So take care of what you have to take care of now. It's easier to be proactive than reactive. I'm very, very luck there has only been a slight increase in my Bone Density Scan from 8 to 11% since 2009 and I'm am currently 61.

REPLY
ninadavis | @ninadavis | Oct 1, 2023

I am fairly new with PMR (8/1/23) and am on 20 mg prednisone. My question is that I would like to go to Portugal to take a 10 day clay class in February, but will be out in the countryside, not near a hospital. iI I were to get the symptoms of GCA how likely is that to happen 6 months into PMR? How long did it take you - if you developed GCA after a PMR diagnosis, to get GCA?

REPLY
pat3 | @pat3 | Feb 7 6:40pm

Does anyone take actemra for GCA instead of steroids?

REPLY
joan7 | @joan7 | Feb 7 7:49pm

Wow! You have had excellent results with the Prednisone. Very happy for you, Congratulation! I only have PMR and had the possibility of GCA (low probability), so they put me on 60 mgs and I'm down to 7.5 mgs right now. Hope I eventually see the same results as you.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.