Connect
← Return to A month into my diagnosis with PMR
Discussion
A month into my diagnosis with PMR
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Nov 14, 2023 | Replies (57)Comment receiving replies
Hi Gang,
As my mind replenishes its self over night. I'd like to get down to the (HEART OF THE MATTER). What markers, paths, or other health issue to we commonly share? Other being on the Back side of 60 or 70....?
Do we have issues of digestive track disorders or organs not hitting on all cylinders? That perhaps in my simple uneducated mind that may have been responsible for the onset of this
monster we all have in common. Even in light of most of our folks saying they have normal blood test results......but wait a minute my Neutrophilis were at 5.9 since 9/7/22 and still remains on the high side at 5.82 as (6) being the high side marker. How far do we have to be above that threshold before its noticed or perhaps is a factor?
Does have been vaccinated and boosted still had Covid twice during this poor health period.
Is there a non answer that a digestive track disorder may have triggered my immune system to create this imbalance that attacks the muscular skeletal system. Which leaves you with a sense that the, lights are out and nobodies home fog were even the smallest of chores are a mountain to climb. Tiredness and lack of energy seems to prevail. Even simple things become very annoying, that were once just a daily routine.
Well I am in the early stages of treatment, begun with Prednisone about two weeks ago. With an nearly over night recovery, where prior getting out of bed in the morning was a real struggle or just turning over in bed was painful. What possessed my control center to go out of complete control. You get it, enough questions for now. Have a blessed day.
Replies to "Hi Gang, As my mind replenishes its self over night. I'd like to get down to..."
Connect
"Well I am in the early stages of treatment, begun with Prednisone about two weeks ago. With a nearly over night recovery, where prior getting out of bed in the morning was a real struggle or just turning over in bed was painful. What possessed my control center to go out of complete control."
I don't know the answers to your questions but I'm at peace with whatever happened. I have read so many theories that it is safe to say that nobody really knows.
Autoimmune disorders can strike at any age so I don't think age explains everything. However, I do think "immune system senescence" has merit.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9261375/
Since PMR/GCA is primarily an age related condition, I think age is a factor for us.
I have another autoimmune condition called "reactive arthritis" which was first diagnosed at the age of 32. This condition derives its name from a reaction to an infection. Clearly age wasn't a factor because I was in my prime.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/reactive-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354838
There are many types of inflammatory arthritis and symptoms overlap with PMR. It is very easy to get misdiagnosed. When I was diagnosed with PMR in addition to reactive arthritis, the pain was the same except perhaps it was more widespread. My response to my rheumatologist when she asked if my muscles or joints hurt was I couldn't differentiate the pain and simply said it hurts everywhere.
A simple explanation that I think explains everything well is summarized with the following:
The body has ways of getting what it needs. I would speculate that PMR is the body's way of saying it needs more cortisol. Cortisol is the "stress hormone" which needs to be produced in response to stress of all types --infections, physical and/or emotional stress are some examples.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534809/
Prednisone is a corticosteroid that supplements the cortisol our body produces. In my way of thinking, PMR is a not so subtle way that the body says "more cortisol please."