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If you have PMR do you remember your childhood illnesses?
As a child I never missed school (the last to catch whatever was going around and sick over whatever week' vacation fell), Born pre-vaccines I had all the child illnesses except whooping cough. I had mononucleosis the summer I was 11 when I was swimming at the YMCA. I also remember surprising everyone because I might wake up feeling ill and running a a high fever which would vanish by 2pm - no further symptoms. This continued into adulthood until my senior year. PMR showed up at age 79.Wondering if anyone had similar experiences because I'm curious if this might have been an indication of a "trigger happy" immune system.
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@susanlf Hello! I feel your pain! And I really mean that. YOU ARE NOT WHINING!! PMR is really awful for many of us who suffer from this condition/disease. Sure, at first Prednisone is wonderful. Like, OMG, I am cured!! Wrong! As I tapered off, it of course came back with a vengeance! It is now almost April of 2026. I started Prednisone one year ago, April 1st. Results: Woke up blind in one eye from an "unknown" infection, in July.! Underwent an emergency Vitrectomy the next day. I do have severe macular degeneration, and have been receiving injections for over 5 years with no problems, until Prednisone. My eyesight has only recovered around 60% in that eye. Then came osteoporosis in my neck, along with severe and constant headaches! Prednisone?? Then cavities under crowns. Another Prednisone gift?? So I am waiting for Kevzara. I, too, was a "feisty", small, very active woman. It is really difficult to deal with this on most days. And, BTW, thank you for warning me about the shingles shot. I had shingles in the early 2000's. My doctor says I should take the vaccine. So far I have resisted. God Bless You!
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1 ReactionHi Kjoed53.
I have a long time deteriorating lower back but none of the lower common PMR saddle issues. Since I am not “Symmetrical” the Docs don’t think I have PMR. RA issues are apparent to me but my left hand has much less pain than the right. Although lefty is catching up quickly!!! My mobility is fine but I will ask the doctors next month. Thanks for your help! Bless you!
I had always been healthy and active with the usual illnesses and vaccines. I did have shingles twice after menopause, very mild cases. I believe my mother and her mother had PMR which manifested at very stressful times in their lives, as did mine.
I’m not sure if MS has been considered. Thankfully my mobility is good. I will see both rheumatologists in April and will ask. Thanks, kjoed53!
Thanks for all responses. Medicine moves forward with knowledge, sometimes by finding a commonality.
Psoriasis my whole life. Mild but always there. Covid 3 years ago and PMR shortly thereafter.
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1 Reaction@dougschiffman
Thanks - I hadn’t even remembered the psoriasis during my teens - only rarely since.
I read about a study (can't find it now) in which researchers compared the immune systems of people over 100 years old and people with GCA/PMR. Their immune systems had similar characteristics. Both groups had highly active, maybe overactive immune systems. This strikes home because my father had both PMR and GCA and lived to 103 with no serious illnesses other than the two diagnoses. I have both diseases. Through my adult life I did not get sick a lot but would go down hard with the flu and colds. My immune system seemed to react strongly. I also over-reacted to flu vaccines about 50% of the time. A few months before I got PMR I felt sick and spiked fevers for 5 days after a flu shot. I got the PMR right after the Covid vaccine.