Have been out of touch. Having some health issues. After being in so much pain for almost two months. Thinking it was a rotator cuff injury. Right shoulder started hurting in August, well I am 73 what do I expect? Started therapy in Sept. after a consult. Started feeling a little better then pain began creeping into my shoulders, neck, left arm. Then weakness in the top of my legs. End of Sept. therapist and I decided to part company since I was getting worse. Talked to my Dr. thinking it was seizure related. . . Yes I have epilepsy. So contacted my neurologist and she increased meds. Still lots of pain. She increased meds again. Still pain. Went to urgent care and he said I was hallucinating. Had an upcoming appt with neurologist. Can’t see my regular Doctor until first week of Nov. by two weeks ago I was in so much pain, legs, back, arms. After church I went to ER. The doc did a bunch of tests and said it’s fibromyalgia and pumped me full of tramodol and muscle relaxers. Wow felt much better! But the next day muscle relaxers and Tylenol did nothing. Finally I was able to see my neurologist last Monday inching into her office with a cane. While waiting for her I noticed she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard. Impressive. She is great! She nailed it, I have polymyalgia rheumatica. Kind of like rheumatoid arthritis of the muscles. It’s my third of a genetic hereditary condition. Thanks ancestors I got in the bad gene pool. Some of you know I have lost almost fifty pounds on my modified keto diet that I love! At first I thought I wrecked my body . Now I am finally at goal and going through all this pain. But my dna marker came back positive and inflammation through the roof. So I’m on a huge dose of prednisone ahhhhh relief. Waiting to get an appt. with a rheumatoloist in Ft. Wayne around January if lucky. Well I found out this condition is more common in Irish women, one in 1500 between the ages of 70 and 80. I am right on schedule. Yah there are alot of side effects with prednisone. But I will take it to get rid of the pain! Getting old has challenges. I never heard of any of my Irish or English friends or family having this and wondering how common it is. I know it sure is tough to get a Dr. appt!
Prayers. It’s not as common as rheumatoid arthritis. I only had a couple patients with this diagnosis. Prednisone is ok to take short to middle term. It’s primarily long term use that causes known common corticosteroid side effects. They do have new “biologicals” that are very effective with a number of autoimmune diseases. However many of the new injectable biologicals are problematic from a prolife stand point. Many of them are made using “humanized mice” where tissues or entire organs from aborted babies are implanted into mice. I was taking an injectable anti cholesterol med until I found out how these were produced. I was horrified and stopped it immediately.
What a painful ordeal. Thank goodness for that doctor, at least you know exactly what you are dealing with. It is a challenge to get an appointment with a specialist, my dad was just diagnosed with RA and he has to wait until February to see the rheumatologist. I hope you feel better Katfallls.
Its good to get an update. I have been thinking about you and wondering....what a terrible time you have had. Thanks be to God you finally got a diagnosis!! I have had to take prednisone on and off for years because of asthma. Its a miracle drug where inflammation is concerned. I found that if I took it too late in the day it disrupted sleep so I always take it in the morning. Also I always take it with food to avoid upset stomach. Putting you into my prayers. Please keep us updated.
Well, I would like to plug Fox News’ (omega 3 and curcumin) supplements called Relief Factor. This product has helped with my back issues. Wish you the best, and praying your pain gets better.
Prayers for your healing and comfort! Don't give up you will feel better! I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid in 1999 and now Psoriatic Arthritis and have had some really tough bouts over the years. I have had 15 joint surgeries since then including ulna shortening and both ankles fused. I was on biologics incl. Embrel, Humira, and Arava for about 10 years until I started growing tumors in my joints and got neuropathy from it and was taken off so although they seem to work for a couple of years for most people including me I don't feel that route was worth it in the long run. The BEST thing I did was Keto, and I truly believe along with my Rheumatologist that diet can trigger inflammation, especially sugar, preservatives, chemically produced oils like soybean and veg oils (in just about everything!) and grains. I can eat organic oatmeal just fine. I use olive and avacado oils to make my own mayo and stevia instead of sugar. Also I do stretching exercises every day and that really helps. Right now for about 6 years I've been on Plaquenil and really like it. NO huge bad flare ups like you are having. Also the Lord told me that "the Eucharist heals" and heals us deeply, even in our DNA. I truly believe the biologics did something bad to my immune system and possibly DNA. Other than that, R/A is one of my crosses I bear for Him.
My priest says the same thing about the Eucharist. My priest has the gift of healing. He offers two healing Masses a month. After each Mass , he has Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction . He prays for each individual during Adoration. He says it is always Jesus who does the healing. He also says it is up to the Lord if we get healed or not. I have received some healing from Jesus in the Eucharist but I also have a health issue that I still have and it is a penance.
Pray to St Charbel, and focus your Rosary only on that one petition. Fr Blount says, one can’t pray for a number of things. We must focus our prayers like an arrow to to that one target.
Prayers for you Kat. You are certainly having a journey with this. I wish I had some wise medical advice, but I haven't. It is wonderful at least that you know what it is, which is half the battle. It would be a lovely gift to the Holy Souls if you could offer it up for them this month. I was thinking of changing over to a vegetarian diet when I retire in three months, I have heard such wonderful things about it's health benefits. But the thought of it is a pain. I might call up to see my sister, they have all turned vegetarian or vegan and all seem to be in one piece. Prayers to all on the forum who are suffering. At night times in the hospital I often hear the patients crying out, sometimes in huge pain. It reminds me of a little Purgatory. Life is so passing. Prayers to the Mother of God now and offering up Mass during the week. The Cross is so central for we Catholics. My Mother used to often say to we children, 'Offer it up the Sacred Heart!'. At this time of years when the evenings fall I sense the Holy Souls with hands outstretched seeking comfort. Our pains are their comfort.
I often wish I had a Magic Wand to wave away all the world's tears, but no rain, no flowers..we truly are in a Valley of Tears.... Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Thank you for this information, I will pass your advice onto my dad. Hopefully it will will help him to deal with his RA.
Hi Kat, I watched this video shortly after praying for you. If you have time I think it might help to watch it, especially the part where this very Holy Gentleman talk about, 'Healing of Memories'. It is quite short, about 12 minutes.
Did you notice he talks about four years? Till the big Chastisement? I sense he is perfectly right. That's what I think. Four years....I will get to go to Spain. I know this is selfish but I was so looking forward to it. Just in time to get all settled in.. ..so happy... I was praying so much for a Sign. Just about make it in time... Poor, poor, poor Ireland...but it was her own choice... a Chastisement of Water...\Noah
Padraig, I got the impression that the Lord was talking about 4 years ago, and this year would be the chastisement if we didn’t come back to him. It wasn’t clear to me. How do you see it? Because he mentions Covid, which really started in 2019.
