Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Temporal Arteritis

[SweetSilverBird]

I've been suffering from the above illnesses for about a year and a half now, and I wonder if anyone else on the boards has been too. These usually begin after the age of 50, and tend to happen to those of European descent.

PMR and GCA or TA are inflammatory diseases.

Here's the link for PMR. Polymyalgia rheumatica - MayoClinic.com

and for GCA or now known as TA Giant cell arteritis - MayoClinic.com

I have them both because they are interconnected. They are very painful diseases and I have had them now for a year and a half. I've been trying to bear them but it's so hard having these alone.

Does anyone else have this?

[Janknitz]

My mother had this, and she was on heavy duty steroids (Prednisone). She developed full blown diabetes from the steroids. Not fun.

I'm really curious if diseases like this might improve if you eliminate wheat and other grains from your diet. Have you tried that?

At the very least, staying low carb can only help, particularly if you must use steroids.

[SweetSilverBird]

I am on a very high dose of steroids too. Unfortunately I really can't go low carb anymore. My kidneys won't allow it. Prednisone is a horrible drug. It destroys so many things.

I'm surprised more people haven't responded. It's not that rare a disease among caucasians of European descent. I'm so sorry your mother had to bear this pain. Even morphine doesn't really take care of it.

Sometimes heat applied to the worst places will soothe for a while.

I think I will try out your suggestion and try to drop all grains from my diet. Maybe it will help. Thanks for the suggestion.

[MSN08]

wheat/gluten removal has cured my fibromyalgia symptoms,arthritis and joint pains so definitely try cutting it out to see if if helps.

[SweetSilverBird]

That is very encouraging news!

[girondet]

The paleo autoimmune protocol is no grains/dairy/legumes and is reputedly helpful for all autoimmune disease. I have done this and track my own autoimmune antibodies and they have consistently gone down very well over a 2 year period. Check out Robb Wolf dot you know...there is a section on autoimmune....it's so worth trying....

[Star73]

I have rheumatoid arthritis which is a systemic inflammation condition, not just arthritis. Cutting out gluten and limiting dairy has helped me. I still battle flares sometimes and I also have fibromyalgia so that's another battle. There are some great books about how cutting out gluten can help with autoimmune inflammatory conditions. One that sticks out is "Dangerous Grains".

I wouldn't say the word "cure" but I would say it has helped me quite a bit. I'm no longer on prednisone, antiinflammatory drugs, methotrexate, or Arava. The last two are high-powered RA meds, one being chemo.

I take fish oil for inflammation. I do take tramadol for migraines and sometimes for the RA and fibro flares.

I sure know it if I've messed up and had gluten. Wow, it makes a huge difference in how I feel!

Idk if it will help you but you might give it a try. Celiac.org and celiac.com both are great sites and have a list of foods and products that contain gluten.

[girondet]

I try not to do any packaged/processed foods. Gluten sneaks into them under many other names, also some other proteins and antinutrients in grains, dairy, legumes, white potatoes can be bad for some of our immune systems. It's a different way of eating and takes some adjusting to, but I love it now. Oh yes...no soy for me either....

Let us know how it goes with you if you try it, but even if you don't....I sure hope you feel better soon.

[Mobear]

Just wanted to give you hugs. I haven't totally eliminated grains, but reduced my consumption hugely and it has made my diabetes much easier to control I hope giving up grains helps you.

Please keep posting, we care.

[SweetSilverBird]

Okay, I'm going to try. I will have to watch how my urine tests go though, because I already have indications of kidney disease. I just have to do something. I appreciate all the encouragement. I've had such a hard time, and have been so discouraged. My heart practically broke over this last flareup that put me back on 40 mgs of preds. Wish me luck!

[Harriet61]

At the very least, staying low carb can only help, particularly if you must use steroids.

[SweetSilverBird]

I managed to make it through today without going over about 10 carbs, and 900cals. Good start. Nothing to get inflammed over in that. Wish me luck! I dunno if I'll lose anything on Prednisone, but I would be tickled if I could at least not get bigger.