Ivamae, I was diagnosed with PM in June of 2005 after suffering for about 8 months with neck, arm, and shoulder pain that made me miserable all of the time. I did not feel that "stiffness" that is often mentioned as a symptom. Finally my family doctor sent me to a Rheumatologist who did the necessary testing to confirm what he suspected. I was put on 20mg Prednisone daily for 3 months. Then 15mg for about a month, then 10mg for some time. I was doing really well, so it was dropped to 5mgs. The results in relieving the pain in the beginning was almost instant. But at 5mg the pain returned, but not nearly as bad. The doctor then switched me to Cortef, a more natural form of corticosteriod. I started at 20mg. With it being roughly 1/2 the strength of Prednisone, I returned to almost pain free. I remained on it for a couple months and was doing well, so dropped the dose to 10mg for about a year and with the Dr's approval, dropped it to 5mg's daily, which I am still taking. When I saw the Dr 2 months ago, he said that he believes that I am free of the PM, but wants me to continue the 5mg of Cortef for the osteoarthritis that I have. He says it will do me less harm than taking an anti-inflammatory. The Prednisone in the beginning gave me a rounded face, fatty deposits around my neck and a pot belly that I never had before. The higher dosage seemed to make me jittery, overly emotional and just plain mean! The belly has not gone away, but my face and personality did return to normal within a few weeks after the dosage was down to 10 mgs.

I don't think that P M was nearly as hard on me as it is for many. I had a mild case, I think. And I feel very lucky that the Doc thinks I am free of it...at least for now. He did say that sometimes it goes away, only to return with a vengance years later. I hope not!

Anything else you want to know, just ask.

Thanks, Gazania for your reply. When I was diagnosed, I could not get up stairs, without pulling myself up, one step at a time. Food tasted terrible. Weird sensations went down the back of my legs everytime I stood up and I couldn't take a step until that sensation got down to my ankles. My balance was way off and still is. As a result I am using a walker. My hands were so shaky that I had problems trying to eat. etc. etc. I started on 20 mg of prednisone and as you said the pain was gone instantly. I, too was on that for sometime and when it was lowered to 15, it all came back and I was back on 20 again. When it was lowered it went to 17.5, then 15. then 12.5 and then 10. Since 10 it has lowered 1 mg per month until I have now just started 2mg. However, since being on 4 mg, I don't feel near as well. I am just so terribly exhausted all the time and have a certain amount of pain back but not as bad by any means as a year ago. I hope I don't have to increase but I won't be suprised if I do. I realize that some people get over this in 2 or 3 years and others have had it for 10. My face has been like a balloon and I gained 32 pounds. I think the face is petty well back to normal and I have managed to get 13 pounds off.

Hopefully better days are coming. I have never heard of the med that you are taking. I have developed a lot of osteo in my hands as well.

Thanks for your reply. I hope others will tell us their experiences.
ivamae

Ivamae, what did you do to help get the weight off?

Quite a few years ago, I was put on 40 mg of Prednisone for 8 weeks for an intestinal virus (at least that is what they think it was). Seemed like it took FOREVER to wean myself off of it from such a high level. I gained weight and it has been down hill ever since!

Cannot blame most of my weight on the medication but that is when the problems started. Prior to the prednisone, I had never had a weight problem.