Topic: Need articles showing how Polymyalgia Rheumatica can actually be Lyme
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Hi everyone,
I have a 70 yr old friend who has has had muscle pain for the last several months....arms, hips, legs.
She received a diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica pending her labs.
She was started on prednisone which has helped her pain.
I have been talking to her about the possibility of Lyme or another infectious agent and how Dr's love to give you a diagnosis without finding the CAUSE....likely an infection.
I searched PubMed and found some articles but nothing great.
Does anyone know of any recent articles connecting Polymyalgia Rheumatica with Lyme or often mistaking it for Lyme?
Thanks!
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
littlebit27
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24477
posted
I don't know of any articles. But prednisone is bad bad bad if she has Lyme! Isn't that a steriod, yes? Aren't we supposed to stay away from steroids?
Good luck getting some information to show to her. And you are a good friend trying to help her out!
kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
if the steroid is not making her worse, then maybe she doesn't have lyme. One can always hope.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Is your friend taking statins for cholesterol?
quote:Originally posted by kidsgotlyme: [QB] if the steroid is not making her worse, then maybe she doesn't have lyme. One can always hope.
That's what I was hoping.
My dr a long time ago thought I had PR. The test came back negative since I really had Lyme!!
I'm really not sure if there is a definitive test for it.
Just try to convince her to get a test thru Igenex .. just in case! (and she needs to do it soon, since the steroids will skew the test results)
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
littlebit,
I told her about steroids being the worst thing for lyme when I saw her yesterday. She believes me and just feels like her hands are tied because she is dealing with mainstream Dr's.
The Dr wanted to order an ELISA only and she did insist on a western blot even though it isn't from Igenex. Her labs were done before she took any steroids.
She has the Igenex info but know that she should not have an Igenex WB done while on steroids.
Like so many people, she just wanted a diagnosis and wanted to feel better, so she followed his instructions.
kidsgotlyme,
I hope she does not have lyme. I DO think she has some chronic infection that is causing her symptoms.
Carol,
She is taking a statin drug. She went off of it for a couple weeks with no improvement and then she insisted on taking it again because she is very worried about her cholesterol and heart disease. She has been on it for several years before this with no problem.
She does not think that the statin drug is the problem because of the length of time she has been taking it...but who knows.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Lymetoo,
I wish I could have talked to her after she saw the Dr and before she started the steroids.
Her appt wasn't supposed to be for weeks, but they had a cancellation and fit her in.
She looked worried when I warned her about steroid use if it is lyme and the long term effects of steroid use in general.
I know she would be happy to get an Igenex WB, but I wish she would have done it sooner.
I told her it won't be accurate on steroids.
She is awaiting some test results for Giant Cell Arteritis which is sometimes found with Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
I keep telling her that there is still a cause of her symptoms. She listens and I think feels helpless and at the mercy of this Dr.
We'll see what happens. She knows where to find me.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
The test may still come back positive though!!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
quote:Originally posted by Dekrator48: Carol,
She is taking a statin drug. She went off of it for a couple weeks with no improvement and then she insisted on taking it again because she is very worried about her cholesterol and heart disease.
She does not think that the statin drug is the problem...
Well, if you get the chance, look around on that site. http://www.spacedoc.net/ This guy was an astronaut who suffered awful side effects from the meds.
The drug companies don't want you to know that statins show no benefit for elderly women.
If she is concerned about heart disease, she should look into things that will reduce inflammation, like Fish oil Magnesium Systemic enzymes Turmeric.
And she probably needs CoEnzyme q10, as the statins deplete it, causing heart problems and muscle pain.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Carol,
Thanks, I'll look at that site.
I did convince her to get some good Ubiquinol CO Q10.
She also got some Alpha Lipoic Acid.
I believe she takes fish oil but not a large dose.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic