Anybody else up yet?

supernana, you are a star. Yes, of course there are loads of people worse off, but at 4am it doesn't feel that way! I'm only 6 months into the PMR so apparently have at least another year to go. Boo Hoo! - reach for the

Annobel The ongoingness of it all is weary-making, especially when linked with osteo-arthritis. I was born with Scoliosis, and as I get older, the curvature increases and causes additional strain on the pelvic area. If someone could cure either my myalgia or bowel prolapse I would be in a bit of a quandary. Cannot imagine how blissful it must be to be without discomfort. On the other hand, there are FAR worse disabilities, aren't there? Compared with some people, I consider myself to be very fortunate.

Oh miserable. But inflammation under control and pain continuing sounds a bit mysterious.

Yes, that's right, GA. At first, the relief was fantastic and stayed that way until the latest dosage reduction. My medical sister says she would put the dosage up again, but she is not my GP. Other OA (Not OS, as I called it in my last post! ) symptoms have resurfaced, like my puffy right ankle which is a nuisance.

Annobel, did the steroids get rid of the pain when you first took them? Part of the diagnosis for PMR rests on the supposition that if it's truly the cause of the pain then steroids will reduce or get rid of the pain entirely. For me they were like magic bullets; within three days the pain was negligible. For other health reasons I had to come off the steroids and now take regular ibuprofen which, most days, is just enough to enable me to get through the mornings (when the pain is at its worst). If you are able to take diclofenac it's more powerful than ibuprofen bought over the counter. I should go back to your GP and explore your options for something other than steroids if I were you. it's a horrible, horrible pain and you deserve to have a place to have a bit of a groan. (((hugs)))

No, the steroids are primarily to reduce the inflammatory markers but in the initial high dose they had the effect of masking the symptoms of osteo-arthritis which I also have. Now the dosage has been substantially reduced and I'm not sure if the shoulder pain is from the polymyalgia or from the OS. Bit of both, I think.
supernana rotten, isn't it! Gives me no pleasure to know I have a fellow-sufferer.

Sorry for the pain, annobel and supernana! At least I can still take fairly effective painkillers for mine. Are the steroids supposed to help with pain? And if they don't, would it be better to stop them and take painkillers instead? I'm just asking — I don't know a thing about steroids or what they're supposed to do.

Oh, what a bummer.

Annobel Ditto! Hugs and good wishes...

Catch 22, Jingl. I am on steroids for polymyalgia and therefore am not allowed to take NDAIDs like Iburofen or Diclofenac, because of the risk of bleeding from the stomach.

Annobel, I find ibuprofen better than paracetamol. Reduces the inflammation so helps to heal as well as block pain. If you take it with food it shouldn't hurt your stomach.

I can't get a lie in even on a weekend, the electrician is working today and the plumber has been.
I have a temporary working kitchen but a large number of deffects to correct and it will be at least two weeks befoe I get a worktop.
I can sympathise Annobel my shoulders are causing great problems especially as I am trying to put stuff in high kitchen cupboards.

Just awake! Have to get up early for the decorator in the week so a lovely lie-in this morning. Libradi not long to go now - hopefully you will have a lovely new GC by the end of the weekend then you can relax and have a lovely long sleep

I am not normally an insomniac. I don't think I am one now, really, but the pain in my shoulders and upper arms is overwhelming early in the morning and makes it hard for me to turn over in bed. Paracetamol barely touches it and anything containing codeine makes me nauseous. The latest blood test for polymyalgia showed the inflammatory markers right down almost to normal, but the shoulder pain goes on...and on. The acupuncture doesn't seem to be working, though after the last treatment it felt good for about 24 hours.
This is one place where I don't feel I have to put on a brave face, so please forgive this moan.

I think they would have to fill it from the Thames. This is often what happens with lowland reservoirs. Upland reservoirs of course fill naturally but lowland reservoirs do not have enough run-off to do this.
Trouble is the environment agency are reluctant to grant extraction licences as it can harm the river. (I used to work for a water company but all our reservoirs were in the mountains)
I think it is principally the continuing hot flushes that disturb my sleep. Much milder than they were. Also aches and pains when I turn over, in my case caused by trying to get fitter or my slightly creaky back. I sometimes take a paracetamol or similar which helps with this.
But yes - the only time I get a really good one is following a really bad one...

Hi, JessM. A good sign of lack of rain is that my hedges have hardly grown this year; they've been cut once.
I see the authorities have given up the idea of a reservoir near Abingdon...two years ago I made the point (on the radio) 'What are they going to fill it with?' as all the other reservoirs were getting very low....
I'm 15 miles from Oxford.

Re young people and sleep - I think what wakes me/ keeps me awake is probably anxiety about responsibility, which they haven't got yet! ...and sometimes I get overtired. I envy my little grandson (10) when he stays here.
I will say, he doesn't wake me up if I am asleep.
I'm beginning to see a pattern in my not sleeping. I had a fairly hectic two days this last week, slept badly the night after, had a droopy day, then slept 8 and a half hours - then had a short night last night after the long one. This time I predicted it....but how much did that affect my sleep??!

Morning early birds, I had another restless night and ended up in the spare room where I can toss and turn, read or do what I like without disturbing DH. I get off to sleep ok then seem to wake up every hour or so. I know my DD is on my mind a lot and we are on standby to take her to the hospital if she goes into labour which is why I'm worse than usual but I don't sleep like I used to anyway.

Good morning Oxon70 . We need that rain don't we. I think i am not so far from you, in Buckinhamshire, and the small ponds round here have been dry for months. Water companies are beginning to worry. Meanwhile I think the west of these isles has had a fair bit.
One of the few things I envy in young people is their ability to sink into a long uninterrupted sleep...

Good morning everyone, I was awake early again too...finished my book and come to see who's here.
Sympathies, Syberia. I have days when I feel no good for anything. I have avoided sleeping in the day, as I can sometimes get a reasonable night after.
Has the hour change bothered you?........that's supposing you are in the same area! It always upsets me.
(Went to check outside) Just faint signs of light here, but at least it isn't raining now, though the night seems to have left things very wet....

Good morning syberia. No fun at all! Is it anything to do with the lack of daylight at this time of year? Do you live in the dark and frozen north? Or is something bothering you?
I'm up hoping for a skype call with those in Sydney... in between them bathing and feeding the kids...

Good morning, syberia. Poor you! No fun not sleeping at night.

Good morning, anyone else up? i am getting a little ( ! ! ) fed up now with this sleeplessness. Been awake since three, but keep trying to go back to sleep, unsuccessfully. I wouldn't mind if I wasn't feeling so exhausted through the day. I have always been a light sleeper, and have always woken a few times, but was always able to go back off. The last 6 weeks or so have been awful, my body clock seems to want to reset to be awake at night and sleep in the day! I don't allow myself to sleep in the day as I keep thinking if I do I won't sleep at night, but I don't sleep at night anyway!!

Ho hum!!

baggy

I bet you had great fun. The children in our village play a vital role in the community. At every gathering they entertain us, usually with musical instruments. They bake wee Xmas cakes for every pensioner. Grow their own produce to sell at fetes. And, in the New Year, put their hearts and souls into the pantomime.

No, syberia, I didn't take earplugs. The Beaver and Cub Scouts were very noisy but they always are so I'm used to it. Well, I say used to it, but it is tiring. However, part of the fun for me last night was seeing them totally immersed in the production. The scout group made up about a third of the audience. Theatre an illusion? Not for those kids! Bertolt Brecht, eat your heart out.

It was a local amateur production at the head of the loch. They do one every year and they are always good. All ages from about seven to seventy are covered in the cast so it's a real community effort.

Thick frost here this morning! That will see the end of the flowers in the garden - (begonias, petunias etc have been blooming away beautifully). Have never known the garden so colourful at this time of the year.