Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: a survival guide. 2nd edition.

Some excellent coping suggestions

I'm only 50 pages in, but have read and researched for two years trying to find what this woman did. I guess it takes someone with the disease(s) to understand. Kate Gilbert validated so many experiences I've had that were dismissed by various rheumatologists I've seen in the two short years I've had PMR. She used the word "paralyze" instead of "stiffness" which is all you read. Stiffness allow your arms to reach your head to wash your hair. PMR does not. It also affected my hands, like the author's. I was told by a Boston rheumatologist after diagnosis, "Well, I don't know what was going on with your hands, but that's not PMR". I cannot recommend this book with more enthusiasm. Thank you, Kate.

Recommended reading for those with PMR or Giant Cell Arteritis. The author covers a lot things that doctors don't take the time to explain. Having GCA myself, I found it a very good resource and it answered a lot of my questions.

Good information for people with PMR!!

I as a nurse have never heard of this PMR until it entered my life after my 61st birthday. I wonder how many people ended up in the nursing home because they did not get PMR DIAGNOSIS AND STERIODS.

Most of the pages are falling out of the book. So now I have a lot of loose pages and not a book!

This is an excellent book for anybody affected by PMR. After my wife's diagnosis and first treatment with Prednezone I felt that her doctor was not spending enough time with her explaining the disease and treatments so I bought the book and read it. I learned so much and was able to relate so much of that to my wife that she read it also. The single most important strategy that we learned from the book is an alternate schedule for tapering your Prednezone dosages. She tried it, it works and took some of the problems out of tapering dosages. She told her doctor about the strategy and he "ho hummed" it but I'll bet he is suggesting it to other patients.The book was money and time well spent

This book was full of practical information, as well as warnings about GCA and questioning sources of information, including the book itself. I am recently diagnosed with PMR, am 80 years old, and welcome the wider view this book gave me.

As a PMR sufferer of a number of years, I found this book to be informative and helpful, if a little alarmist in places. I felt that the author wrote with the compassion and sincerity that can only come from an intimate and personal knowledge of the subject. I can highly recommend this book to any other PMR sufferer.

If your Rheumatologist has diagnosed you with this awful conditions you MUST read this book. It easily explains the authors journey with this condition and her wonderful intense research into symptoms, conditions, research and medications into your battle with PMR and GCA. I have been diagnosed with PMR after a long run around ( 6 plus months) with a brainless GP (who I no longer have) and trips to the ER. I found a GP who rushed an appointment with my now excellent caring Rheumatologist. This book explains everything and I can't give it enough stars. Again a MUST read for anyone who has PMR/GCA. It's sad that I have not found any support groups in Canada yet, as they have in the UK.

Excellent outline of health issues too the newly diagnosed

As a Polymialga Rumatica and GCA sufferer, I highly recommend this book. Gave me an insight into the conditions and things the GP never told me about. Put my mind at rest also as now know there are others out there,going through exactly what I am experiencing.

Very informative and helpful - This lady is much to be admired for, virtually all on her own, setting up an information source and support system for victims of this little-known disease throughout the U.K. I wish there was something comparable in Canada; Kate Gilbert needs a follower on this side of the Atlantic to take the reins.