Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group
Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.
Hello everyone!
It's me again ... although you may not remember me since it has been such a long time since I posted last. Thank you soo much to all of you who answered me the last time ... I meant to thank you before now, but I have been sooo sick and have not spent much time at all on the computer.
Anyway, I finally had a blood test done to test me for dermatomyositis and it came back negative, so rheumy said since I'm already on methotrexate and prednisone, it could be that it could be a false negative. So she had me have an MRI of my leg to test the muscles. She called yesterday to tell me that everything was normal with that also, but again could be being masked by the fact of the meds I'm on. So she wants to see me to re-evaluate my muscle strength in her office.
Does this sound par for the course? I sure have a lot of the symptoms. Although I don't particularly want the diagnosis, it would be nice to know if that is what it is so maybe I could be treated differently than I am now, although I don't know what that would be. I've already been diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disease, fibro, etc.
All I know is I feel weak most of the time and only feel like sitting in my chair and watching tv, which isn't like me, normal, me that is. Sigh.
Thanks for any help you can give me. :0(
Hugs,
Sheri
It's me again ... although you may not remember me since it has been such a long time since I posted last. Thank you soo much to all of you who answered me the last time ... I meant to thank you before now, but I have been sooo sick and have not spent much time at all on the computer.
Anyway, I finally had a blood test done to test me for dermatomyositis and it came back negative, so rheumy said since I'm already on methotrexate and prednisone, it could be that it could be a false negative. So she had me have an MRI of my leg to test the muscles. She called yesterday to tell me that everything was normal with that also, but again could be being masked by the fact of the meds I'm on. So she wants to see me to re-evaluate my muscle strength in her office.
Does this sound par for the course? I sure have a lot of the symptoms. Although I don't particularly want the diagnosis, it would be nice to know if that is what it is so maybe I could be treated differently than I am now, although I don't know what that would be. I've already been diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disease, fibro, etc.
All I know is I feel weak most of the time and only feel like sitting in my chair and watching tv, which isn't like me, normal, me that is. Sigh.
Thanks for any help you can give me. :0(
Hugs,
Sheri
Though knowing the diagnosis if it's positive does add yet another disease to the mix, it's still much better knowing and being able to treat it and be able to get back on the road to recovery. Please keep us posted. Blessings, Kim
As for strength testing, my neuro checked me often. He would run a series of neurological and strength tests on me to check my progress. As for medication, you are already on 2 of the most commonly used meds for DM or PM. Anyway, your doctor sounds like she is doing a good job. Best wishes to you.