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.

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miranda819 03/22/2016

Hi! I've posted a little before. I have just been waiting for my dr follow up appointment to see lab results and what meds he wants to start me on. I got a call this morning that my dr wants to see me tomorrow instead of Friday. I'm not reading too much into that, since Friday is Good Friday, maybe he's leaving early. I'm just excited to get some kind of treatment.

nanny1611 03/22/2016

Hope your doctor has lots of answers for you, as well as a good treatment plan. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor lots of questions. And if he doesn't know an answer, ask him "So where do we go from here?" Best wishes, and please let us know what you find out tomorrow.

autumm 03/23/2016

Hi Miranda. Will be thinking of you and wishing you well. Autumm

jennifernkennethlave 03/23/2016

Hi Miranda, thoughts and prayers with you today starting on treatment!!

trpt1 03/23/2016

Hi Miranda, It is nice that your doctor called to get you in the office early and that is considerate! Stay positive. Best Wishes.

miranda819 03/23/2016

Thank you everyone! I really feel so lucky to have such a great doctor! He started me on methotrexate once a week, folic acid everyday but the day I take the methotrexate, and plaquenil every evening. He did not put me on prednisone. He said he did not put me on prednisone because of how unique my case is. I developed DM after having rhabdomyolysis. A few years ago, I did an intense workout called crossfit for 2 days. During those 2 days, I damaged my arm muscles so much that I ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood. My dr believes that when the rhabdo happened, something in my immune system 'turned on' and decided that my muscle fibers are an invader and needs to be destroyed. I have been fighting the muscle weakness and pain for over a year now, while the eye rash, red facial rash and red arm rash only showed up this Jan. As my doctor put it, "you are a very interesting case". I just feel beyond blessed to have finally found a great team of doctors to help me start fighting my way back from this. And I feel equally lucky to have this support group to guide me thorough this. Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and comments.

autumm 03/24/2016

Hi Miranda. So glad your doctor visit went well. Having faith in your doctor is a lot of the battle. It should take about 6 weeks to 3 months for the MTX to kick in and do its job. Will be thinking of you and wishing you well. Autumm

tipsup 03/29/2016

Miranda,

Hope you're feeling better and your pain is going away. I too have done the extreme workout thing and PAID for it dearly (though clearly not quite as much as you, sheesh how awful). Will be thinking of you, please keep us posted as to how things are going.

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