Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: A Survival Guide

by Kate Gilbert

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) and Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) are linked rheumatic inflammatory illnesses that affect older people – generally, people over 50. They are chronic autoimmune conditions that cause untold misery, pain and debilitation. More acutely, undiagnosed GCA can lead to blindness, which is irreversible. In the United Kingdom each year, there are an estimated 40,000 new cases of PMR and 10,000 new cases of GCA, with a significant degree of overlap, many people having both conditions together.
This book is written to give people who have Polymyalgia Rheumatica, or Giant Cell Arteritis (sometimes known as temporal arteritis), and their friends and carers, information about these illnesses, drawing on recent research. It also aims to give insights into what it is like to have these conditions, and how sufferers and those close to them can help themselves in the self-management of their condition towards recovery. It is not intended to replace information provided by your doctor or clinician. This second edition incorporates recommendations by international working groups on the diagnosis and management of PMR and GCA, and findings from research published since 2014. A full references list and index have been added.
The author, Dr Kate Gilbert, PhD, is a semi-retired lecturer in management development, now concentrating on writing and voluntary work. She has spent several years, as a PMR survivor, studying these conditions and working as a volunteer with the PMR and GCA charity, PMRGCAuk. A former Chair of Trustees, she helps to edit the charity’s website www.pmrgcauk.com and its regular newsletter. She has also served as a patient representative on a number of working groups, including the ACR/EULAR group to develop international recommendations for PMR, and has recently contributed a chapter on patient education to a medical textbook on PMR and GCA published by Oxford University Press.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2014

Reviews

[Margaret Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative book, not many laughs, but I now know a lot more about this illness and how it has such a deleterious effect on daily life. I am no longer going to beat myself up for being lazy, pathetic or helpless, and instead celebrate just how much I am managing to do.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me the most information of anything I have read. I had never heard of this disease, and couldn’t figure out what was going on with me. I’ve never thought about my age before, and never let it define me, but at 74 and newly diagnosed, it was an eye-opener I highly suggest that anyone who has questions about this disease should read this well-researched and informative book. Mostly, if I describe any of my symptoms to anyone, they think I am exaggerating and weak. This book helped me to realize that I am actually a part of a community and we are all working to help each other understand the options between treatments. I really hope that my husband will read at least part of it!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and answered a lot of my questions and helped me list New questions for the rheumatologist.

[Jolene Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy Handbook

I found this a very thorough guide for those who know or think they may have one or both of these conditions.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I wish I had had almost 18 months ago when I was first experiencing PMR. Yes, it is self-published (Gilbert writes from experiences with the UK PMR/GCA charity) but the combination of down-to-earth experiences from a variety of people, a tend toward moderation in advice, and enough research to back up the most important things made it work for me. PMR can come on with a whammy so knowing there are others who have been on that journey is really, really helpful. PMR does have an arc (generally 2-3+ years), though 'polymyalgic-late onset RA' (shift of one diagnosis and disease to another) is fairly commonly observed in rheumatology clinics (49-50), ref to Pease, Haugeberg, and Morgan 'Diagnosing late onset RA, PMR, and temporal arteritis in patients presenting with polymyalgic symptoms,' Journal of Rheumatology, 2005, 32 no 6, 1043-1046.

[Jean E. Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information for patients and family

Very informative book on all aspects of PMR and GCA. Written by a British physician so a minimal amount of information does not apply. It is, however, a good book to share with family and friends so they can get a better understanding of what these two autoimmune entities entail.