OT: Need some healing thoughts - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

OT: Need some healing thoughts

Maya

Veteran

My dad has been unwell for about 3 weeks now. He might have something called temporal arteritis, and definitely has polymyalgia rheumatica, which mean his arteries and joints are inflamed. No one knows what the cause is, but it is crippling. He can hardly move. He thinks he may need a hospital stay and a medical leave from work, because he cannot function right now. He just started his steroid treatment and we all thought he was feeling better, but today it suddenly got worse than before.

We don't know how temporary this is, or how serious it is, but it is scary stuff. It potentially causes blindness and increases the risk for an aneurysm even years after being diagnosed.

Anyway, I just need some positive thoughts now, and I know there is no shortage of them on YLF.

General

58 replies

Latest reply was from Ornella

HeleenH

Veteran

That sounds scary. I hope he will feel better soon. Take care of yourself, it is difficult to see a close relative go through difficulties like this.

Becky

Veteran

Oh, Maya, that is frightening. Your dad and your whole family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Isabel

Veteran

I am so sorry to hear that, Maya.

Polymalgia is tough to deal with. My mom has it as does a good friend of the family. The steroids have been a godsend for my mom...hopefully they will also work for your dad. I am not surprised he is having a difficult day today, sometimes the weather can really affect it. One thing to keep in mind, if it helps, is that generally people who have strokes ( and it is around 5% ), are people who are much older than your dad and have other age related issues.

Keeping my fingers crossed for all of you !!!!!

rae

(website)

Veteran

GOOD VIBES for you and Dad. I hope it is temporary... stay strong. You'll be in our thoughts here for sure. <hugs>

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Healing Thoughts coming your way! Hope dad is feeling better soon.

Alecia

Veteran

Sending you and your dad positive energy from California. Hopefully, it brings some of the sun your way.

MNsara

Veteran

I hope the steroids start working well for your dad very soon! It is SO hard to watch and not be able to make things better :-\ Sending healing thoughts and prayers for your dad and you.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Oh Maya, what a stressful and frightening experience for all of you! I'm thinking of you all and sincerely hoping your dad can get some effective treatment. If there's anything I can do at all, or if you need to chat, you know what to do.
*hugs*

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I'm so sorry to hear that Maya. You and your dad are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that this is all just some temporary thing and he is back to his normal self in no time.

MsMaven

Veteran

My mother suffered from this condition for several years, so I know what you father is going through. She eventually made it through though, and lived to be nearly 93. She had always been an active person and that made it harder. I hope science has learned more about the treatment for the disease and that your father will soon recover.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is awful and I'm so sorry Dad is going through this, Maya. Hard for the family to watch too. One feels so helpless. We send healing thoughts all the way - that's for sure. When does Dad take leave and what's the treatment plan?

Stephanie

Veteran

Thinking of you and your family, Maya.

Patty

Veteran

Positive vibes from Canada--hope the steroids kick in quick and your dad can carry on with things as before.

Anonymous

I'm definitely sending good thoughts your way. So sorry.

Maya

Veteran

Thank you ladies. You are more of a comfort than you know.

He would need to take leave right away, but he is a workaholic so I don't know if he will. I don't think he has a choice though. There is just no way he can stand in front of a class all day and teach.

Right now he is on Prednisone, which definitely helps, but in the mornings before he takes it, he feels awful. He gets dizzy spells and his joints are stiff. The steroids help with the symptoms, but they cause symptoms of their own. Lucie was also on Pred when she had heartworms, and they really knocked her out

The rheumatologist will gradually decrease the dosage over time, but there is no way to know how much time it will take.

MsMaven and Isabel, it's good to hear from people who are familiar with it. It sounds like a long term, but not permanent condition. I just feel bad that this is happening JUST as I am about to move. I'm a lot more reluctant and less excited now. I guess I thought I had at least another 8-10 years before I started having to think about my elderly parents (in that way), but it's starting sooner than I expected and that makes me sad.

marianna

Veteran

Maya, I feel so bad for you right now. I know all too well how it feels to have a sick parent and it is the worst, scariest, feeling in the world. Your family will get through this. Take care of yourself and your loved ones right now. Sending you good wishes.

Isabel

Veteran

Maya, my mom started on a high dose of Prednisone. At first, when she was diagnosed, her inflammation markers were very high, which makes sense. She also felt zapped and dizzy. But then they started tapering down and she only needs 1 mg a day now. She feels fabulous most of the time ( despite the fact that she also has osteoarthritis ). The weather can really get to her sometimes. Sometimes she needs to scale up for a couple of weeks but then goes back down. Our friend, who is only 52, swims and that seems to help. My mom's rheumatologist said that this is really arthritis of the muscles.

And yes, many people go into remission. For some reason the inflammation just goes down.

Don't feel that this is the end for your dad. It won't be. And I understand your reticence to move out. THe timing couldn't be worse. Yet, you need to live your life and have faith that he will handle what is put in front of them. This is very new right now, you all need time to come to terms with this.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

PMR is a nightmare. My father has it and was also worried he might have temporal arteritis (he didn't). People seem to vary widely as to how long they suffer with it so it's very hard when you first find out about as it definitely seems to be a slow one and it's so upsetting hearing the worst case scenarios of it lasting years. Steroids do seem to work although it can be hard to get off them without the condition flaring up. There is a family friend who's had PMR for many years and she's very upbeat about it now. She's worked out how to live with it very successfully. There are also people who recover very quickly.

I do feel for you and do hope that it's good news for you all.

Diana

Veteran

Here's hoping your dad feels better really soon, and that the long-term prognosis is good. I know what it's like to have a very sick parent, and my heart really goes out to you.

Lynne

Veteran

Sending hugs, Maya. I hope the steroids kick in soon and are effective. Do encourage your Dad to take time out to rest....and take good care of yourself during this time, too. Once the inflammation is under control it would be good to have have his eyes examined and visual fields tested. I am sure his rheumatologist will be able to refer him for this. Bless, Lynne xo

Lena

I'm sorry, Maya. I'm sending your Dad good thoughts and will keep you in my thoughts as well.

I don't know anything about this specific condition, but I'm familiar with Dexamethasone treatment, which I think is much stronger than Prednisone. I'm sure you know the side effects, watch out for them (like mood swings, increased blood sugar, etc)

I also understand how hard it is to deal with a patient who's stubborn, and a workaholic. You may have to take charge (sorry, it sounds corny, can't think of another word right now). And also, it's very important that you don't forget to take care of yourself, especially if this condition is on-going.

I hope your Dad feels better soon.

Louise

Veteran

Maya my heart goes out to you what a worrying time for you. sending healing thoughts to you and your family xxx

kellygirl

Veteran

Sending healing thoughts your way, Maya. It's so troubling to see loved ones unwell. I hope that the treatment goes well.

morethanbeige

Veteran

So sorry your family is going through this Maya. I hope your Dad feels better very soon. I am sending healing thoughts your way.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Hi Maya, I'm sorry your dad is going through this. Sometimes life really is hard, isn't it? I'm thinking of you and your family and hoping everything works out as good as possible. Keep your chin up! I'm sure you dad appreciates any positivity that you can muster right now.

Debora

Veteran

Maya, I'm so sorry to hear that your dad is unwell. I'm sending healing thoughts your way, and hope he gets some relief from the treatment. Keep us posted.

Lisa

Veteran

Sorry to hear about your dad. Sending healing thoughts your way.

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Maya,
My Dad had the same thing when he was about 75. My aunt did too, He is now 89 and she is 90- both do not have the condition any more. Thoughts and prayers are with you!

Debbie

Veteran

Lots of healing thoughts coming your way.

12