Paula
Hi kay The G B left me with numb hands, feet and legs about half way up to my knees. I have tired very easily since, as my lungs did not work for several days on their own and I think I had some permanent damage as I was not put on a ventilator until I was about dead. I had difficulty in swallowing for almost a year and my diet consisted of mostly "slush" as that was all I could swallow. I still have some trouble swallowing but it did improve some. I also have footdrop which causes me to stumble easily but I can manage to walk Ok as long as I remember to lift my feet from the toe up.I had a very severe case but made a pretty good recovery..then got shingles..then had some other problems and then the PMR came on in 1997. I managed to get to 2 1/2 mgs pred but my Rheumie wanted me to try to go lower..I tried to get to 2 three times since last Nov..am worse now and will go back to 3 1/2 and work my way down to 3..then try for 2 1/2 again. I have a friend who has had this for about 10 years..and a couple of years ago, I asked my Rheumies nurse if any of the patients had gotten to the point where they never had to return..the answer was "No"..he likes everyone to come in at least twice a year to monitor them and I think about everyone is on pred still although some might be off. I do know 1 gal who was over it and off pred in a year...I think the longer you are on it, the harder it is to get entirely off because your body doesn't make enough on it's own.Adrenals shut down..someone else mentioned that on this or another board and once they start closing down, they hate to get up and get going...like me! lol