Polymositis

12/17/2008

My mom was recently diagnosed with Polymositis. Polymyositis is a disease that causes severe inflammation in skeletal muscle causing weakness and pain. Weakness is the predominant symptom. The proximal muscles of the legs are usually the most affected. Patients have difficulty walking up stairs and rising out of a chair. Proximal arm muscles are also affected. In severe cases heart muscle can be affected causing heart failure. The upper part of the pharynx and esophagus can be affected resulting in difficulty swallowing and choking. On occasion, there can also be inflammation in the lung. Inflammation in these areas if left untreated can cause scarring and tissue destruction. Therapy is largely prednisone but other agents have also been used with prednisone including methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cellcept and TNF inhibitors. There has been an association of polymyositis and malignancy and careful cancer screening should be done.

Right now her legs are so bad that the doctors are telling her she WILL be in a wheel chair and she has been having difficulty swallowing. She has admitted to me that this is beginning to affect more muscles in her body. She is being sent to a specialist but because of the season it will likely be after the 1st of the year before they can work her in and by then who knows what more damage will have been done.


Update as of 12/19/2008 : Mom says that they are trying to get her in to see the specialist but because she has medicaid it's taking a bit longer. She's a bit lower on the waiting list because of her insurance! They are going to take a biopsy of the muscles on her legs to see how bad her legs are. She is on a lot of medicine, steroids as well. They are worried about her heart, and she has severe asthma. They say her left leg has gone farther than they had thought.

Update as of 12/21/2008 : Talked to my mom today, she isn't getting around too good but she is hopeful. She asks that we keep praying that she will get taken in by the specialist. The longer she has to wait the more downhill she goes.

Update as of 12/31/2008 : Mom hasn't been getting around too good but we are hopeful that they'll be able to get her in soon. She had some blood work done right before Christmas that hasn't come back yet. She is scared. And I am scared as well. I love my mother more than words can express. And I know that everything will be OK, I just have to be strong for her. Keep telling her that even though she doesn't let me see her crash into tears I know it happens. I am hoping for an update on the blood work soon.

Update as of 1/1/09: My mom is feeling better today, still waiting on her blood work but am hoping that she has more good days than bad. Today is good.