About this item
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.
About the Author
Writing has always been one of my greatest pleasures, and I've been fortunate in my career to have the opportunity to write learning materials for my students. I've been told that I have a knack for making complicated theoretical things understandable and accessible for other people.When I became ill with Polymyalgia Rheumatica in 2005, I quickly found that there wasn't much information around to help me understand and cope with the condition. Then, later, I got involved with the new patient-led charity PMRGCAuk (www.pmrgcauk.com) . Until then I had not heard of Giant Cell Arteritis, PMR's sister disease that can cause blindness if not caught in time. As Chair of the Board of Trustees, I was privileged to spend time on working groups and research committees with most of the top researchers on PMR and GCA in Europe. I have also met and listened to hundreds of people with PMR and GCA. Writing a book to set down everything that I had learned from them seemed like the natural thing to do. Being active is what makes me happy. I also think that health and strength are the greatest gifts in life, next to love. I am blessed to have my family near to me and see my elderly parents and my grandchildren several times a week.I have lived in Italy and spend as much time as I can there. My next authoring project will be an e-guidebook to Lake Como and the surrounding area.
