(This all came from the MayoClinic.com)
"Polymyositis (pol-e-mi-o-SI-tis) is an uncommon connective tissue disease. It's a type of inflammatory myopathy, which is characterized by muscle inflammation and weakness. The most noticeable characteristic of polymyositis is weakness of the skeletal muscles, which control movement. It can occur at any age, but it mostly affects adults sometime between their 30's and 50's." (I was diagnosed at 17). "It's more common in blacks than in whites (obviously, I am white.) and women are affected more often than men are. Periods of remission in polymyositis, during which symptoms improve spontaneously, rarely occur. However, treatment can improve your muscle strength and function." (My treatment plan= working out as much as possible and a shot of methotrexate once a week.)
SYMPTOMS: "Signs and symptoms of poylmyositis usually appear gradually, so it may be difficult to pinpoint when they first started." (mine started when I was in high school... I needed help getting into a jacked-up truck and I also had a terrible time climbing bleachers.) "They may also fluctuate from week to week or month to month. Progressive muscle weakness is the most common polymyositis symptom. It typically affects the muscles closest to the trunk, such as those in your hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms, and neck. The weakness is symmetrical affecting both the left and right sides of your body and tends to gradually worsen. Although the muscle weakness starts subtly, after it progresses over the course of the disease it can make it difficult for you to climb stairs, rise from a seated position, lift objects or reach overhead. Other polymyositis signs and symptoms include: difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking, mild joint or muscle tenderness (i also have Rheumatoid Arthritis), fatigue, and shortness of breath."
CAUSES: "Polymyositis is in a group of diseases or disorders of the muscles called inflammatory myopathies. The cause of most inflammatory myopathies is unknown. Infections caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses can cause inflammatory myopathies, but in most causes of polymyositis, doctors aren't able to identify proceding infections. Some doctors think certain people may have a genetic susceptibility to the disease. Inflammatory myopathies share many characteristics with autoimmune disorders, in which your immune system attacks normal body components. Normally, your immune system works to protect your healthy cells from attacks by foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. If you have polymyositis, an unknown cause may act as a trigger for your immune system to begin producing autoimmune antibodies (auto antibodies) that attack your body's own tissues. Many people with polymyositis show a detectable level of auto antibodies in their blood."
*I hope I didn't bore you but I felt the need to share.
Reid dancing with his princess, Reid
Rita & Milton
