"Symptoms misunderstood"

Visits were made to the surgery on a number of occasions displaying symptoms of weight loss, lack of appetite and overall muscle pain.

This resulted in being told that the number of visits being made was excessive and were given anti-depressants and told not to return for a month. Since moving away from the area, after just one visit to a new surgery a simple blood test revealed an ESR rate of 130 when the normal is 30 or less. The diagnosis confirmed that the problem that had existed for almost a year was Polymyalga Rheumatica and a course of steroids was prescribed and at this time the condition was such that it was difficult to walk. It is understood that this blood test is given to all patients aged 70 or over at the current surgery as the condition is more likely to affect people over that age.