I hope I am posting this in the right place? I can do with some help, support and advice! Recently I was diagnosed with polymyositis. A new diagnosis is not easy to deal with, as I am sure many of you already know! Apart from what my doctor told me, I have been browsing around the web a lot, and what I see is alarming. A lot of websites say that polymyositis is likely to spread to the heart. Does that mean that I should be prepared for this? Have you got any advice for me?
I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Do you have any other autoimmune disorders? I ask because polymyositis is known to be more common in those affected by autoimmune diseases. You usually notice changes in your shoulders and hips first, and while the disease might progress to your heart and lungs, this is by no means always the case. What did your doctor tell you?
Thank you for your reply. I have no other autoimmune diseases, and I am only 50 years old. My doctor told me that polymyositis usually affects people older than 70, so I feel cheated right now. He also said that there is no way to predict how my polymyositis will spread. I have been prescribed corticosteroids and azathioprine to help my immune system repress itself. Do you think that this will be enough to stop the disease from spreading to my heart? Do you know how many polymyositis patients have heart problems by any chance?