January 3, 2005

11:00 AM

My father was just diagnosed with polymyositis. His muscles are deteriorating and he can hardly dress himself, let alone drive two hours to his work or even do his work from home. Has anybody had a family member of close friend with this condition? What can I and my siblings and my mother expect? What can we do for him, if anything?
posted by billysumday to (4 comments total)

I am sorry that your father and your family have to go through this.

I have read that polymyositis has been associated with the use of cholesterol-lowering statins. Here is some related research:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed

I realize that doesn't help much.
posted by mecran01 at 12:42 PM on January 3, 2005

Here's a university page on Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis Patient/Family Resources.

This is the NIH page on the disease. It says that "The prognosis for polymyositis varies. Response to therapy varies from very good to satisfactory." (From what little I've read, the disease is very serious if/when untreated.)
posted by WestCoaster at 1:46 PM on January 3, 2005

Polymyositis has nothing to do with statins. Statins cause an inclusion body myositis.

The questions asked here are better directed towards your father's neurologist. I'd encourage you to call her up and ask her directly.
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:40 PM on January 3, 2005

I had polymyositis (specifically DM) at age 9, and it was a very unpleasant experience, but I survived. Each case is dfferent, however, especially childhood vs. adult-onset; the doc was adjusting my Prednisone up and down at each visit, so I don't think you're going to be able to read the various links or anecdotes and get a feel for what your father's course will be.

Listen to Ikkyu-san.
posted by planetkyoto at 8:37 AM on January 4, 2005