my life with Polymyositis

About 7 years ago (I was 77 then) I began noticing body weakness, first, gentle, then more acute. I needed a cushion or two to rise from a chair, needed bars and a raised toilet seat, experienced knee pain, and had difficulty swallowing. My experiences with several diagnoses are are follows: 1) simply getting older, 2) need one new knee, then another 3) spinal stenosis and will need upper spinal surgery soon, and 4) a muscle neurologist suggested major surgery of my spine I was then referred to an elderly neurologist who in blood samples noticed and extremely high levels of Creatine Kinase, and record levels of liver ANA and ALT enzymes, I was then then referred to another neurologist who, after eliminating ALS, MS, and polio ( I had at age 5-6), said "you have a very rear disease called Polymyositis." It was manageable, but not curable. I was put on extremely high doses of Methylprednisone and physical therapy. but in the meantime, the date for a knee replacement was two weeks, away, and I needed to cancel that, and I tripped on my cat and broke my left arm. but I gradually gained muscle mass and became stronger. So now, I live a fairly normal life (for an 84 year old male). I still have my two original knees and I never had that prescribed spinal surgery. My doctor son said that at the time of correct diagnosis, I probably had 1 year to go. I owe my life to two Duluth, MN St. Luke's Neurologists, Dr. Avello and Dr. McKee. I would love to talk with other Polymyositis patients.