GCA

[Skrtjg]

My friend has GCA I would like to know how others are handling it. They had him down to 20 mg of predosone Then he had surgery and is back up to 50 not doing well . He has had it a year now.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Skrtjg, it isn't unusual for surgery to cause a flare in inflammation when suffering from either PMR or GCA, or both. In fact, any stress on the body, whether physical or emotional can cause problems. Plus it isn't unusual for flares to occur during the first year or so on steroids. It is often adviseable for a patient on steroids to increase their dose for a few days either side of any planned surgery - perhaps those treating your friend did, in fact, recommend this.

Once the increased to 50mgs gets control of the inflammation, it may be easier for your friend to reduce down the doses again the second time around, at least to just above the previous dose at which he felt comfortable.

I do hope this helps but if he has any specific questions, then do come back and ask, and we will do our best to answer from our personal experience with GCA.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi skrtjg,

As Celtic says, any stress on the body can cause a flare in symptoms. However, a rise from 20mgs to 50mgs does seem very high, presumably your friend's Doctor thought it necessary after the surgery. Was that the dosage he started on? If not, then some of his not feeling good may be down to side effects of the steroids. And if course, the after effects of surgery, that can really knock you about as well.

Also in agreement that if you come back with some specific problems, I'm sure those on this forum will be able to give more advice, and maybe some solutions.

[4sibbs]

Hi, We don't have any experience of surgery problems but our 89 year old mum lost most of her eyesight to GCA literally overnight just over a year ago, she was put on 60mg prednisolone in January last year which was gradually reduced but when she got down to 2mg about 8months ago it had to be put back up to 10mg after blood test results, this was then reduced by 1mg a month with regular blood tests and she has managed to get down to 1mg pending her latest blood test she may be taken off of it altogether. Mum did have a mental breakdown when she was the higher dose and has been on anxiety medication citilopram ever since, they reduced her dose to 10mg but the anxiety came back so she is back up to 20mg. We realise some of the anxiety may be due to her situation as she is now in residential care understandably at her age she lost her confidence when she lost her eyesight. It is essential to have regular blood test whilst on reducing doses.

Hope this helps a little, this forum is excellent with lots of good advice and guidance.