headaches....

[marymary246]

bear with me.....I am on my eighth week of severe headaches which was initially put down to sinusitis, I had two different antibiotics, nose spray etc, headaches still there everyday but respond to ibuprofen with co codamol but come back once they were off. I also had the most disgusting smell in my nose and mouth, this has started to improve with different steroid drops but the headaches are as bad. I have extreme ache in my left eye too and dont like too bright daylight etc...head pain is in left temple and round to the side of the head. My bp is up and has been ok before but no treatment as yet as they are wanting lifestyle changes ie mainly weight loss for three months. I have been seeing the chiropractor too for neck treatment. I am 50 in august so still a youngster of 49 till then I was sent for blood tests this am including CRP, ESR, FBC etc so just panicking......!!!

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Mary

"extreme ache in my left eye too and dont like too bright daylight etc...head pain is in left temple and round to the side of the head. My bp is up"

With those symptoms and your neck pain, I would be heading off to A&E immediately to rule out Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis. They were all among my own symptoms pre-diagnosis. CRP and ESR blood tests have been carried out to check for inflammation in your body. These markers are often raised, particularly the CRP, in GCA/TA, but they can also be raised in the case of other illnesses. However, if they aren't raised, it doesn't mean that you don't have GCA - about a quarter of sufferers never have raised markers. The usual diagnostic test if GCA is suspected is a temporal artery biopsy but sometimes the large cells they are looking for can escape the tiny portion of artery removed, so someone can still have GCA even with a negative biopsy. If your GP does suspect GCA, then s/he should have referred you to a consultant rheumatologist immediately. Perhaps you can contact whoever you saw at the surgery this morning, saying that you understand that your sight might be at risk if you do in fact have undiagnosed/untreated GCA. Failing that, A&E.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

mary,

would totally agree with Celtic, having been there blah, blah , blah. Don't take a risk with your sight, get checked out by A&E staff, they normally have an ophthamologist on call for head injuries etc. Explain what you think it is at first opportunity, ignore the "age" thing. They should be able to confirm within the hour. If it's not GCA then you may have wasted time, but if it is then you could have saved your sight! No contest! DL

[olive2709]

What kind of out of hours service do you have it was my out of hours service here in Shropshire one Saturday morning that diagnosed my GCA Last September meaning that from phone call to prednisolone was less then 3hours please take the advice that Celtic and DorsetLady have given

[Kay60]

hi i don't know enough about PMR and med ( newly diagnose and still learning ) but its sound like it could be a Migraine as mine started with my sinus then through a tooth up the side of my face into my eye after trying all sorts antibiotic a new Dr put me on Imagraim (i was told mine was cluster migraines which was why i had them every day ) they used to last 3 days .

you can buy Imagraim over the counter i was told if the pain doesn't go its not a migraine hope this help

[marymary246]

Thanks for all your help and comments...what a mad few days!! Bloods came back as normal, had a CT scan with contrast as I had breast cancer 6 yrs ago and think they were concerned about it being back.....normal too. In desperation I started looking at rebound or medication overuse headaches and have been off everything now for nearly 3 days and the headaches are easing slowly, coming and going and I can't do much except take things easy.....hopefully I'll get it sorted......thanks again.