GCA on BBC News site

[CloudGazer6]

Some good coverage of GCA (and PMR) on the BBC News website:

bbc.co.uk/news/health-38983990

[granny-b]

Yes. The programme itself was GCA but made the right emphasis of how quickly it needs to be diagnosed to save the sight.

[HeronNS]

Thanks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good in that at last they are now recognising that you can get it at 50years.

I don't wish to be negative, but the major problem I see with the new fast track approach is the GPs surgery. Not only do the GPS need to be aware of the seriousness of GCA, but maybe more importantly - the receptionists- who are the people that you have to go through to get you to the doctor.

Too often, in the UK, the waiting time for an appointment is 2-3weeks. Trying to ring the surgery early morning to get an emergency appointment that day is a nightmare, very often you can't get through at all, especially if it's a small surgery with limited telephone lines plus when you do get through to the receptionist and you state it should be treated as an emergency, then many are going to say - go straight to A&E!

Good in theory, be interesting to see how it works in practice.

[Hidden in reply to DorsetLady]

Think l'd head to A&E & hope they knew about fast tracking!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Yes that's what I was getting at really!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

With you all the way!

[Jude62]

Good as far as GCA but no links made with PMR. In my terms it was all about sightloss (v. Important) .

[maria40 in reply to Jude62]

I agree entirely. The opportunity to make the link was missed. On my first diagnosis of PMR my then GP outlined the symptoms of GCA and the importance of immediate treatment if they should appear. If every PMR diagnosis could include this warning it would help to save sight.

[tarifa16]

It was better than nothing, BUT it was pretty basic and they slotted it on at the end of the show. Why? When it is so important to get the information out there. But most frustrating was that they made NO mention of the important link between GCA and PMR and vice versa. Back to the drawing board, Trust Me...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tarifa16]

Except if you have PMR - you should know about the warning signs. This was aimed at the many people who DON'T develop PMR first.

Though never mind the patients - send it to the doctors as force feeding. And not just GPs - plenty of rheumies who need to see it too!

[tarifa16]

Except... when I was diagnosed with PMR (with no mention of GCA or the warning signs), I left the consulting room clutching a box of Pred in one hand and an Arthritis Research UK booklet in the other. It was only the booklet and this forum that educated me about what to watch out for. Maybe GPs and rheumatologists don't want to freak out their PMR-only patients with talk of GCA (after all, the booklet does that job for them!), but it strikes me there IS a disconnect. I'm pleased Trust Me... did address GCA, but we need to keep raising awareness of both conditions.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tarifa16]

It's like the "you'll need pred for a couple of years..." - in your dreams for 75% of patients! We asked doctors why they say this - "we didn't want to upset patients" they said.

So do they tell RA patients they will only need their drugs for a couple of years? Of course they don't.

[tarifa16]

Extremely good point, re RA patients. It seems nuts to keep PMR patients under-informed.

I'd far rather know how things might pan out with PMR. Knowledge is power! No wonder we have to go out and do our own research, and then go back to ask the docs loads of questions (which they don't necessarily appreciate!)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tarifa16]

It happens all the time - a patient is told this will last 2 years and then they will be cured (or that is the impression created). Or that as soon as they are on pred everything will be back to normal, they'll feel well and be back at work with no problems. Of course they aren't - and appear on the forums/at a support group in pieces because they think they have "failed". And we have to pick up the pieces.