GCA

[Alness]

Hi folks how you all doing good i hope.? I have s wuestion. Today i forgot to take my meds this am until about 1.30pm i was in shower bout 11ish am and had stabbing pain in my right eye did worry me bu thought prob coz i was so tired as didnt sleep last night. Then i got sharp pain side of head knew was GCA later realised i hadnt taken my am meds. Now does this mean the GCA is still inflamed can it react that quick to not hving steroids or is this all coincidence? I still hv a bit of pain side of head im on 17 mg of steroids.,im never completely pain free i think bcuz i tryto keep steroids as liw as possible. What about te pain i my eye do u think it wasGCA and should i b worried about it. I trytonot be paranoid about headaches etc just get on withliving with various heath issues . Myb i should more aware of things. I also hv poly fibro and nonepileptic seizures under investigatio for past 3 yrs., so life is a bit of a struggle but i try to cope best i can. Anyway whatdonu thikaboutthe GCA pain etc love tou all. I hv no idea if this is where i post this xx

[MhairiP]

Hello Alness - I'm afraid I can't help you with your queries, but I just wanted to say hello from Nairn! 👋 😃

Sorry to read about the GCA pain and other health issues. I'm sure someone will be along soon to offer advice.

[Alness in reply to MhairiP]

Thanku u nice to

Meet u cc

[PMRpro Ambassador]

All that pred does is mop up the inflammation being created by the underlying cause of the GCA, an autoimmune disorder. The antiinflammatory effect of pred lasts from 12 to 36 hours depending on the person - so if you forget the dose when it is due the inflammation can take hold again and may cause symptoms, especially if you are trying to keep the dose low so there isn't much margin of error. Providing you took your dose when you realised it should kick in soon. And tomorrow - take your usual dose and don't forget!!!

[Alness in reply to PMRpro]

Thanku for responding and ur advice whichbis teasduring xx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

As PMRpro says the inflammation is still being produced daily whilst your GCA is active, and as you have only been diagnosed about a year or so it most certainly is.

I appreciate you have other issues, but if you reacted so quickly to a missed dose I would say you are only just on enough Pred at the moment, and, again as PMRpro says that leaves you very little margin for error.

[Alness in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanku dorset lady as always im trying to run b4 i can walk. I hv windered if i teally do hv gca wishful thinking but i feel that the reaction today leaves me in no doubt i hv taken meds late b4 if i think about it and its pain that primpts me. However i hvnt hsd this pain in my eye do u think thst is gca it feels like its connected. I still hv pain in my eye but is it gca or tiredness altho never hsd this pain with tiredness. Thanku for responding as slwsys v helpful. How ste u xx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Alness]

If you have any concerns about your eyes I would see an ophthalmologist or optometrist- both have the equipment to see problems that a doctor can’t.

Me - GCA in remission 2 years- waiting for hip operation! Always something isn’t there?

Take care.

[Hellyowl]

Hi, I have forgotten to take my pred for 24 hours and it has never had such a sudden onset of pain, just generalized aches and tiredness.. Have also gone the other way and taken it twice in one morning and that had no effect. If you have a pain in your eye I would go to A&E. I got told off for waiting to see my GP when I had a flare. I have been told it is always a medical emergency. They will check your inflammation levels and if it is not a flare maybe an eye specialist will take a look more quickly than going on a waiting list. I know A&E is an awful place but I doubt they will think you are wasting their time with GCA.