GCA PATIENT TO RHEUMY : "my head hurts and my head ache." Rheumy to gca patient : " have you seen anyone for your headaches?"

[Blurry62]

This happened to me last week. Gca Diagnosed a year ago. Tapered to quickly. On 15 mg prednisone. I the in an extra this evening. Every mg I add seems to yield slight improvement. I know you all can not prescribe but, I'm curious about how far up to go on the steroids to keep myself safe. I'm left on my own while the doctor looks for a consult to help him with treatment. In the meantime I could acquire a huge problem. Please advise.

[Blurry62]

Correction: head hurts and JAWS ache.... Sorry.

[SheffieldJane]

You couldn’t make it up. You can’t really hurt yourself around PMR doses. It does sound like your instincts are serving you well. Nice slow tapers from now on once your symptoms are at least 70% under control. Good luck.

[Mary63]

Sorry my last comment went to the wrong post.

[Constance13]

Try going up to 20mg and get yourself another rheumy!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not sure there is a dose that "keeps you safe" but you certainly need a high enough dose to stop the symptoms which is about all you can use to assess how things are really.

"Have you seen anyone about your headaches?" - Er, YOU! You couldn't make it up could you!

A lot of experienced doctors would probably say 30mg for non-complicated GCA without jaw or visual symptoms, 40mg where there are jaw problems and significantly higher if there are visual symptoms.

[Blurry62 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks