Sinus and GCA.

[alvertta]

I am 71 GCA since October 2018. Started at 60 mg now 25 mg. My sinus are congested all the time. Is that the prednisone or the GCA?

[jinasc]

Friars Balsam.............. helps to clear when I get a stuffy nose.

I don't know, but I had GCA and never had a problem, but we are all different.

[Hidden]

There does seem to.be research online where chronic sinusitis is explored as a differential diagnosis to GCA but I could read properly cos just got a mobile. It didn't look like there was a causal link from what I could see on such a small screen.

I have PMR and seem to have permanent sinus issues. I have had antibiotics that seemed to help for a month but soon filled up again. 2 years on I now use a saline spray (from baby shelf). I use it several times a time and it helps. I can't use the sinus decongestant sprays due to being diabetic. I did wonder if someone with GCA should use such sprays given its a vascular issue. I have tried antihistamines which did help a bit but I didn't want to add another pill. Soooo I will keep using the saline spray and keep my fingers crossed.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Are they sure it is GCA and not another form of vasculitis affecting the sinuses?

[alvertta in reply to PMRpro]

I had the biopsy in October and GCA confirmed.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to alvertta]

That's OK then. Don't understand what he means by "no more drugs due to prednisone" though?

[alvertta in reply to PMRpro]

No sinus meds. I guess she thinks with my high blood pressure, acid reflux and GCA I have enough drugs rolling around my system.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to alvertta]

Ah so - how sensible. If it works.

[alvertta in reply to PMRpro]

My doctor says no more drugs due to prednisone.

[fmkkm in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting, do you think there would be other GCA type symptoms with just sinus vasculitis? Is the only way to differentiate a temporal biopsy?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to fmkkm]

Honestly don't know - but there are forms of vasculitis that involve sinuses.

[fmkkm in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply, I have always had sinus issues and GCA seems to have inflamed them much more. In the end I’m not sure for me if the distinction matters, prednisone is my solution.

[SheffieldJane]

I have this issue too, my diagnosis is PMR. I didn’t have it prior to PMR. Sometimes I can’t breathe at all through my nose. The prescribed Dymista drops seem to help a bit. I feel sure there is a link. It is worse now I am on a relatively low dose of Pred. (5.5).

[alvertta in reply to SheffieldJane]

I find it annoying. Always seem to be stuffed up. Especially at night. Snoring. And just started post diagnosis for GCA.

[SheffieldJane in reply to alvertta]

My mouth gets very dry too which is unpleasant when you can only breathe through your mouth. So it’s saliva stimulating pastilles, nose spray, propped pillows and troubled sleep!

Sorry, this is not help, just empathy.

[Pongo13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

V interesting. I've suffered with sinus probs for years. Regularly took antihistamine, then had a prescribed steroid spray which I had to stop (caused bleeding). Suffer one side of face only. However since PMR and pred I haven't had a problem. (Although on 7mg now and notice I sometimes find sinuses return to slight struggling in the morning).

[alvertta in reply to Pongo13]

Interesting. Thanks.