Could this be TA?

[Lena76]

My first headache started about 2 yrs ago. It was right sided temple area. There was alsp a vein that popped out on my right side temple area. No otc meds seemed to help. It went away on it's own maybe with in 5 hrs. I went to my Dr. I was given 1 course of prednisone and had a CT scan with and without dye. It was normal. I never took the predisone because I was scared of the side effects. The headaches eventually started coming maybe 4x a month same spot , same symptoms right sided temple pain , pain above right ear on my head. I would take Otc meds. They really didn't work. I mentioned it to my Dr again about 1 yr ago and was given imitrex 25 mg 9 Pills a month. Once I felt the headache start I take one and it takes about 20 mins and the headachr goes away. She also did an Mri with no dye. That was normal and I got bloodwork for inflammation and that was normal. I now have been getting these head aches more frequently. I also have been getting jaw pain with them and pain behind my eye. Only 2x i had a lighting bolt i would say in my vision but not while actually having a headache. It was on my right side though . i started to cry and it went away. I am starting to worry because in april I had 9 days witj head aches. So far this month I have had one 2x. I have jaw pain / rightsided head pain in temple area and pulsating vein and pain behind right eye. I also have tmj but I do not think this is tmj related. I am always doing something different when headache starts so I don't think there is a trigger. What scares me the most is the pulsating vein and also above my ear on my right side that area is more sensitive to touch and feels bigger then left.

I do have an appointment with ny regular Dr on monday brcause they are getting worse. I mentioned it to her in March when I was there for ear infectiom and she said maybe Its time to start topomax. Should I ask for further investion in TA? I am 34 and most 35. Can anything else cause this pain and the vein in forehead? I also have baretts esphogus so I am quite nervous about having to take a steroid but if I have to Get rid of this pain I have too.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi

At your age I very much doubt it’s TA or GCA as discussed on here, but you obviously do need to consider all options.

You could ask doctor for a short course of steroids to see if they help - less than 3 weeks and they can be easily stopped.

Further investigation need I think.

Sorry - can’t give you an answer.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm not saying it 100% isn't because only a fool says things like that - biology is biology and most things can happen. However, at your age it is very unlikely it is TA/GCA and the symptoms aren;t really typical. However if you are really worried, ask your optician to do a full eye exam, including looking at the back of your eye and the optic nerve. They would be able to see anything affecting the optic nerve.

[Hidden]

If you are sure it is not TMJ . Don't be afraid of prednisone it can be a miracle drug when need. it reduces swelling and inflammation, the main cause of illness. There is also a test the Doc can do to see if there is inflammation in your body at any given time, a lab draw. Are the headaches possibly related to your menstruation cycle, excessive estrogen. It's hard Lena to diagnose headaches. Try keeping the salt intake down, when you say the vein feels big/bigger in your neck. When you get a headache do you check your blood pressure, very important esp if you take birth control pills. I wish I could help more Lena but I specialized in hearts, Cardiac ICU RN I tell people all the time, unless you're having a heart related problem I'm not a lot of help.. my daughter had a stomach ache back in the day I didn't know what to do, now I know to give her some baking soda in a glass of water, if you have Barrett’s esophagus it's a must do and it works fast by alkalizing the body. I have a fb group sense retired to keep from going crazy called 'Your Health' I also have a Page called 'Medical Marijuana a new beginning anId please don't judge before checking it out.. believe it or not we have a entire system just for cannabis i's called the Endocannabinoid System.. Blessing to you Lena and like I tell myself, THIS TOO SHALL PASS PS: Lena, there are sooo many medical abbreviations I don't know what you were asking about TA