Sore tender left temple

[kathleen18]

Have just developed a sore tender temple on left of head for no apparent reason and had been feeling quite a lot better recently apart from usual sore eyes, and think I am getting a stye in my left eye which is somewhat uncomfortable, and am just off to the chemist to get something for it. I am on 5.5 mgs Pred and reducing to 5mgs. Am I just being a hypochondriac, or is this usual? Bank Holiday weekend coming up so no one to ask!

[Soraya_PMR]

I had tender left temple in mid March with what felt like electrical discharges. I popped to the optician for reassurance.

Don’t forget you always have A&E, bank holidays included!

[kathleen18 in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Yes thanks, the last place I want to visit!!

[kathleen18 in reply to kathleen18]

Panic over!! I managed to get a last minute doctor's appointment yesterday and he has diagnosed Shingles!! I was vaccinated 5 years ago against Shingles so should be mild. Now on more pills but the eye ointment is proving elusive. All goes to show you shouldn't diagnose yourself from the Internet! It's like reading a medical dictionary and having every disease in it! But at least I have some peace of mind.

[Hidden in reply to kathleen18]

That's great news...well not really shingles painful, but you know what I mean😁

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Bit like my "like" - but most things are preferable to GCA ...

[SnazzyD]

There are a number of different things that can cause this. Possible gland from eye infection? Keep a watch and as Soraya says A&E or 111.

[kathleen18 in reply to SnazzyD]

I think there is a swelling on edge of eyelid, but chemist doesn't give out cream these days, not like when I was a child I remember Golden Eye ointment for styes!!

[sandrathecat in reply to kathleen18]

Golden Eye is still available. I always keep some in for when my eyes get sore and it does work. Boots sell it.

[Rose54]

Hi

I see others have given excellent advice

I had a sore forehead the other week no other concerns,I worried alI day until I realized it was where I bumped my head on a bike pedal hung in the shed the day before .

what a numpty I felt

[kathleen18 in reply to Rose54]

I tried to think whether I had bumped myself, but no. It came from nowhere and I was feeling so good and better, and now today feel awful not helped by bad night!! Oh well, it could be something worse!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it were me I would keep a weather eye out (sorry...) and if it gets worse remember A&E doesn't have BH's. If it gets significantly worse, an optometrist can advise as can 112 and make sure you have plenty of pred to hand if things take off - 40mg or more and a trip to A&E will do.

[kathleen18 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for advice (not good on abbreviations - BH?) at the moment both eye and head sore and sensitive to touch. Probably worrying unnecessarily and have plenty of pills! These things always crop up when everyone is on holiday - same as animals and vets!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kathleen18]

Bank Holidays

[kathleen18 in reply to PMRpro]

Oh......sorry am not being very quick on the uptake at the moment!

[kathleen18 in reply to PMRpro]

Did you really mean 40 mgs? I have never had that amount before.

[kathleen18 in reply to kathleen18]

Should I start now or wait until the morning when I usually take my pills?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kathleen18]

40mg is the usual starting dose for GCA. You shouldn't take it unless you have definite symptoms that could be due to GCA - and you really need to go to A&E at the same time because even that may not be enough and you must have medical advice and some tests. The sooner after the pred they are done the better because that sort of dose will start to reduce any inflammation quite quickly so the evidence may disappear. All we on the forum can do is tell you what you should really be doing in the case you show signs of GCA - we can't tell you to take the dose, that is medical advice and needs a doctor.

[pinks33]

Bank holidays are always scary for us, even weekends sometimes! I can't say what is causing your sore temple and eye, but I thought I'd share my recent experience of eye and temple pain. This was the first time I'd had temple pain, even before diagnosis of GCA I'd had none. I did though have some slight eye pain in the first few months of pred. My temple pain was mild and intermittent, and temple was and still is slightly tender to touch. Wisely or not I decided to wait it out, took paracetamol when needed, and after about 5 or 6 days the temple pain went away. I had a blood test after that and my CRP was near zero. I don't think it was a taper related pain - it came on about 3 weeks after reducing - but I do wonder if it was related to my biopsy scar. You should obviously keep an eye on your symptoms, try painkillers, and get another blood test asap, and maybe increase your pred for a few days to see if symptoms subside.

[kathleen18 in reply to pinks33]

Yes thank you, maybe I will take some paracetamol tonight which will also help me to sleep. My eye also feels a bit tender.

[Hidden in reply to kathleen18]

Can you do a little warm water bath for the eye? I use those makeup remover pads. A bad night definitely doesn't help. I have PMR but have had eye, cheek and temple pain. The problem is they are places that suffer when we get stressed too.

[kathleen18 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I will do that