? Latest test results

[Spanky2019]

So frustrating to get results over night mychart & not know what it means. New RX of Vit D2 50,000 units (1 every 7 days) Also, results from TAB : moderate atherosclerosis and mild medial calcific sclerosis. I think the following was describing the medial calc sclera. moderate hyperplasia, rare small calcification seen at level of internal elastic lumen. Tho DR says I have gca, the biopsy was negative for it. With all this and pred 80 mg & bactrim ds, other rx & multiple dx & osteoporosis already, how on earth can I come out of this with any body parts still working? At this point I don't trust my gut feeling, but how do you know when there is too much medicine? As I've said before I am not a very big person.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Obviously your vit D is very low - and that is a loading dose to get you up where you should be quickly. My husband gets similar about once a year as well. It may be linked to your osteoporosis - if vit D is low, the body can't absorb calcium and put it in the bones properly.

A negative biopsy doesn't mean it isn't GCA - it merely means there wasn't any to be found (or they didn't see it) in the bit of artery they looked at. If you had already been on high dose pred before, the chances are reduced but still worth doing, positive is 100% proof.

Have you needed 80mg pred to manage your GCA-suggestive symptoms? You need what you need - at any level. Relief of the symptoms is the primary concern and criterion.

[Spanky2019 in reply to PMRpro]

I started 4 days on 40mg. Then none for a week. Then 40mgto 60 to 80mg. Started with headache, tongue claudication, and blurred vision & temple arteries popping out of my head. IDK why things got messed up, partly b/c inspite of my known medical problems, we bought dream retirement home far from medical care. Just didn't know I'm as sick as I am. One minute a philosopher, the next I'm going thru the ceiling thinking 50000 units of anything cant be good. OMG, if I don't drive myself nuts, I 'll drive one of you over the edge.lol Then we'll all be doomed.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Spanky2019]

Sending hugs Spanky! Hang on in there. All will be well! 🌷

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Spanky2019]

50K units of vit D is a weeksworth of top up! You can make 20K units in 20 mins in the sun. Except your skin factory is obviously out of order!

I do feel compelled to say one of the things higher up the list on the dream retirement place was a doctor in village and hospital in easy reach!! We did have the chance to move the other side of the mountain, still an hourly bus service to the hospital but it takes notably longer so it was rejected despite being a lovely place!

[Spanky2019 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, not a good move esp at as high of risk for the aortic aneurysm. Keeping calmer in my zone, resting more & less screen time is helping. Positive self talk helps too. I think all the tests are in now. I have appt today with primary care to put it all out and am hopeful we can make a plan to live more comfortable. Thank you😉❤

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Spanky2019]

That was long ago but now our younger daughter has said if we were to return to the UK we are not allowed to take over her appartment which theoretically is ideal as a retirement place because even on blue lights it is a good 35 mins to a decent hospital - same distance on an even worse road to the other! Mind you, the town is all hills so wouldn't be any use to us! She is a paramedic so knows ...