GCA

[carolBF]

Hi all

Can anyone please give my an idea of symptoms for GCA please my head has been painful for a week at the side on my temples. I have not felt right since my trip to Australia and the long flight back

Merry Christmas all xxxx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

This is a link to the charity’s information on GCA -

pmrgca.co.uk/content/giant-...

But each person’s symptoms may differ slightly. You need to take new or unusual headaches seriously and make appointment to see GP initially (ASAP - impressing upon surgery staff that possible GCA should be treated as an emergency - not 2or 3 weeks time) who will take blood tests to check for inflammation and rule out other potential illnesses.

Please keep us informed.

[carolBF in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for this link I found it very useful.

X

[HeronNS]

I note from an earlier post that your treatment for PMR has never been completely successful. There is a chance that this is because PMR's big sister GCA has been waiting in the wings all along, barely kept in check by your pred-level dose. I think it would be wise if you were seen as an emergency asap. Yes, please let us know how you get on. Best wishes.

[carolBF in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with Heron - and you really do need to get medical advice as soon as possible. People who have PMR that is not adequately managed are more likely to develop GCA - and I think you fit that.

Have you any other worsened symptoms besides the headache?

[carolBF in reply to PMRpro]

The only other symptoms I have are a fast heart on and off at night time and slight blur vision in my right eye

[HeronNS in reply to carolBF]

The blurry vision is a relevant symptom. Did you report that to your doctor along with the persistent headache?

I believe some people do get heart or circulation problems with PMR and GCA, PMRpro will know about that. It may have something to do with the heart having to work harder if GCA, or PMR with vascular involvement, has caused some issues with the efficiency of the blood vessels, but don't quote me on that.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to carolBF]

I have arrythmia that the cardiologist is confident is due to the vasculitis - your comment is suggestive of that and blurry vision is also relevant.

[Blearyeyed]

Agree with above , but with your report if blurred vision as well , it's definitely time to get to A and E for a speedy check up .

If it's not GCA , it's also important it could be something else , or they maybe able to do more to improve your PMR treatment .

Please go and be seen today and let us know the outcome , take care and try to keep as calm as you can as Stress will make the Pain feel worse , take care xxx

[Luciejc in reply to Blearyeyed]

I also have GCA. One of my symptoms was painful jaw and difficulty chewing...also fatigue. Get a biopsy asap!

[carolBF in reply to Luciejc]

How do they do a biology to see if you have it x

[Luciejc]

They make a cut from one of your eyes across to the temple for about 2 inches after numbing the area. You don't feel it. Then a section of the artery is cut off and sent to a lab for testing and the cut is stitched with disolving stitches. I hardly have a scar. Two days later my results were positive for GCA.

[carolBF]

Thank you all for your help, I had a call back from my doctors and they advised me to see them ASAP, yesterday when I got there my head felt like it would explode. Not a headache but pressure at my temples, they did some test and took blood to check ESR levels then made me wait a hour in the waiting room before doing the same eye test again, as my blood pressure was normal she said I could test at home.

I then had a text to say

Dear Mrs Forsyth,

ESR similar to previous level and no acute changes

Dr Y Smith

South Hermitage Surgery

The pain is much less today however I have put my steroids up from 8mg to 10mg to see if it helps and it did, will go back down in a couple of days.

I was very worried pain I can cope with but not being able to see would be devastating

Merry Christmas everyone x