To say I am confused and just don't understand what is happening let alone what to do for the best now is an understatement.
Looking back It started a year and a half ago. Tenderness of the face with earache. This was put down to over cleaning of the ears. (I now know it was the onset symptoms of GCA thanks to the health unlocked ambassadors post earlier this week).
Last September 2019. I suffered severe pain in the hips which developed into general aches. Just symptoms of flu I thought. Trying to carry on as normal brought me to an abrupt halt in October when I passed out. I was put on a small dose is prednisolone (15mg) to no real effect; it was presumed that I had Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Yes it brought down my inflammation levels but symptoms persisted. Ten days later with intensifying head and jaw pain I was seen in A&E. After various scans over the following weeks I was confirmed with having giant cell arteritis. The symptoms eased but never went away even though I was put on 60mg of prednisolone for starters. Sadly the rheumatologist wasn't interested her attitude beggared belief. So after seeing her in January this year I refused to see her again, I won't bore you with the details.
As the symptoms persisted I discussed with my GP the situation and said that I intend to undertake a rapid taper to come off prednisolone so that the situation could be evaluated from scratch. Sadly I am one of those patients who don't respond to prednisolone very well which does not help.
I succeeded in getting down to 5mg before I could not function. The pain in my head and body resulted needing to rest within an hour of getting up. I have said in a previous post please don't judge. If you are not believed that you have pain the options are limited in my book.
A month ago I saw a new rheumatologist. Charming chap. Yes you have GCA with Polymyalgia symptoms he said but not the Polymyalgia condition. I had another PET scan and blood test and today I was told that they were all normal. Great news sincerely. But I am feeling terrible.
I have been asked to up the prednisolone to 10mg. Which I have already done. I explained that I was still experiencing pain which was getting worse. But I was told that the condition was under control and needed no further treatment. I just had symptoms. The inference being it's all in the mind. Perhaps it is I don't know. At 57 I still have a life to live.
So this is why I am lost and confused. I struggle accepting the condition and feeling as I do makes it probably makes it worse. If that makes sense.
How do I feel at present my body is screaming.
Head pain / burning above the eye. Sharp pain at the back of the eye.
Pain and tenderness side of the face. Earache. Jaw ache. Shoulders arm and hands ache / painful. Hips and legs have started to come out in sympathy. The pain isn't severe it's tiresomely there. No it's not covid. Worse still is it’s just how I have felt over the last year. Sometimes it's just an ache other times the pain rolls in. Have I had a pain free day not that I can remember before last September.
If you have any advice I would welcome it. I am afraid the deadly fatigue has caught up with me so if I don't respond and thank you for your responses or ad to comments forgive me. Writing and rereading the above has taken its toll on me and my eyes.