Very late stage GCA flare?

[sagegreen]

Diagnosed with GCA two and half years ago. Very slow prednisolone taper from 5mg to 0.5mg over last 15 months. Reduced to 0.25mg a week ago and have had increasing right sided temporal tenderness and headache for the past few days. Surely not a flare at this late stage, or could it be? Should I increase the dose? I am due for a CRP test next week. Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Anything is possible I fear! But I don't think I have heard anyone get to such a low dose and it poke its head above the parapet again. Two and a half years is not long in the great scheme of GCA things though.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As PMRpro says always a possibility.......but the fact it’s one-sided maybe not...unless that mimics your initial symptoms.

You could try ordinary painkillers and see if that helps the headache.. If not, then maybe an extra mg for a few days, but bear in mind that may skew the CRP result.

[sagegreen in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you both. It has been a struggle getting down, and I have had to go back up a few times to quell ‘flu like symptoms’, but I thought I was nearly there. I will try Panadol to start. Can I assume that serious eye complications wouldn’t happen at this late stage?

[sagegreen in reply to DorsetLady]

It does mimic the original symptoms - right sided. But more importantly, thank you both for replying in the evening. You provide an excellent service.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to sagegreen]

Hopefully not this late in the proceedings.....but just be aware my GCA lasted about 5&1/2years, so to get as low as you have in almost half that time is quite quick.

Just be watchful, but not paranoid......and obviously you know what to do if things do escalate.

[SheffieldJane]

Did you have your vaccine? I had AstraZeneca over 2 weeks ago and seem to have developed intermittent stabbing pains in one temple. Nothing else has really changed. I am on 10 mgs however ( having got down to 3 mgs prior to GCA diagnosis). Maybe you have gone too fast and the disease is still active.

[sagegreen in reply to SheffieldJane]

I had the same vaccine but 4 weeks ago. Thank you for your advice. I will watch carefully.