Latest list of GCA symptoms

[prunus]

Yesterday I was asked for a list of GCA symptoms. Has anyone got one or knows where I can find it? The person who asked me was my optometrist. I'm getting him more interested in it so would like to provide him with one.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

this is what charity lists -

Headaches – the exact form this can take can vary, but the pain of GCA is a new headache, of a kind that the person hasn’t had before

Pain in the head

Tenderness of the scalp, for example when you comb your hair

Blood vessels at the temples may look or feel prominent.

Sudden loss of vision

Double vision.

If you have these symptoms, you should contact your doctor urgently.

You may also experience:

Tiredness

Low mood

Night sweats

Fever

Loss of appetite

Weight loss.

Up to 50% of people with GCA have symptoms similar to PMR at some time

Versusarthritis lists -

Symptoms commonly include:

• severe headache, pain and tenderness over the temples and scalp

• thickening and tenderness of the blood vessels at the temples

• fatigue

• flu-like symptoms

• weight loss

• rarely, loss of vision or double vision

• anaemia and inflammation.

Less common symptoms include:

• pain, stiffness or tenderness in the arms or legs, which may be caused by polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)

• occasionally, mini-strokes if other blood vessels are affected.

BSR and BHPR Guidelines -

Symptoms

. Abrupt-onset headache (usually unilateral in the temporal area and occasionally diffuse or bilateral).

. Scalp pain (diffuse or localized), difficulty in combing hair.

. Jaw and tongue claudication.

. Visual symptoms (amaurosis fugax, blurring and

diplopia).

. Systemic symptoms of fever, weight loss, loss of

appetite, depression and tiredness.

. Polymyalgic symptoms.

. Limb claudication.

. Fever, weight loss and other constitutional symptoms.

Most are similar except BSR/BHPR - which states jaw/tongue claudication and limb claudication which others don’t.

[prunus in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks for that. I'll see he gets it.

[PuttyPenguin in reply to DorsetLady]

I think earache is another...probably only affects a few.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PuttyPenguin]

Yes it is, but for some reason not listed specifically in info I copy & pasted, maybe they include it under head pains.

I should have mentioned- thanks for reminder.

[PuttyPenguin in reply to DorsetLady]

I'm glad to be of use!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PuttyPenguin]

The study that confirmed the suspicion ears can be part of GCA was only published a couple of years ago - the online stuff won't have caught up yet.

[prunus in reply to PuttyPenguin]

I'll add it - thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Slightly taken aback that an optometrist doesn't know how to find symptoms using google!!!

[HeronNS]

Astonished you optometrist doesn't even know the common symptoms. Here's an article:

reviewofoptometry.com/artic...

Admittedly I see an ophthalmologist but he knew far more about both prednisone and GCA than my GP.

[prunus in reply to HeronNS]

Many thanks for that. My optometrist only seems to have taken more notice with me giving him sheets of information. I think he may have another patient now with it. You are very lucky with your opthamologist being so knowledgeable. When I was originally diagnosed after being taken to A & E and kept in, I was nine days before the doctors came up with GCA. They even tried gall stones before that amongst other things!