HELP #3 Day in Hospital Possible Giant Cell Arteritis Biopsy Tomorrow. San Antonio Rose

[SARose]

Friends, Spent Saturday in the ER, omitted Sunday early AM to hospital. After all the consultations and tests released Monday afternoon. I'm scheduled for a temporal artery biopsy tomorrow, Jul 15th. But a new symptom appeared. Sunday afternoon a extremely sensitive spot appeared on my temple by the wing of my eyebrow. Pinkish red, slightly larger that a US quarter. Showed it the the Rheumatologist on call and he laughed and said probably from all the people touching the last 24 hours. Yesterday it was more irritated and slightly larger. Call Rheumy office and left message. Checked it before bed and it appeared to have small blisters. Hubby used magnifying glass and confirmed there were blisters. Rheumy called to day said it was not known to him and wants pictures. I did see a tiny new spot on my eye lid later today. I suspect shingles. Has anyone one heard of shingles being associated with the onset of Giant Cell Arteritis ???? Thank you for any information you can give. SARose

[SARose]

PS to my message I was in week 2 of a 5mg taper from my flare in May. Started at 7.5, the 7.5 and .5 mg on alternate days then to the straight 5 for 2 months.

[fmkkm]

Hi,A lot of people think there might be a connection. I got the older vaccine that was a live virus and was diagnosed with GCA later that year.

Here is an article that might help:

medicinenet.com/script/main...

[fmkkm in reply to fmkkm]

Andthe-rheumatologist.org/arti...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There have been a few cases on the forum recently of shingles - one affecting the same area as you report. It is listed as one of the differential diagnoses for GCA in this article:

bpac.org.nz/bpj/2013/june/a...

i.e. - not that GCA is associated with shingles but may appear very similarly in terms of symptoms.

There are studies which claim that the presence of herpes zoster predisposes someone to develop GCA. However, our generation almost all will have had chicken pox as children so they could find the virus in the temporal artery anyway.

[fmkkm]

This study showed no relationship.acrabstracts.org/abstract/a...

[SARose]

Another add on: Forgot to mention I am on 50mg of prednison for 2 months

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SARose]

For the suspected GCA diagnosis?

[Rugger]

If it is shingles, please try to get the antiviral treatment ASAP!

[Grammy80]

Just saw this...how are you. I was diagnosed in 2019 with GCA, August. While waiting for your biopsy I hope they started you on 1000mg of Prednisone IV for three days~! By the end of September, I did have the shingle on the right side of my face, mouth and in my nose. With you immune system compromised...is it any wonder. What was the final determination?

Are you in the States....is it San Antonia Rose? I'm in Indiana. 💖💖

[SARose in reply to Grammy80]

Hello. Sorry for the delay in responding. Much going on here. Yes, I'm in San Antonio, Tx. After my release from hospital it was decided that I only had shingles and the biopsy was cancelled. I was seen by my PCM and prescribed antiviral meds also seen by the Ophthalmologist 4 times to make sure the shingles weren't in my eye. Prescribed meds for 7 days. Rheumatologist reset my prednisone to 10mg, to drop by 1 mg a month there after. I had never felt so tired in my life but that has faded. Feeling vague ache in my left knuckle area and forearm this morning. One day at a time here - we are now a COVID hot spot.

[Grammy80 in reply to SARose]

Do take care...when you are tired...rest! As you taper be on the lookout for any symptoms. I sure hope that this course of treatment is the end of it. Keep in touch and my best to you , for sure!!💖