Severe Headache Onset with Air Travel

[Vawils]

Been on prednisone for nearly 8 years and now at low dose of 3mg/day. Still have morning/evening stiffness and aches and pains. Recently had to take an airplane trip and with that came the onset of the worse headache in my life. Took about 2 days to fully subside to a more manageable level but for the first 24 hours I was nearly ready to go to ER, Never been prone to headaches and know that air travel can bring on sinus headache symptoms which i have had before, but this was different. Very intense pain concentrated on left temple/eyebrow; it also seemed to radiate to my jaw and was sore to open mouth etc. Could not alleviate pain with chewing/swallowing or other things I have done with sinus type headaches. It has been about 10 days since travelling and i still have a lower grade pain in that area that seems to be worse at times.

Could the headaches be related to the PMR I have, or could it possibly be onset of GCA type issues I have been told about and read up on here and elsewhere? Have a rheumatologist appt at end of the month and will follow up with them as well of course.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Personally I think you should have attended ER at the beginning - but that time has passed.

It MAY be GCA, but honestly any new headache should be checked out - so to that end it needs to be addressed before the end of the month.

Just as a matter of interest, did the chewing increase the pain?

[Vawils in reply to DorsetLady]

Chewing seemed to aggravate or radiate pain to upper jaw area. Certainly did not help. I have a message in to my rheumatologist. thanks for reply.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Vawils]

that sounds very GCA…ish…please let us know how you get on with Rheumy.

[Vawils in reply to DorsetLady]

Have appt with rheumy on Thursday. She had me do lab works for my inflammation markers last week but as they were "normal" she did not seem too concerned about the recent headaches. The headaches are better but still have dull headaches for periods on many days. I was surprised by the "normal" results as my general aches and pains are worse lately. She had me increase prednisone to 3mg but think i may need to go higher.

Isn't it possible that my inflammation markers appear normal but the symptoms certainly do not?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Vawils]

It is very possible -many don’t have raised markers, before diagnosis or when they could be flaring …not sure why some doctors don’t seem to know that.

Plus even if you do, they can lag behind the symptoms-which is way we always say symptoms are the key!

Have to say not sure 3mg is going to do much good…but you’ll have to see.

Did she consider/suggest any other reason for headaches?

[123-go]

Hi Vawils. Any new headache should be reported to your rheumatologist as soon as possible. I would urge you to do this now and not wait until your appointment at the end of the month incase it is GCA related. Much better to be safe than sorry.

[Vawils in reply to 123-go]

I have a message into the rheumatologist about this, thanks for reply.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Did you not go to the ER? I wouldn't be waiting for the rheumy - there are several things that can cause such headaches and some of them can be fatal without early management.

You really can't put everything down to PMR and pred - and if it was due to GCA you were taking a risk there too.

[Vawils in reply to PMRpro]

I did not go to the ER. It eventually subsided to a more manageable level. I have a message in to the rhematologist now. thanks for advice and reply.

[discoballs]

I ended up in a and e in Cyprus a few years back. Right after a flight and whilst stepping down. It was awful and I happily accepted the ever so strong painkillers I was given. I was a bit high throughout the holiday.

[discoballs in reply to discoballs]

I do not recommend the hospital I went to just outside Limassol. It was filthy and even the Doctor farted in my room.