Good morning- hope everyone is well. I have GCA for almost 2 1/2 years, and have had a number of flares with steroid dose increased/then reduced on treatment programme. Currently on 1 1/2 mg of Pred and generally feeling okay (apart from the fatigue-still working full-time.) My query relates to being constantly hoarse with mucus on my chest-I have just read in Newswire PMR/GCA (UK Magazine) that arteries that supply the voice box may cause a hoarse voice.
Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions to reduce hoarseness? I have GP appt. on Monday for a general check-up and treatment review. Any advice/suggestions very much appreciated. Thank you.
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Uisce58
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A hoarse voice would probably not be a symptom of GCA if accompanied by mucus on the chest. Sounds more like an infection. Presumably you did not have this symptom on previous flares? I'm sure your GP will run the necessary tests to diagnose it.
Well I never! Hadn't put the two together! Is that what makes me snore? Never been able to hold a note, the brain knows this but some kind of short circuit happens between brain and voice...
Don't know about the snoring - although my husband complained I snored early days with PMR. Not that he had any room to talk!!!! I think the PMR affects the throat muscles and they get weak and flabby,
Quite a few people with GCA have had voice problems - one of my early signs with PMR was a change in my voice. I had a constant sore throat that wasn't an infection and my voice range deteriorated from a high mezzo soprano to a poor alto range, I eventually couldn't guarantee what note would come out and had to give up singing altogether - after over 50 years.
Yes ad it hasn’t gone away. Have trouble taking tablets too. Had my throat check and all was ok. Like you I read the article in the News wire so assume that is what is happening. I also have to clear my throat constantly. GP gave me Gaviscon for this as she said it was acid reflux. Has helped a bit
I use an asthma inhaler and that causes hoarseness by relaxing the vocal cords - as well as the bronchi. My case is intermittent. There is a nerve that runs through the thyroid to the larynx: superior laryngeal nerve. Maybe A thyroid exam can see if there is any pressure there- rather remote but a thought.
Hoarseness was one of my GCA symptoms. Usually worse with fatigue or lots of talking. It became a great signpost to alert me if I was trying to do too much! It also alerted me to a flare once I was off Pred and Actemra completely. Sure enough my markers were up and I ended up back on Actemra.
Funny you asked... I have just been diagnosed with GCA, and am into the 60 MG PRED level for only 5 days. IMMEDIATELY after starting the PRED, I got a raspy voice. No tightness, no allergic kind of feeling, but raspy. Looking back however, my voice had been getting hoarser and raspier after heavy work or exercise. I thought it was merely a symptom of age, which it might have been. But this hoarse, raspy voice of mine started IMMEDIATELY (like the day after) I started the PRED.
I have hoarseness also...I know Dr. John Stone of Mass General in Boston, Massachusetts, considers a cough and hoarseness one of the symptoms of GCA often overlooked by physicians in coming to that all important diagnosis....I believe Dr. Stone has worked with Dr. Dasgupta. (I'm three years into GCA, have vocal cord tremors and asthma...so who knows for sure, but it is there)💕
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Sore throat and husky voice
13 December PMRUk Voices discussion on Zoom missed, anyone attend? 
GCA OR STIFFNESS FROM PMR
