not sure what’s happening?

[Legsandmore]

Hi , l am experiencing lots of headaches, mostly around the eye area and sometimes the pain actually feels like it’s in my eyeballs.

For the past few days l have been getting sharp stabbing pains in my right temple.

Not unbearable, but l can definitely feel it. As l type my right temple area is kind of throbbing, with a dull ache and it feels sort of tight.

Does GCA come on in stages? Does it start at a lower level of discomfort and then escalate, or just come on at full pelt.

I mentioned this to my GP, but she said it sounds like tension headaches.

Any thoughts guys please

[SnazzyD]

GCA run up can be different for different people so there is no sure fire way of telling. Mine was months of unrelated niggles but nothing to go to the doctor with, then wallop, over 48 hours it snowballed. Some people lose their sight as the first symptom, that’s not the rule though and there is a lot of variation in between.

GCA can be mimicked by sternokleidomastoid muscle tension. I’ve had that too.

healthline.com/health/stern...

Your doctor needs to say why they are ruling out GCA in a person with PMR history. GP’s don’t see a lot of GCA as a rule but they should know about the red flags. I think you need a second opinion, pronto.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

GCA can come on in stages, or in one go. It varies, so no exact answer unfortunately.

Have you tried painkillers? If not maybe try and see if it helps.

Have you ever had migraines? Are your eyes affected? have they been checked recently? If not, then an appointment would be sensible.

But any new headache should be checked out properly, not just assumed to be down to 'tension' - even though it may be.

Null points to GP.

[Legsandmore in reply to DorsetLady]

thanks for your speedy response everyone.

Yes, l used to get migraines when l was much younger, but not really over recent years.

The GP session was over the telephone and she asked me if my temple was tender to the touch, l said no.

She asked if it felt bumpy at all and again the answer was no. She asked if my scalp was sore and tender to the touch, again, not really.

She was aware of the link between PMR and GCA but didn’t think l was in enough pain for it to be the latter.

I will take painkillers and see if it eases at all.

My hubby is unwell and l am worried about that, so yes l am experiencing some stress, my neck is very sore and stiff as are my upper arms.

Not sleeping, so very tired.

The GP asked me if l knew about GCA and l said yes, she asked what l would do if l though it was an attack of GCA, l said take a big walk of Pred and head to A&E.

She seemed happy with that….

If it does escalate, what dose of Pred would help whilst l went to the hospital, about 45 mins away?

I was thinking 30/40 mg?

I am currently on 15mg daily

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Legsandmore]

Would say combination of stress and lack of sleep may well have poked your PMR… so you probably need an increase anyway- at least temporarily- many of us have been through the unwell [and worse] with loved ones and know the toll it takes.

I’d be inclined to go to 20mg for while - see flare protocol here- and see how that pans out - if okay, then down to just above 15mg… if not then off to A&E for second opinion.. and 40mg should be enough if you feel it’s GCA… but more if sight disturbances -but hopefully that won’t be necessary.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Legsandmore in reply to DorsetLady]

thanks, yes l am worried about hubby. Waiting on scan results ref a possible return of cancer

I took 15mg with breakfast, do you think it would hurt to take another 10mg now?

I would like to see if it helps or not, or should l wait and take 20mg tomorrow morning?

No double vision, just a few black floaters, not unusual for me and that said my eyes are not great at the best of times and l do have eye checks every 6 months

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Legsandmore]

I think I’d go extra 5mg now… and see how that goes.. an extra 10mg might be a tad too much.

[Legsandmore in reply to DorsetLady]

thanks, that’s what l suspected, but l hate feeling like this and worrying it’s more than the PMR. But good advice, as ever, l will try the 5mg and hope it takes the edge off.

Can’t stand to think of lying awake in discomfor all night again.

Will let you know how it goes, thanks for the link to the flare protocol x

[PMR2011 in reply to Legsandmore]

You could ask to have inflammatory markers checked. My GCA was generalized symptoms, but fatigue was most pronounced symptom. When they checked markers and found them off the scale we put the constellation of symptoms together and determined it to be GCA. Do take care of yourself!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd say ALL of the above are possible.

I'm NOT impressed by a GP who so readily dismisses headaches in a PMR patient as tension headaches!!

Maybe this might wake her up?

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

utswmed.org/medblog/giant-c...

My thoughts - find a doctor who doesn't make sweeping assumptions in a PMR patient. It might be tension but it could also be GCA - and the possibility of sight loss should concentrate her mind.

[Gimme]

Personally, I wouldn't take the chance with what you describe. I would call 111. At the very least, they are likely to arrange for you to have your eyes looked at and have bloods taken. My bloods were rushed through when it happened to me and I had to wait an hour or so for the results. There are other inflammatory issues that an make your eyes hurt, besides GCA (such as uveitis), so it might be better having them checked out.

[KV-P7671]

Hi, I experienced the same thing. Spoke to my Gp who sent me straight to A and E. Within 3 days was having a Temporal Artery Biopsy and GCA confirmed 7 days later. Please ask again.

[Legsandmore in reply to KV-P7671]

Thanks

[potterylady]

Hello, I have GCA and I get sharp pains in my eyes. Like shooting pains. I have gotten them all over in my head but the eyes are severe.