Awaiting GCA diagnosis

[Pierpoint1]

After suffering Headaches for a couple of months, temples , stabbing pains in cheek and ear, waking up in the night with terrible painWhile on holiday in Spain

Went to a doctor who was concerned it was GCA

gave me 20mg predisone,

While away,saw my own Gp

Who upped the dose to 40mg, while I await an rheumatology apt, hopefully within the week

Pain has improved greatly

But still getting occasional temple pain, should I expect

the pain to eventually be gone,The steroids give me a

a heavy headache

Really quite anxious and wondering what to expect

.blood were done in Spain

2 days after steroid dose

My fault instructions lost in translation, they came back clear after only 2 doses of steroids

Any advice and information

Please

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

How long have you been on 40mg? If longer than 2 weeks but if still have a headaches, then I think you probably need a higher dose.

Just because your blood are ‘okay’ doesn’t mean everything is under control. GCA should be treated as an emergency- so your GP should be pushing for an appointment asap.

You might like to have a look at this-

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

And maybe show the link in this to your GP -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Pierpoint1 in reply to DorsetLady]

I have only been on 40mg since Friday ,so 4 days, no pain in the night now

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Pierpoint1]

Okay well you need to give it more time. Hopefully it will keep improving as the days go by, and more of the built up inflammation is dispersed, so the Pred only has to deal with the day to day inflammation.

Took me best part of 2 weeks on double your dose to get my headaches under full control, albeit different scenario if you view my bio/profile.

[Pierpoint1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou so much, it is so Scary

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Pierpoint1]

Yes it is -but once you have been diagnosed and are on treatment the main danger has abated significantly…

You will get through this - and we will help .

[Pierpoint1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou x