I’ve not been on the site for a long time as I thought I was better re GCA . I’ve recently , well for a good few months been very poorly with diverticulitis and severe chest infections, so not been in a right frame of mind to reply to many of you lovely people. My husband is very seriously ill, he’s been rushed to hospital for a very serious lung condition, he has an ongoing problem that can’t be cured, at its worst it causes loss of oxygen , his levels went down to the 70s, I called an ambulance. Anyway back to me, just lately I’ve been getting very bad headaches again, I did find it odd but never thought it was GCA, then I had one episode of double vision, again it didn’t click with me. Oh and my shoulders became very painful again, in I’ve been feeling very unwell, I thought it my chest infection and my husband being ill was causing it. I did tell the doc but he thought it was my chest infection. Well I became more poorly , I’ve still got the chest problem and abdo pain, I phoned another doc because I felt so ill, immediately he asked why I was on pred before, (I stopped taking them 3 months ago) . He said the GCA is back again go to A/E if it gets worse, plus’s I’ve still got my chest and the abdo pain .Phew, that’s enough.
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2013mayo
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So sorry to hear all your news. .. and with the worry of your husband it really no wonder your GCA has resurfaced. Have you gone back on the Pred, and at what dose?
If doctor thought it might be GCA back then no good just saying ‘go to A&E if it gets worse’. They should be investigating and prescribing the necessary treatment.
Hi, he’s told me to take 5mg for now, I have started taking it 2 days before because I thought it would help my chest, on 5mg the headaches have improved and no double vision but Ive still got the painful shoulders and feeling dreadful, I’m not in a position to see anyone yet as my husband is in a critical way and I need to be there for him. Xx thank you for replying so quickly
I am so sorry that you and your husband are going through such a challenging time. I agree with DL wholeheartedly and she knows. Like they say on an aeroplane “ please ensure that your own oxygen mask is secured before you try to help anyone else. Please have your own health investigated as a matter of priority. X
I Know, but it’s so difficult , if I go to A/E you have to wait and wait, and then what if they admit me. My husband is so very ill, I can’t be in another ward can I ?
Never underestimate the effect very poorly husbands can have on PMR/GCA - DL and I both know about that. And you are likely to need a lot more than 5mg for safety since your original dx was GCA, Not least for the adrenal requirements - they will still be a bit wobbly only a few months after you thought you were done with pred.
And as SJ says - get yourself taken care of or there is now way you will take care of him. I can back that up 100%
You have so much to cope with. Now try my trick...read what you have written about your condition as if it were written by someone elese...what advice would you give them..."Go to A and E and look after yourself!"
I used this trick when I thought that maybe, perhaps I was having a heart attack.
20 minutes later I had got myself to A and E (by taxi) and was being treated for a heart attack.
hoping you and your husband soon get on the the road to improving ...
You definitely need to get your inflammatory markers checked with blood tests. and of course with GCA there is always a risk to sight . Go to A&E urgently. Best wishes
That's a lot of health problems to deal with all around between you and your husband. I'm so sorry you are going through this awful time. I'm glad you reached out to the wise caring group here. I'm sure you will be doing much better with the advise you get here. I like what aging feminist said. We seem to take better care of others than we do ourselves. Sending love, peace and healing
Very true, I’ve probably made myself so poorly worrying about my husband. I am sorting things out for me now, I’ve Ben to hospital and doctors and they are trying sort things out, ct scan and so on.x
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