Last Wednesday I had a telephone Drs appointment about my blood test results. In among I happened to mention I had had a feeling on my left side of both my leg and arm similar to eleven years ago when I started with GCA and also had a TIA. As a result I was given an appointment to visit another doctor on Friday. Between them I have been lectured in the nicest possible way what I must do if I get it again.
Has anyone any words of advice to help me avoid a recurrance?
I’m sorry I’m unable to make any suggestions but I’m intrigued. What were you told to do, prunus?
Hopefully you mean a recurrence of your lecture? Because there really isn't much you can do yourself to reduce the risk of a TIA unless you report any signs and symptoms to a doctor at the time for diagnosis - which you didn't. If you had, you would probably have had scans and other tests and a plan drawn up on the basis of what they identified.
It may have been that they found a clot somewhere - then it might have been treated with a clot busting drug or angiography to fish it out of where it was. And then they look to see if there is anywhere obvious that it came from and treatment started to reduce the risk of another. Maybe your BP is raised, your cholesterol very high, or they found other risk factors that can be modified.
But TIAs resolve within 24 hours and you can no longer identify what caused it - so when youhave anything like that again, call 999 or 111 if you can't see your GP immediately and then they have a chance of seeing what can be done to prevent another, Is what I've said the same as they did?
Your second paragraph is very interesting as all they said was dial 999. They did not give me any idea of what would happen then. I have a great fear of hospitals dating back to childhood. My husband used to be my rock in this but now I nolonger have him. I have had blood in my nose which seems to be clearing now. Would this be part of it? I did not mention it to the Dr. I should have been going on holiday with my son down to Somerset but have cancelled. I was frightened of being in a hospital down there.
Do you mean a nose bleed? Some believe they are signs of high BP and high BP can be a cause of stroke.
I realise your concern about being in a hospital "away from home" but you cannot now live your life in fear of what MIGHT happen. If you were to have a TIA again, any hospital will identify it and deal with it appropriately at the time and then you would be able to go home to the local service with the evidence that immediate care would have elicited.
The most likely upshot of being seen at the time is to be put on anticoagulant therapy which reduces the risk of stroke but as we are all saying - you must get medical care when it happens and not ignore it.
Many thanks for your advice. It was not a bleed with my nose running blood. It just seemed to be full each time I blew it for a day or two. Yesterday I watched Dr Sarah Mackie's talk. When she was asked questions I picked up on her point that there could be a link between predislone and Covid injections. I had a Covid booster on the 20th May and it is since then I have had my problems. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on the matter. I am currently on 3mg of Preisolone. The last time my blood pressure was taken it was 130/69 on the 1st June.
Do you mean pred or PMR and the Covid jab? Her point was actually that there is a link between PMR being triggered by ANY vaccine - it is proven for the flu and shingles jabs too - or any of a whole range of things that prods the immune system.
hi Prunus,
I have large vessel vasculitis, a form of GCA, and two years ago had two small strokes and then last year a TIA. I recently had more visual symptoms that may be a TIA and awaiting investigation. It is very important to report any symptoms asap as PMRpro said. I also take blood thinners as a preventative. It was whilst having a flare of symptoms I had my strokes so it was attributed to LVV. Take care
I was very interested to read your report. I was not taking aspirin at all and the Dr has now put me on it. I am not enthusiastic about pills but promised the Dr I would take it now. I should have taken it but had not been doing.
A lack of prompt treatment for GCA symptoms can result in permanent damage to the eyesight. A lack of prompt treatment for stroke symptoms can result in brain damage or even death. Those who get prior warning of the onset of such diseases should recognise the symptoms, act quickly, and consider themselves lucky.
GCA relapse saga
Dentists and PMR/GCA
PMR/GCA and COPD
GCA and PMR 
gca symptoms
