Enlarged blood vessels on temples

[Noraflorence]

I have been struggling with enlarged blood vessels on the side of my head now on both sides and feeling pressure in my head generally. I noticed these in mid December and took myself off to the Eye Casualty who said nothing untoward with my optic nerve, took blood samples and referred me back to rheumatology. Rheumatology contacted the consultant by email informing her that I had these symptoms and a slightly raised CRP of 12 (previously less than 1 for a long time) Her response was that I had an appointment at the end of January and did not have a flare It was not GCA. I did not need to be seen. I had of my own volition increased my pred from 3 mg to 8 mg. I was told the consultant was ok with this but to decrease to 7 after 3 weeks. I have done this but the pressure in my head is not improving.

I have had a virus which has produced all kinds of gunge etc and which responds a bit to paracetamol. I am not sure whether I ought to be pushing a face to face appointment with someone. GP hopeless prospect or wait until 22 nd Jan with the consultant.

Any thoughts suggestions?

[SnazzyD]

Do you still have the viral gunge? What’s your bp doing?

[Noraflorence in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you for such a swift response. Yes Viral gunge in my nose and possibly sinuses .BP is all over the place varies from 109/90 to 154/80 and raised heart rate? Could be the result of my neurotics.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I seriously doubt there is much availability for appointments before the 22nd Jan - the lack of clinics over the 2 weeks of Christmas and New Year fills everything for weeks after, it is only 2 weeks.

What you describe sounds far more like the viral problem, it can take weeks to clear. Have you tried old fashioned inhaling? Steam helps but some Vick or Friars Balsam is good. All it needs is a towel to go over your head and if you use the decongestants a bowl you don't need for cooking!!

[Noraflorence in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you as always, the voice of reason. I had got myself worked up over the blood vessel thing which suddenly appeared where I had GCA pain. I will try to rein in my over thinking and practise being patient. I am an experienced steamer but in my early days did make the mistake of using a baking bowl for a Friar's Balsam steam, Impossible to get rid of it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Noraflorence]

Obviously if you were to develop other signs of GCA you would need to be seen by someone. But lots of people have the prominent arteries without ever getting GCA, I do wonder if pred doesn't help - the skin does thin even more than it does with age and blood vessels are no longer so cushioned by the lower layers of the skin.

Yes - you have to keep such a thing for future use!! Metal is quite good - or a cheapy from a charity shop!!!!

[Noraflorence in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you I shall see what the consultant says in a couple of weeks. Will keep an eye out for a metal bowl!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Noraflorence]

Or a plastic container purely for that ...

[Noraflorence in reply to PMRpro]

Indeed

[ladygigger]

When there's a lot of 'gunge' I've been using something that's popular where my daughter lives, in Eastern France - it's called a Neti Pot and basically it's rinsing your sinuses. It's something I use as a last resort, not regularly, as it requires partly cooled boiled water as well as a pre-prepared saline dose.

[Noraflorence in reply to ladygigger]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. I shall certainly investigate the Neti Pots option. I am intigued by your nom de plume

[ladygigger in reply to Noraflorence]

My nom de plume - LadyGigger - until I fell ill, I was a part time music photographer but PMR stopped that: I was shooting with heavy full frame (Canon) cameras and lenses, now sadly sold. Nowadays I go to the occasional gig - but only if I can be promised seating and I obviously can no longer cope with a 3 day festival in the summer - some days I walked up to 8 miles with full kit.

I covered anything from Alice Cooper to Jules Holland to The Darkness to Chicken Shack, the Zombies (3 songs from the 60's lasted less than 7 minutes...), The Christians, Andy Fairweather Lowe - just too many to list - to local pub bands who needed shots for their web page, mostly rock/metal/blues and folk if I could get it!

I've closed down most of my websites (still have an Adobe Portfolio, but don't update it as often as I should) but I'm still on Facebook and Instagram for when I do go to a gig. I shoot, my partner reviews and we supply copy to a number of sites. Much less often now - it used to be a couple of nights a week, now I'm lucky if it's once a month.

And hopefully that has given you a smile

[Noraflorence in reply to ladygigger]

A real smile and a bit envious. What an exciting life you have led, especially meeting all those iconic people, a real shame that you have had to give much of it up for health reasons. I hope your memories provide some solace. I somehow thought (Duh) that gigger' might have been something to do with the building trade!! Tbanks again for the info on the NetiPot

[ladygigger in reply to Noraflorence]

Meet them? Oh, I wish... At the smaller festivals, yes, but mostly I was just in the 'photo pit' at the front of the stage for 3 songs if I was lucky, then out - and a lot of the London venues make you hand in your camera bag at the end of the stint. I've filmed a few interviews, but no one really famous - David Ellefson of Megadeth when he performed with KK Rowling, formerly of Judas Priest: their Q&A has probably had the most views!

But it was great fun, and I miss it.