Strange head and eye experience.

[Rubha]

Im currently on 12.5 pred for GCA having tapered from 50 last year. First by 5mg three weekly then once at 20 tapering 2.5 monthly till now. Yesterday I had my eyebrows waxed (quite ferociously unfortunately) and my "beard and moustache as Im going on a pampeeing Spa break. Immediately I stood up , I had a dreadful headache , broke into a sweat this lasted less then 3 or 4 minutes then I had 5 minutes or so of an occular migraine. Could the pressure on my head etc have caused this ? I havw been tapering successfully and feel fine since this incident yesterday. All advice gratefully accepted in this excellent forum with its really helpful ecperts . Thanks

[SnazzyD]

Where in/on the head was the pain?

[Rubha in reply to SnazzyD]

Forehead mainly but felt all inside fuzzy. Not one sided. I have had these occular disturbances before (occular migraines?? ZigZaging arches in rainbow colours) a fter 2 of my Covid jabs and once when I had Covid. I was hoping to taper from 12.5to 11 on Monday after 4 weeks on the 12.5.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

May well have, but I’d be inclined to put a hold on the tapering for a while…

[Rubha in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks Dorset Lady, as always, for your advice. I have my pre op on 19th Feb for a THR and had hoped to be at 11mg as opposed to 12.5 before that. I’ll hold off for another week and see if I stay « stable »…..it’s a bit like juggling plates 😅

[perceptual63]

Your symptoms sound like your blood pressure dropped and were on the verge of passing out due to having your eyebrows and facial areas waxed which can be painful in and of itself in each area.

[Rubha in reply to perceptual63]

Thanks perceptual. I think we GCA sufferers are so aware of any head , eye symptoms , we can become overly aware. Im on BP medication , very low dose as it's always ok at the docs .

[perceptual63 in reply to Rubha]

I know for me "pain = passing out" as it's happened several times with me, particularly with needle sticks and am very familiar with those symptoms when they occur and recognized them possibly in you. But know that your blood pressure can still bottom out causing the symptoms you experienced with the possibility of actually passing out even though you are taking bp medications.

[Rubha in reply to perceptual63]

It makes sense and silly as it may seem, I'd rather it was that than the return of the GCA 🫣

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You have no left-over effects? Had you stood up slowly or just bounced out of the chair?

[Rubha]

No left over effects , had been lying on my back , eyes shut and turned over onto my tummy and it hit me , wham. Headache went in a few mins then occ mig followed lasting about 10 mins or so then disappeared. Im due my pre op on 19th Feb for Hip Replacement ...fingers crossed I have no hiccups cause my hip is really affecting me now. Aging is not for the old 😅😅😅

[Kritterkid]

I am not an expert but have had occular migraines. Could it be that the way you were laying put pressure on the blood vessels in your neck and back of your head, and when you stood up there was slow blood flow to the area causing the issues?

A doc once had me carrying an antihistimene (sp) in case I started an occular migraine to 'blow open those vessels'. Now if I start to get one, I take a Claratin and head to a dark quiet place to lay down on my side.

I hope that you get a straight answer to this.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kritterkid]

antihistamine - if you are interested!!

[Rubha in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting PMR Pro....I'll google that. I had no idea anti histamines were useful in that way. Many years ago my then boyfriend med student and his pals used to take them for student hangovers !!! Different times now 🤔

[Rubha in reply to Kritterkid]

Thanks Kritterkid. As I've had no escalation of the symptoms I think there is a possibility it could be simething like you or others suggest. Im holding off on my 1.5 taper for anither week. Many thanks for your input...much appreciated.