GCA and pollen allergy

[christine2715]

Having a long and bad GCA flare and realise almost every year i have a flare in March. I dont have runny eyes or nose but test showed allergy to tree pollen and we have a large yew tree full of pollen in garden Could this exacerbate or bring on gca flare. Any ideas. Thanks to all you lovely people.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Might well be.. and if you still have GCA this time next year take preemptive action before tree blossoms.. 😊 or does it coincide with doing more in the garden?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Ditto to what DL has said - but allergies will have an effect on your immune system so all bets are off really.

[SnazzyD]

Might or might not.

autoimmuneinstitute.org/art...

Oddly, whenever I have had bad illness kick off it’s always in March. Usually buildup, if any, from Jan and liftoff in March.

[christine2715 in reply to SnazzyD]

Had blood test and CRP in range although ACtemra does alter result i think. Doctor told me pollen can cause bad symptoms like covid or bad flu so now think might be that. Bought anti allergy pills. So far not any better

[SnazzyD in reply to christine2715]

How do your March flares show themselves?

[christine2715 in reply to SnazzyD]

Aching neck, heavy head, weakness, blocked dry sinus, tiredness, aching shoulders. Now wondering if caused by allergy to tree pollen. Dont have runny nose or prickling eyes.

[SnazzyD in reply to christine2715]

I find saline nasal spray does wonders for my summer blocked, dry sinuses.

[Bunchberry]

I’ve been curious about this too, as I feel my pmr symptoms are a bit worse this month. We’re not in tree pollen season yet (I’m in Canada), as the trees haven’t budded yet, but we’re definitely in snow mold season (which happens during the spring melt). And it’s this time last year when my symptoms first became obvious, so I am wondering if allergies exacerbate it all. But hard to tell if it’s that or just one taper too many.

[Angelsmummy]

Morning c,don’t get a flare of my GCA PMR during pollen season but the pollen is extremely bad right now,really suffering with hayfever and my normal Loratadine is just not doing it for me.Feeling of pressure in head ,ears etc but not GCA related so that is a blessing.I am currently on a higher dose because of recent flare so am thinking that if I was not on Pred possibly my hayfever would be a lot worse,if that is at all possible.Best wishes,xx💐😜

[christine2715 in reply to Angelsmummy]

Thanks, wondering if a mixture of both. Hope you get better soon

[Angelsmummy in reply to christine2715]

You too.,!😭😤xxx💐😜

[Sharitone]

I don't know, but I am certainly having the same experience

[Lithe]

Interesting to hear your take on flaring in March. I was doing so well earlier in the year I thought I was coming out the other side of this. Last week I reluctantly decided to go back up to 6mg having been on 5mg since February. It’s confusing to be reversing for no apparent reason. One thing I will say is that I cut out sugar, gluten, dairy and caffeine after Christmas and experienced a huge improvement - not easy to maintain such discipline long term. I must have another go at it though, realising it doesn’t have to be forever and the rewards are worth it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lithe]

You do have to remember that pred is not a cure - it is a management strategy - and that you are not reducing relentlessly to zero but titrating the dose to find the lowest effective dose. It sounds as if you need between 6 and 5mg for stability at present. It doesn't mean you won;t get lower - just not yet.