Could some one tell me about the symptoms they have with GCA Please
Joyce
I had a headache in my left temple which would not go away with any painkillers. Then I had a pain in my jaw when I yawned as well as night sweats, fatigue and loss of appetite but I also had PMR so the sweats and fatigue and loss of appetite might be related to the PMR!
see below don't know what happened!
I am still going through diagnostics to see if I have added GCA to my repertoir. But I have had an odd and pronounced 'popping' out of veins on my arms and hands as well as other sypmtoms of GCA. The Drs keep dismissing this symptom, but it occurs during flare ups of my PMR only (and now with these possible CGCA sypmtoms). No other times. Has any one had this as well?
I had excrutiating pain in both temples, so bad that I could bear nothing to touch them. I was also very sick with the pain and feeling weak as well . I had felt generally unwell for some time and my GP had done several blood tests which all came back negative, but when I presented with the headaches he realised it might be GCA and arranged biopsies and hospital tests.
Pain in neck headache that won't respond to paracetamol tender around temple at least that was my symptoms
I had a headache that was different from all my other headaches (and I suffered from migraines and sinus headaches). it was on the side of my head at my temple. What really made me go to the doc was my 10 year old daughter noticed the weird bump on the same side of my head on my artery and asked me what it was. I hadn't even noticed it. for some reason I went to the doc the next wk and was in surgery by the end of the week with confirmation that I had GCA. Looking back on it I had flu symptoms the previous week, but we thought it was the flu. I also had jaw pain but I clench my teeth so I dismissed it as that.
here's a link: https://patient.info/health/giant-cell-arteritis-leaflet
Black zig-zag lines across both eyes when I opened them in the morrning. Blink 7 they disapperaed. I still get them occasionally & when I've had flare ups. Blurry eyesight most of the time.
Excruciatibg pain both temples. Scalp so sore I couldn't lie on a pillow & had to sit up for several nights propped around with pillows. Could't even touch my own hair - my hair felt sore too!. Couldn't wash my hair for a week when it was at its worst. New headache/pain across my forehead. Deep pain in one ear. jaw "tiredness"ar a few chews,...Jaws too tired to eat! Same in upper arms - couldn't peel potatoes after doing one - arm wouldn't work. Same feeling in thighs - Hauled myself upstairs for weeks,
Sinus pain/eye pain & intense fatigue.
High doses of steroids and all of those horrible symptoms are mainly under control. Next job to reduce the steroids without any of the above returning.
Keeping positive.
All the best
Oh Jean you sure are going through hell ...bless you.I am lucky I dont have as many symptoms as you .
Take care
Thanks for your reply. I'm seeing another Rheumy next week for a 2nd opinion/ as to why my GCA keeps recurring.
How are you feeling? Are you reducing your Pred?
I am just on 10mg of pred at the moment . I am getting there Jean
you take care
I can't wait for the day I reach 10mg but I know I have to go really slowly as previous attempts to lower have proven to cause flare ups.
You take care too - take your time.