Unusal Blood Test Results

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Unusual for me, that is. I'm being checked very regularly as I am on a slow steroid reduction programme. This time round, for the first time since I was diagnosed although the inflammation levels are low, there is evidence of giant cells/giant platelets.

It will be checked again at the end of July and I am still continuing with the reduction proramme, but it's puzzling to say the least of it!

I have no other signs or symptoms of GCA and never have had, and I'm sure I'd know if there were any such signs.

Anybody out there had anything similar?

On a different note, the heat is really taking it's toll on me and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I think I melted yesterday into a small puddle on the floor. I'm on strike as far as the housework is concerned and I can't wait for it to cool off! I've been given the go-ahead to take Sage to see if it will help with this excessive sweating, starting today.

Keep Smiling.

2

Hi Nefret

Not sure if this will help. I went to the docs in March with pain behind one eye, in my jaw and temple. He sent me to outpatients and I was kept in for a week. They did a brain scan (to out rule tumours) and took a biopsy from my temple and immediately put my steriods up to 60mg. The biopsy showed nothing but they are treating me for GCA because they could have removed a piece of artery that was not affected. The fact that the steroids cleared the pain almost immediately suggestedted it was GCA. Just maybe you have had mild symptoms like these and put them down to eye strain or head ache?.

Maybe someone out there can help me? I have had a really rough time with the high dose of steroid. I was supposed to stay on 60mg for 6 weeks then reduce by 5mg every 2 weeks but because of horrible side effects I have had to reduce by 5mg per week. Does anyone know any withdrawal symptoms? I keep going dizzy and if I don't sit down I faint. A couple of times when I have gone dizzy, my left leg feels like it doesn't belong to me and shakes involentary. The moon face is gradually going down now that I am on 20mg but does anyone know if the fine blonde hairs on my face will go away? (Someone on here described it as \"peach fuzz\&quotwink Sny advice would be really appreciated.

3

Hi, Chisnal, thanks for the response.

You might well be right, but my situation is really even more confusing when I get down to details. I certainly have pain, particularly on the left side of my head, but the PMR has always affected my scalp and facial muscles to a certain extent. Additionally, I have chronic sinusitis which again affects the left side of my face - that's pretty much a life-long problem.

About two years ago I complained of pain, not in my left eye, but in my left eye socket and was checked out for just about everything, tests included X-rays, CT scans and goodness knows what else. All this via the ENT consultant whom I had already seen regarding the sinusitis. Result - nothing. It was finally decided that the PMR was affecting the ocular muscles, too. I got the impression that, while they believed I was in pain, they really hadn't a clue what it was, and any guess was was good as another.

Currently the sinusitis is well under control and the pain, while I get the odd day where I have to be careful where I touch my face - my left eyelid in particular - is nothing like it was when I first noticed it. The only time it has really bothered me was last year when everything else went pear-shaped anyway.

I think I'm still thinking that it's anyone's guess as to what's going on!

Regarding the withdrawal symptoms, yes, I had this earlier in the year when I made one reduction too far. Yes, it was my legs that seemed to suffer the most, some days I could only walk in circles. I also had what I called the 'whizz-bang' effect when momentarily the entire world would spin and I had to grab the nearest thing handy for support (this led to some interesting situations). I also had the usual PMR symptoms of aching/hurting all over and felt like nothing on this earth for several weeks.

I had the choice of either putting up the dose again or toughing it out. I chose the latter, but if I hadn't found this site plus all the PMR Fighters, I don't think I would have made it. Make it I did, and apart from this odd problem, I feel fine. My sugar levels are normal for the first time since diabetes was diagnosed, I've lost a stone and a half, and I've learned (after a very hard lesson) to take it one day at a time.

I so hope that you begin to feel better soon. Choosing between steroid side effects, withdrawal symptoms and GCA/PMR symptoms is something that no-one should be faced with. You've got all my sympathy.

Take care, lots of hugs

Nefret

4

Hi Nefret

Thanks so much for your reply. When you said the pain was in your eye socket, thats exactly where the pain was. I have had jaw pain for years, my jaw will only open so far and a trip to the dentist is an absolute nightmare. Please mention to you GP again about the eye pain because the scans, x-rays etc only out rule tumours or strokes and so forth. They don't sound like they are looking for GCA which apparantly is not exactly PMR but connected in the way that something is putting pressure on the muscle behind the eye?? I am no doctor but ask!.

Good luck and thanks again. Loved the chat

ps Thanks for the hugs, pity we don't get more, they are as good as a pain killer lol x