For over 2 months I have had a headache on and off, the last 3 weeks its come with neck pain and its so annoying. I have had 2 blood tests at my doctors and both had esr of 29 im a 23 yr old female. I saw a doctor who was a locum and said that wa high for my age and put me on anti biotics as she said i had sinus infection. Yesterday I see the normal doctor who is the manager of the surgery and i havent seen him before because Im worried about a vein/artery on my righ side on my forehead. You cannot see it but you can feel it a bit more than you can on the left side. I have been readin g up about gca and im getting worried. My partner and the doctor said they both feel the same but I can feel it a bit more (raised) on the right side than I can on the left. My doctor didnt seem too fussed about it yesterday but he seemed more worried about my posture and apparently thats causing the headaches. Im more worried about this on my forehead. I dont know how long its been like that it could of been there for ever but Ive only recently noticed it an im worried. Thanks.
Although I will never say never - you are really far too young to be considered for GCA, it generally only appears in people over about 45-50 and it is very rare in under 50s. There are people younger who have been found to have it but it is very unlikely and few rheumatologists would consider it as a diagnosis for you.
All sorts of things will lead to a raised ESR, including colds and even pregnancy (not suggesting that by the way, just saying!), and some people just have high levels so it makes sense to check it again in a couple of weeks to see if it is stable or rising further. If it is rising - then maybe your GP should look for something else.
It may quite well be that you are very conscious of this blood vessel - but we all have them and often they can be quite prominent. In GCA you would usually have other symptoms and you don't mention any of them. I'm not dismissing your concerns - but I really do feel it is likely to be something other than GCA. There is a form of arteritis that does occur in young people - but it is even more rare!
Thank you for your reply, yes thats what my partner has said but I suffer with health anxiety so makes it worse. Hvae seen a doctor yesterday who wasnt concerned about it. I have just had on and off headaches for 2 months and neck ache for past 3 weeks but apart from that no other symptoms. I know its normally people over 50 but as you said can never say never. I was just worried as I can feel it more prominent on the right side and can hardly feel it and it pulsates so thats why I was worried as I can feel it mor eon one side than the other lol and then read on google made me worse lol plus the esr levels on my blood test wetre bit raised. Im just an anxcious person lol thanks for your reply x
Just a doc can give you the explanation of what you having
and the proper treatment,
For sure GCA demands a constant attention to every new symptom.
I have CGA so I know a little about it.
Hope you manage it well.
If you can feel it pulsating then that makes GCA even less likely - one of the signs is a poor pulse in the artery.
Try not to worry so much - I know, it's easy for me to say.
Thanks for your reply, yeah i can feel a better pulse on the right side where i can feel the vein/artery more than i can on the normal (as i call it) left side lol, I think its just me worrying at every new thing lol x
Hiya thanks for your reply, I have seen several doctors and mentioned it to the doctor when i see him yesterday and he felt both sides of my forehead and didnt seem to bothered he just said to me ''yes you can and sometimes will feel i as its under the skin ontop of the skull'' thats all he said about that and checked my neck over and said the neck pain and headaches are too do with tension and posture. Hope living with GCA isnt too hard for you and wish you well. I dont think I have it as im sure th edoctor would of expected it yesterday when he checked me over. Thanks for your reply x
When I had PMR and had pain in the side of my head I was worried but when the doctor felt where the pain was he took my hand and placed my fingers where he had been feeling and said, as Eileen has, that the pulsing meant there was no claudication and nothing to worry about.
Hello Thank you so much for your reply. I was just worried as i could feel it slightly more raised on the right side than the left even though the doctor and my partner said too them it felt normal. I think thats my health anxiety making it worse, yes I can feel a good pulse it it even better than on the normal not raised left side. The vein/artery is above from my eyebrow id say basically near the temple. Thanks again for replying always makes me feel better talking to people on here x