Hello @lilyonm I just had a setback after tapering from 30mg Prednisone ( May 2023) to 0.5 mg in first week of July. At end of June I had a cold with lo fever and started noticing headache and pain in the jaw on the right side of my face. On July 5th my CRP , but not ESR was elevated again. I happened to be at osteopath who examined and manipulated my jaw.
I am aware of GCA symptoms and also knew that there is a GCA fast track clinic at Mass General Brigham. I asked my rheumatologist "what is the protocol I would follow if the symptoms were to worsen or become more frequent?[ we were getting ready for vacation]" well to my surprise she referred me immediately for a temporal artery biopsy ! I thought she would just say keep the phone number for the fast track clinic handy and/or get downtown immediately to the "clinic"

SO -- Where do you live? - I assume that since you are asking , there is someone who is trained to do the GCA ultrasound?
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/964298?form=fpf
BTW - and@johnbishop I had the biopsy under local anesthesia by a general surgeon from Salem Hospital ( in MA). The nurse said they do MANY of these ! My results are negative for temporal arteritis. Again, unlike you, I had finally tapered to 0 mg Prednisone . After the biopsy I restarted 5 mg of Prednisone . I couldn't go swimming on vacation because of the incision!! I am seeing rheum Monday . And I did bring 60mg Prednisone on my trip just in case !