Tiredness

What is TAB?

A biopsy of the temporal artery, used to detect Giant Cell Arteritis. It doesn't take much time and is painless. Some people get local anesthetic. Mine was done under general anesthetic.

I am extremely fatigued and frustrated because I am unable to complete simple tasks. I have a little more energy in the mornings. Today, every step or movement is labored.

Hello @ecd, Welcome to Connect. It can definitely be frustrating when you have something you need to do but are just to tired to even think about it. Have you been diagnosed with PMR? What kind of treatment plan are you on?

I was diagnosed May 2021. I take 3 mg of Prednisone daily and 20 mg of Methotrexate weekly.

You might find it helpful to look through the following discussions to read what others have shared.
-- PMR and exhaustion: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-and-exhaustion/
-- Chronic Fatigue while tapering Prednisone for PMR: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-fatiguewhile-tapering-prednisone-for-pmr/

@jabrown0407 Please also see this thread - I posted a link that discusses fast track clinics for GCA . I see that many commenters mention their opthalmologists - but the ischemia can also cause jaw claudication . I thought GCA was the in the rheumatologist's purview ? : )
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1108425/.
yikes ! Teri - I would not describe the TAB as painless : (

Thanks for the link. What I can tell you is that GCA can appear as a jaw problem sending you to the dentist. I actually went to the dentist for TMJ one month before my initial flare of TMJ. My neurologist tells me it can appear as pain similar to trigeminal neuralgia which is a nerve problem. I actually went to my neurologist a year before my first flare with trigeminal neuralgia Dx-ed. And it can appear as headaches and vision problems. I sure there are other presentations. Once my eye doctor heard I had PMR she reacted swiftly to coach me in case I showed symptoms at any point in the future. My Rheumy told me she screened for GCA, and since I did not have symptoms she did not mention it. I suppose she thought it was a given it would not crop up. I'll take my ophthalmologist's advice on GCA in the future.

No. Not painless. I also had a local. I can handle some pain. Oh brother . I wished I had been put under. Two years later that area is still tender. This was done at the Mayo hospital. So not like I went to a local urgent care.