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Giant Cell Arteritis Diagnosis
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Mar 31 7:58pm | Replies (104)Comment receiving replies
My situation is much like yours, suffering for two years until it finally put me in the hospital with GCA
I suspected polymyalgia 2 years ago, I had all of the symptoms but tests were in normal limits. Saw more than 20 drs . Finally end of April my daily headaches were so bad I could not put my hear on a pillow, jaw pain all of my teeth hurt then one day my vision was really blurry. I was told by my eye dr to go to bascom Palmer in Miami, I live about three hours away,
They admitted me and started iv steroids, the dose was so high I got medication induced diabetes and required insulin. Fast forward to three months of tapering, I’m now at 20 mg os prednisone . 6 different meds from
The side effects .
My insurance finally approved a drug called tyrene. I am afraid to take it because of the side effects . I’m trying to hire a nurse who can sit with me for the first shot so I can be sure I don’t have anaphylaxis . I
Am by myself so it’s hard.
Anyway don’t give up. You know your body. I was told that I do not fit the type of someone who would have giant cell. Now it has pretty much ruined my life
Replies to "My situation is much like yours, suffering for two years until it finally put me in..."
@kittykelly1234 I was given the scorched earth treatment of 3 consecutive days of 1000mg solumedrol (prednisone) iv. At the time they diagnosed transverse myelitis, because it was a neurologist that ordered the MRI and brain swollen. But she left town and I wasn’t followed. I too developed diabetes from the massive prednisone treatment and my body went haywire, in so many systems. Then I was in a hospital for seizure study, had the most ghastly facial and head pain Ive ever had…but they were just concerned with it not being a seizure and said it was “just” a headache. Then I was in ER for horrible shoulder pain and weakness, couldn’t walk, and as soon as they ruled out stroke they discharged me. I finally got into a rheumatologist who immediately knew I had PMR. …and more. I’m on a course of prednisone but it wasn’t high enough to handle the GCA and my vision deteriorated. I go back next week and will be discussing much with rheumatologist.
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@kittykelly1234
Wouldn't the doctor who prescribed the tyrene be able to assist you with your first shot?