Connect
← Return to Is swelling of lymph nodes and lower face part of PMR experience?
Discussion
Is swelling of lymph nodes and lower face part of PMR experience?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 29, 2025 | Replies (19)Comment receiving replies
@caroljeand So far no diagnosis, although I am scheduled for the biopsy of temporal artery on Tuesday. It is odd, because the nurse practitioner put me on 50 mg of prednisone for a week, but did not make a diagnosis? Seems she may have decided it is GCA. I don't know.
Replies to "@caroljeand So far no diagnosis, although I am scheduled for the biopsy of temporal artery on..."
@lally
When I went to my primary care practitioner with PMR/GCA symptoms, she forwarded my bloodwork to a rheumatologist in Colorado (I live in Wyo). He immediately prescribed 60 mg. of Prednisone out of an abundance of caution, until I could get a bi-lateral temporal biopsy. The biopsy was done 6 days later and the report was negative, however, it stated that that didn't mean that I didn't have GCA. I was on 60 mg. of Prednisone for about 6 weeks, before I could start tapering. This all started in July 2024. I am currently taking Actemra infusions monthly and 1 mg. of pred daily. My rheumatilogist prescribed the Actemra in Jan 2025, when I had a flare and some of the GCA symptoms seemed to be rearing their ugly head.
@lally I think she did that as a precaution. It seems like most GCA treatments are for around 60mg of prednisone. So she may have done this as a "bridge" until you get the biopsy/diagnosis. My understanding from reading some of the posts is that GCA vision issues can happen suddenly, including blindness.
Good Luck!
Connect
@lally
I guessing your symptoms were enough to make the decision to go ahead with the extra dose as a precaution.
Let me know how the biopsy goes.