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I was diagnosed with PMR in March and SMM in May. I saw an opthalmologist in April for my annual eye exam and they checked for GCA. I was negative. My rheumatologist checks for it every time I see him. On July 4 I was having pain in my temples and they became very sensitive to touch. I also had jaw pain when chewing and a feeling of extreme tightness at the base of my skull. Fearing GCA, I went to the ER and spent 5 hours being tested for various things. I left with a diagnosis of probable migraine due to prednisone tapering. I didn't know it could cause migraines and I didn't know that migraines don't have to be debilitating. They can have any of the same symptoms that sent me to the ER.

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Replies to "I was diagnosed with PMR in March and SMM in May. I saw an opthalmologist in..."

@kjoed53 Since you are on prednisone they cannot Dx GCA easily. The temporal biopsy would most likely be negative. What you outlined are the classic symptoms of GCA so once you get past the SSM hurdle you might want to revisit the headaches and request for a chest MRI. Since you have not needed large doses of prednisone, like 60mg daily, it is unlikely. I was initially put on 40mg with just the Dx of PMR. I went 6 years without a proper Dx.