Medications for Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

Sorry to hear that you are experiencing so much pain....I think in this day and age you just have to be grateful to wake up in the morning and know that you are alive for another day. Yes, things have changed dramatically in the medical field, it is now considered more of a business than an aid in health and humanity. Doctors and good ones are bought out by hospitals, meaning that they are owned by them and they have to bring a certain amount of revenue in since the hospital pays for all of their overhead, medical insurance, nurses, medical asst., physician assistants, clerical staff and billing as well as office space....In my opinion they have sold themselves out to devil. Many of them who were in private practice before don't last long and opt for an earlier retirement since the transition to to a do-as I say environment becomes too much for them. Also, I have noticed when they transition into ownership by a hospital, some hospitals associations don't provide well trained staff on all levels....It's got to be hard for doctors to work with what they give them...they have no more say in the quality of what's provided for them!

@charann2000 - I see my optometrist every 6 months since the GCA started. She does a great exam and has the equipment to do more than the Neurologist was able to do. My optometrist told me that she has diagnosed people with GCA. It may make sense to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. I know how frustrated you are since I went through the same thing. You get to the point that you don’t know where to turn next. We are lucky that we live 2 hours from Mayo and were able to go through their emergency room. I wish there was something I could do for you.

Yes, you are very fortunate to live within driving distance of a Mayo Clinic. I am going to be speaking with my Eye, Ears, Nose Throat Specialist who was the first one to pick up on the possibility of Temporal Arteritis and see if he can write an Rx for an Neurological Eye Exam so that it can be covered by Medicare instead of a routine eye exam. Yes, I have become frustrated but am very grateful that I have been in communications with you and several others on this Board. I am trying to just deal every day as it unfolds now and calm myself down as it seems to aggravate the condition with stress and worry. I am confident that I will get to the bottom of this within the next few weeks, but it seems like it could be an easier process from my view point. Also, I plan on staying within the Aurora Network as it appears to work more efficiently with internal communications and accountability than the other major health organizations we have here in Milwaukee. As we get older, we don't need nor want more aggravations. Have a great Mother's Day!

@charann2000 - The optometrist can code it with GCA and Medicare will cover the eye exam. I am not paying for any of my visits. Just tell them when you call in that the ENT has told you that you have GCA and you need an eye exam. I think that makes sense to stay with the Aurora Network. Have a nice Mother’s Day. You are right that stress just makes the GCA worse. The key to any visits to any doctor is the code.

After my GCA diagnosis, I was referred to an ophthalmologist and got the most thorough 2 hour eye exam I have ever had. Every six months I get a shorter exam to monitor any changes. I am satisfied with my current care, and even though I live a short drive to Mayo Clinic, I will give the Methotrexate, my Rheumatologist recently prescribed, some time to resolve my rash/itch until calling Mayo for an appointment.

Oregongirl, Don’t give up the ship yet. The majority of medical practitioners are highly trained and qualified and are called to their work because they care and want to be of service. Like any profession, there are a few rotten apples that sully the batch. I know from experience my mental & spiritual condition helps me accept my situation and maintain a positive attitude in spite of what some see negatively.

@captainkenny - Thanks for the input on the eye exam. I agree that it is the most thorough exam that I have ever had. I have never been on Methotrexate and so I really don’t have any input on the medication. I hope it resolves your rash/itch. We really just have to go with what the doctors prescribe and hope the medication does its job. Do you live near the Mayo in Jacksonville or Minnesota?

@captainkenny - Do they have any idea on what is causing the rash? I think it is very interesting to see how the GCA patients end up being diagnosed by a variety of specialists. I asked at Mayo why the GCA patients end up in different departments and they said it just depends on who diagnosed the condition.

I was lucky my doctor diagnosed GCA at my first appointment, then referred me to a dermatologist, after itchy rash appeared five months later, to determine its cause—allergy to my meds or GCA related? After he treated me for 2-3 months with several trial meds, more blood lab work and two biopsies on both hips, he concluded it might be part of my GCA, but wasn’t conclusive. Presently still on two anti histames meds—over the counter, Zyrtec and Rx Hydroxyzine, which partially relieve the itch. Recently started seeing a rheumatologist who didn’t think it was related to GCA and prescribed trial Methotrexate in addition to my present 10 mg of Prednisone to see if it would resolve. I’m not complaining; lots of you have it so much wose than I do. I am also grateful for my early diagnosis, subsequent treatment, and for the medical professionals working like detectives to locate the culprit. And I’m hopeful for a positive prognosis.

We are an easy 1-1/2 hr drive from Rochester, MN.