Connect
← Return to Medications for Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)
Discussion
Medications for Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Apr 1 8:19pm | Replies (342)Comment receiving replies
Looking for input on Giant Cell or Temporal Arteritis. Was diagnosed finally at the beginning of Sept. and am on Prednisone. I still feel awful! 24/7 pounding headache, fatigue, jaw discomfort and neck pain. Will be travelling very soon and am concerned.
Replies to "Looking for input on Giant Cell or Temporal Arteritis. Was diagnosed finally at the beginning of..."
Hello. 4 years ago, started losing eyesight in my rt. Eye for temporarily, then returns after 4 or so minutes and also jaw pain when chewing. My doc sent me to hospital for a diagnosis. However since I did not have headaches, hosp. Doc said was probably TMJ for jaw and migraine head ache for eye. Fortunately my own doc thought I should have had a biopsy, and a few months later that was done at another hospital, confirming CSA. I was put on 60 Millagrams of prednisone and a month later methotrexate was added. After 3 months lowered to 50 Mil. Then slowly lowered next 4 years until now on 1/2 Mil. I was given blood tests every 6 weeks until last summer. Now I get blood tests every 12 weeks. I still have my eyesight and have not had any temporary loss of eyesight in 4 years. And no jaw pain. Next week I go on 1/2 milligram of prednisone every other week, then doc said we will work on getting off the methotrexate. I was 77 when I got GCA, and I am now 82. So hang in there. I have visited with a few others on mayo conn., and the hard part seems to be getting th correct diagnosis. Then it seems like most of us get over this thing. But it takes awhile. Most seem to be well in 2 years or so. Diana
Connect
Hello @geniecm,
Welcome to Connect. There is currently another active discussion on giant cell arteritis here that you may want to read through:
> Groups > Autoimmune Diseases > giant cell arteritis
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/giant-cell-arteritis-20c716/
I’m tagging our Moderator Kanaaz (@kanaazpereira) to see if she can move your question to that discussion for more visability. I’m also tagging a few other members who have talked about giant cell arteritis to see if they can join in the discussion – @kari51, @marylynn, @crhp194 and @morninglory do you have any information that you can share with @geniecm on traveling with giant cell arteritis?
We also have another conversation on GCA, (also known as temporal arteritis), which you might wish to view:
> Groups > Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases > Adjusting to life with temporal arteritis
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/would-like-to-hear-from-people-that-have-gone-thru-or-going/
@geniecm have you discussed your concerns about travel with your doctor? Just wondering if they might have some suggestions. I have polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) that is currently in remission. From what I understand it frequently is associated with GCA.