Medications for Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

@geniecm, I think this may be the book @dar9216 mentioned.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: a survival guide by Kate Gilbert
-- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22402185-polymyalgia-rheumatica-and-giant-cell-arteritis

I found it on Amazon, author Kate Gilbert. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis: a survival guide. 2nd Edition.

I suffered big time with the unidentified polymyalgia pain for 2 years. Chiropractic, physical therapy, personal trainers, TMJ specialists... it all made things worse. Only thing I didn't have was headaches. Finally, I saw my nurse about a cough and mentioned I had lost some weight. Blood work showed Sed rate 92, and then the fireworks began! Cat scans and MRI showed a lot of inflammation. Bilateral biopsy confirmed. I am so thankful this nurse paid attention, but now I ask a LOT of questions of any practitioner.

Prior to this blog I only found people with polymyalgia at Mayo. Nice to hear from those with GCA!!

You are correct!! I started paging through it again, a lot of information. My next step is working on diet.

Wow 5 mg after 60 oh my!!!! So happy for you.
I’m on 6mg. Can t seem to go lower but it s ok.
Dr. new week for 3 month bloodwork .
I would like to read the GCA book also.

Next not new sorry didn t catch it.

My skin is very thin and I bruise easily. Lately I seem to be bleeding from these bruising more than usual. I need to carry band aids with me all the time since once I start bleeding it just pours. I'm not sure if this is due to the GCA or the medication. Anyone else have this side effect? I'm down to 20 mg of prednisone.

I found this is all prednisone related. The lower you go the better it gets.

Thank you. It's a little scary, especially when I'm out.

So true with the lower you go prednisone !!!! It s like limbo (bad joke) bit have to keep laughing.

Sorry but not bit