@ripley - Here's some information from Mayo Clinic on diagnosing Giant Cell Arteritis:

"The best way to confirm a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis is by taking a small sample (biopsy) of the temporal artery. This artery is situated close to the skin just in front of your ears and continues up to your scalp." -- Giant cell arteritis - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/giant-cell-arteritis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372764

I had a temple artery biopsy --- it came back negative

My GCA was diagnosed by quickly getting me on to 60mg prednisone after seeing the elevated Sed Rate. The symptoms were classic. Scalp,jaw,neck,temple pain. The drug responded almost immediately and that was the basis of the firming up the diagnosis.
Six years later I am still taking 5mg. It can be a long story I'm afraid. Be patient. Like the letter here a few letters back, I now don't know what exactly what I am treating. I call the aches and pains "old war wounds." When you've played soccer, tennis and golf for 65 years you can expect some pain. Now my CRP numbers seem to be low but the pains prevail.
There doesn't seem to be a gold standard for diagnosis of PMR or GCA.
With prednisone in our lives we have to know that we are considered immunocompromised.
This forum seems to be in denial of this theory. This would mean that our immune system may not be up to a safe level even after 3 covid vaccines.
So I am still looking for some expert to tell us. Are we safe?
Or do we all have to stay away from Grand children for ever.
Does anyone have a good answer to this?