Connect
← Return to Giant Cell Arteritis Diagnosis
Discussion
Giant Cell Arteritis Diagnosis
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Nov 3, 2023 | Replies (50)Comment receiving replies
Saw a rheumatologist today and she put me on 60 milligrams prednisone. I have 6 imaging tests and last 2 showed narrowing of blood vessels and along with my high sed and creatinine numbers , 2 ct angiograms showed my blockage. The doctor said the tests showed I have gca and said I didn’t need a biopsy. Bloodwork every 2 weeks to see if inflammation numbers come down. Scared and just hopeful the steroids. Thx for listening.
Replies to "Saw a rheumatologist today and she put me on 60 milligrams prednisone. I have 6 imaging..."
I have had GCA since 12/20. Once the inflammation is under control, look at alternative meds. I started Actemra
with prednisone after 4 months gradually reduced prednisone to 0 in Oct 21. I chose Actemra as it is a biologic because I do not tolerate meds well, There are other options but steroids can cause bone loss etc so not something I wanted to stay on indefinitely. I am reducing Actemra gradually now one dose every 14 days. My rheumatologist does not feel I can go off meds completely at this time.
Hi @katclub, a new diagnosis can be scary, but you're not alone as you can see from the helpful responses from @khmc and @tillysam. You might also be interested in these related discussions:
- Temporal biopsies to diagnose GCA: What's your experience?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gca-biopsies/
- GCA (Giant Cell Arteritis) and PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/temporal-arteritis-1/
- Think I have Giant Cell Arteritis (or GCA) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/think-i-have-gca/
Just one more suggestion. Prednisone can effect the eyes causing Glaucoma. I have a Ophthalmologist who checks every six months. I have eye drops Travoprost.
Myself as well. I have had PMR for well over a year now and been on Prednisone since Jan. 2022. Was tapering nicely when the jaw and head pain started on or about Jan. 21/23. Went to ER. They got hold of a Rheumatologist on call. She put me up to 60 mg. Prednisone and after 2-3 days the pains subsided. Then saw my own Rheumatologist who said biospy was inconclusive and started reducing the Prednisone to 50 mg. Needlesstosay, the pains were back within 3 days. Could not reach her (never can) and so went back up to 60 mg. for 5 days now. Seems to be alleviating so much of the pain and I will not start tapering yet. She is a "let's get down to 1 mg. as fast as we can" person. However, sleep is escaping me. Waking up around 3 and that's it for the night. I also have a sciatic nerve issue at the moment and Prednisone does not touch that, so Ibuprofen/Tylenol is my go to, but of course it's affecting the stomach. Darned if you do or don't. Went to Ophthamologist on Jan. 24. He could see no significant change in eyes; only that cataracts had grown and wee bit. Optic nerve looks good. Have a follow-up with him end of February. A little worrisome for me is that I've been a little out of breath, shaky particularly in the mornings (enough to make me sit down) and of course extremely fatigued and if I could actually get hold of my Rheumatologist I might also need some tests done for heart/artery issues - or not. All the best Laurie. ~ Deb
Connect
The steroids should work beautifully. Taper down slowly and with your rheumatologist you should be ok. Only the best to you.