Adjusting to life with temporal arteritis

Posted by MLeeB @MLeeB, Mar 21, 2016

Would like to hear from people that have gone thru or going thru temporal artritis. I am now going on my 5 month after being diagnosed. It is getting better but very slowly. Is this normal?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

kimh | @kimh | Feb 27, 2021

In reply to @artist01 "@angelbeard4. I had the very same easy time of it when undergoing the GCA biopsy. Not..." + (show)

Actually when I heard about the biopsy, I did get scared! I'm so glad you brought this up. I have head several surgeries/procedures, but not on my head.

654321 | @654321 | Feb 27, 2021

In reply to @kimh "Actually when I heard about the biopsy, I did get scared! I'm so glad you brought..." + (show)

I was nervous also. That was just the start little did I know , years ago.
Was diagnosed in Kentucky . Have lived in Texas for the last four years. My rheumatatoligst (sp) is very good and monitors me carefully !

654321 | @654321 | Feb 27, 2021

In reply to @artist01 "@654321 Actemra, otherwise known as Tocilizumab, is given by injection. When researched online, it claims to..." + (show)

Going ask my doctor about it.

artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 27, 2021

In reply to @kimh "Thank you for all the information. Were the pains on your right side continual?" + (show)

@kimh. Yes, the pain was in the right temporal area of my face, just in front of the ear, and the scalp pain was on the right side too. The pain can be either side though, wherever GCA decides to strike each individual person.

artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 27, 2021

In reply to @kimh "Actually when I heard about the biopsy, I did get scared! I'm so glad you brought..." + (show)

@kimh, don't be afraid of the GCA biopsy, Kim. Honestly, it was not bad at all, and just took a few minutes. You don't feel a thing, and there's no pain afterward.

kimh | @kimh | Feb 27, 2021

In reply to @654321 "I was nervous also. That was just the start little did I know , years ago...." + (show)

To be honest, I have a few autoimmune diseases going on and am praying daily for them not to progress. Are you on any meds @65321?

kimh | @kimh | Feb 27, 2021

In reply to @artist01 "@kimh. Yes, the pain was in the right temporal area of my face, just in front..." + (show)

Right now, mine are (what I would call) sporadic headaches. I am already on prednisone and methotrexate (among other meds, for other things!). I am hoping that they will postpone what is feeling like the inevitable! I am so grateful for this site. You are all helping me calm my nerves!

654321 | @654321 | Feb 27, 2021

Also so glad to have this site . Very comforting !

kimh | @kimh | Feb 27, 2021

In reply to @artist01 "@kimh, don't be afraid of the GCA biopsy, Kim. Honestly, it was not bad at all,..." + (show)

Thanks @artist01 ! Having said that, with my luck, they will probably carve out what little brain is left! Seriously though, thank-you for sharing. When my doctors first mentioned it, I got a little freaked out. I have had several surgeries in my abdominal area, but the head area seemed a little scary to me.