Medications for Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

Posted by charann2000 @charann2000, Apr 25, 2018

Anyone out there who has been diagnosed with Temperol Arteritis (Giant Cell Arteritis). I am undergoing testing and most likely have it. Would like to know how anyone is doing with it and what type of medications they use and any side effects, etc.

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@oregongirl

Did you get much help at the ER?

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I only trust myself at this point in time....these PA are not doctors and that is what is important to remember when dealing with them! I believe that I will get a definitive answer when I meet with my RA Specialist. Right now I am taking Excederin Migraine Strength pills whenever I feel it is beginning to escalate insofar as the pain. So far, I am fortunate not to have the pain radiating behind the eye as it was last week, but I know that could happen again at any moment.... so thankful that it is not.

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@oregongirl

Did you get much help at the ER?

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Charan. My opinion??? It is dangerous to the patient to have one doctor replaced at end of shift by another doctor. The hospitals now have hospilist. Doctor who have no office and work for hospital. End of shift they are gone. Not only that when you are gone they are done with you. I broke my back and cannot get the university doctor to look at it and see that they did surgery right. They cannot see me for 90 days. I was in a different hospital. The hospital required I CK in again. Oh goodness. Advocate for yourself and refuse to leave hospital until you have talked to all doctors who worked on you. There is more to it but this is worst thing as a result of Obama care. Next thing..your scripts....get marijuana as fast as you can. They are reducing ins company portion on drugs to 5 percent. Good thing I am old

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@charann2000

I got the CT Scan results back today and luckily there is no sign of anything wrong on that area. I have been referred to a RA Specialist since certain areas of my blood work are marginal and my Sed Rate is 29....I still experience pain in the left temple but not as severe as last week when I self-admitted myself to the ER. I am going to the RA Specialist on May 10th and will post what transpires after that meeting.

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Tinkerbell...very interesting. When I had my brain checked for bleeding after my fall, he looked into my eyes. I have his card. He said I CD call him for appt. I am going to call him. Above left eye I have a large bump from my fall. I passed out. I want to know why it does not go away and my headaches are horrible.

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@oregongirl

Did you get much help at the ER?

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You know what is rather funny, my Otolaryngist (Eye, Ear & Nose Throat) told me initially that I may be referrd over to a Neuorologist but in the ER they had the name of a RA Specialist and when my Otolaryngologist phoned with the results of the CT Scan they said an RA Specialist also. Just wondering to myself why they changed their minds as to what type of a Specialist I should see. Temporal Arteitist is classified as an Auto Immune Disease so I guess why they chose an RA Specialist...who knows any more. Regarding my eyes being checked out in the ER, the first PA looked into my left eye and said it looked fine....he is not an eye doctor so again, I can only hope for the best with that. Luckily, I have experienced no flashing lights, or black outs of vision so far....this frightens me more than anything to be perfectly honest. I live in Milwaukee, WI and we do have top rate hospitals and doctors....I search for the best and usually find it in the medical profession.

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@charann2000

I got the CT Scan results back today and luckily there is no sign of anything wrong on that area. I have been referred to a RA Specialist since certain areas of my blood work are marginal and my Sed Rate is 29....I still experience pain in the left temple but not as severe as last week when I self-admitted myself to the ER. I am going to the RA Specialist on May 10th and will post what transpires after that meeting.

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At least it is worth a visit to get input from another doctor. You really do have to be your own advocate now days. I hope some doctor can help you.

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@oregongirl

Did you get much help at the ER?

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I have a friend that lives in Orlando half year and the other half in Milwaukee area. She talks about the wonderful doctors in your area. Are you of Scandinavian Descent or Northern European Descent? These are the people that are the most likely to get Giant Cell Arteritis. My father’s family was from Germany. Most of her doctors are from Froedtert’s Hospital. My doctor at Mayo gave me the name of a doctor for her to see about her headaches. Good Luck getting diagnosed.

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@oregongirl

Did you get much help at the ER?

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I am of Northern European descent. Froedtert is ranked as the number 1 hospital here in the greater Milwaukee area. Most of my doctors are out of Aurora and I have been happy with them for well over 28 years. Thank you once again!

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Can an 80 year old person donate a stage 3 kidney to a friend? peach414144

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@oregongirl

Did you get much help at the ER?

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My father was born in Sweden and my mother’s folks were, so I can thank my Northern European descendents for my temporal Arteritis which with I was diagnosed 10 months ago, only a few days before my 81st birthday. I am grateful my treatment is going well.

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Hi @peach414144,

I'm tagging @rosemarya, as she would be best able to give you more information. May I ask if you would share more details about your question?

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