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I am waiting for an GCA temple artery biopsy referal. A little worried about what to expect

Posted , 9 users are following.

groovy_chic
groovy_chic

Hello,  I am 40 years young, so a baby in these circles. I have been diagnosed with PMR 5 month ago by my reumatelogist.  He has put me on 20 mg of prednisone.  After weeks of agony and dozens of tests.It was bliss as within 3 days all the stiffness and pain sup sided. I have been on 15 mg now for 2 month and would have been on that under his direction for some more month to come. Here is the thing. 3 days ago, after feeling run down for some time I started having pain in my jaw especially when eating.  I also have a fuzzy / blurry vision and I am sore in my temple area. I went to see my gp who put my prednisone to 60 mg and refereed me to the opthemoligist for a biopsy. So now my question.... I am a bit nervous and not good at waiting.  I try not to let it worry me to much . How long will this take and I suppose ot will be done under local anaesthetic?       Kind regards D 

0 likes, 62 replies

62 Replies

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  • claudia75644
    claudia75644 groovy_chic

    Posted

    Hello Groovy,  so sorry for your problem, but I am sure the eye doctor will do what needs to be done....and yes, I am sure it will be under a local.  Hope it all goes well for you.  This PMR is a REALLY BAD THING TO HAVE FOR EVERYONE!!  Take it one day at a time.  
    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic claudia75644

      Posted

      Hello claudia  thanks for your kind words. I just want to get it over with also not looking forward to it *( 
  • claudia75644
    claudia75644 groovy_chic

    Posted

    thank you groovy and gl with all they decide to do for you.  Keep us posted please..

     

  • somersetsue
    somersetsue groovy_chic

    Posted

    The pain should go within days of 60mg pred. If you get ANY changes in vision go to A&E as an emergency, GCA IS a medical emergency as sight can be lost, as you're on 60mg Pred that should not happen now but I was told by the eye hospital any changes get straight back to them, I think they give you IV pred if that happens.
    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic somersetsue

      Posted

      Thank you sue. My doctor never mentioned this. Good to know there is ppl like you out there to rely on . smile 
  • bedilia
    bedilia groovy_chic

    Posted

    The bs itself takes on 30-45 minutes.  It is done under MAC (monitored anethesia care) which means yiu get happy drugs through your IV and the area to be bx'd is "numbed" up.  The drugs they give put you in such a happy place, you are not even aware of the procedure.  It is an in and out surgical procedure

    As far as your vision goes it could be caused by GCA or it could be side effects from the Prednisone.  I too have/had visual disturbances and had my eyes checked by the opthalomologist.  My vision tested 20/20 ,. no glaucoma, no retinal damage, and the circulatory system of the eye was perfect.  I did/do have very extreme photo sensitivity.  I find myelf keeping my eyes closed a lot.  This can be embarrassing when in Church!  Sunglasses help as do those yelllow tinted glasses for night blindness. 

    Christine in So California, USA

  • wendy5050
    wendy5050 groovy_chic

    Posted

    Hi

    Please don't worry about biopsy. I had mine last year and it was fine. You will have a bit of hair shaved on your temple (which can be covered by hair on top of head)

    and then given a good local anaesthetic which takes a few hours to ware off. You will be feeling relaxed and theatre staff will keep you amused. It only takes about 20-30 mins. I felt no pain at all. You will have dissolving stitches too. I had similar symptoms like you. So try and not worry.

    Take care

    Wendy

    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic wendy5050

      Posted

      Thanks wendy. I am in hospital at pesent time.  Will have my biopsy tomorrow.  Symptoms gotten really bad on Saturday so I took eileens advise and got myself to a&e . They kept me in and fast tracked my biopsy. smile 
    • wendy5050
      wendy5050 groovy_chic

      Posted

      Hi

      Thats good your in hospital. Glad they have fast tracked you. No hope of that happening in Aberdeen. Our hospital is useless.

      Take care and sleep well tonight. Let me know how you get on.

      wendy x😉😃

      .

    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic wendy5050

      Posted

      Hello wendy. I am back home.  Biopsy done. It took 45 minutes as they had trouble finding the artery . Veins in the way. I don't do nothing by half and never the easy way. No desolving stitches for me. Will get them out in a weeks time. Who gave you the results of your biopsy if you don't mind me asking? 
    • wendy5050
      wendy5050 groovy_chic

      Posted

      Hi

      O poor you. My vascular surgeon had a pair of tiny paddles that detected my artery. It made the sound of a baby heartbeat which I found amusing.

      I was given my results by my eye consultant. I had to stay on the high dose of pred. too.

      Take care x

  • groovy_chic
    groovy_chic

    Posted

    Hello I wad just wandering if anyone has had a problem with vertigo after temple artery biopsy ?? I have had my biopsy 2 weeks ago and day after I had it done I have been suffering from vertigo. It is there all the time apart from when I lay down . Any ideas ?  Oh the biopsy was negative by the way... but they only took 6 mm of aterie which my rheumatologist said was not enough and he is doing lots more tests as all my bloods are all over the place. .plus re refereed me to have an ultrasound on my ateries done. 
    • wendy5050
      wendy5050 groovy_chic

      Posted

      Hi

      At the height of my GCA I do have dizzy spells but have not been told its vertigo.  I do need to use a stick when out  as  I am unstable. I was told it was reaction to steroids and feel that it is true cos on reducing it has gone. I am now on 10mg and seen doc today and ESR and CRP  both sitting at 4. Am feeling well and staying on 10 till November when I will be back from Australia.

      Its good to have a scan. My biopsy was inconclusive too which happens a lot. It doesn't mean you dont have GCA

      Wendy  👵

    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic wendy5050

      Posted

      Thank you Wendy.  Well all the doctor's in hospital and my gp appear to either not believe me or keep telling me that i can not have gca  even so I have got pmr. Seen my rheumatologist and he is unsaure. As I show all the traits of having gca he is not wanting to give me a diagnoses and wants more test  I am getting fed up with all this and could scream as I feel so unwell and got no where to turn. Also he was worried that my thyroid function is out which I never had a problem with before he is also looking into that. I am on sick leave at present and can not drive. I can barely make it around the house   
    • wendy5050
      wendy5050 groovy_chic

      Posted

      Hi again 

      You know your body and know when something is wrong. My last GP was the same and said that it was all in my head. Just stay positive. My thyroid is misbehaving as well and have had my thyroxine reduced to 100 mg. Make sure they check it.I know only too well how frustrating it is. Everything is such an effort. Try to concentrate on what you can do rather than what you can't. I took up jigsaws and that helped.

      Keep your chin up 

      Wendy🙈🙉🙊

    • bedilia
      bedilia groovy_chic

      Posted

      Groovy chic, I am so sorry you are having such a time of things!  I too was so unsteady on my feet and just felt as if I didn't know if I was coming or going.  When it got to the point that it wasn't safe for me to drive, I decided I needed to just stay home and sleep as much as I could.  I would get up and move around and do small chores but basically I stayed in bed or sat in my recliner with my feet up.  This was VERY hard for me but I knew if I didn't do it, I would only get worse!  I kept my house dark and this also seemed to help, especially with the photosensitivity.  

      Unfortunately, a final dx of PMR or GCA is often difficult.  My labs were negative for so long and then suddenly my ESR and CRP were off the charts.  My ESR is coming down, but my CRP is still quite elevated.  I space my activities throughout the day.  I also try to do them in the early morning, as this is when I seem to feel the best.  I also make use of "deep tissue massage" whenever I can.  I have a massager that does just this and some days I use it 3-4 times during the day.  I also take Tylenol and Norco to manage my pain.  If I take these meds on a routine basis, rather than an as needed basis, I am quite successful at managing the pain.  

      It is good that you doctor is checking your thyroid out.  Sometimes the symptoms we have are also symptoms of thyroid malfunction.  Take heart my dear, things will improve.  It may seem as if it is taking forever but things will improve.  

      The number one thing that helps me the most is my ever abiding belief in God and the power of prayer!  I am constantly "talking/praying" to God.  

      Christine in So. California  <3

       >

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    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic bedilia

      Posted

      Thanks christine I will take things to heart you said. I got to stay positive . Thank you again   doris <3>
    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic wendy5050

      Posted

      I will do that I did manage to bake my middle daughters 18th birthday cake today which was a staggering task but I did it and will be having some shortly. Thank you for all your advice     doris  
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