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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 

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  • groovy_chic
    groovy_chic

    Posted

    Been to hospital today and had an ultrasound on my temporal arteries as the biopsy was negative.  The doctor who done the ultrasound said that my right side definitely had reduced blood supply . The left side was a fine. He will report this to my rheumatologist.  Question :  does that mean there is finally prove that my arteries are inflamed? ? And has anyone been diagnosed via ultrasound ... to have GCA ? I also have PMR . 
    • EileenH
      EileenH groovy_chic

      Posted

      An ultrasound technique has been developed and validated as a diagnostic tool - it isn't yet available widely because people have to be trained to use it and that is expensive and time consuming. Your ultrasound may have been that - they look for a halo in the image of the artery - or it may have just been to see if the space in the artery was reduced and apparently it was. That will lead to reduced blood flow. GCA causes a reduction in the diameter of the artery because the walls become thickened. There is proof of reduced blood flow - GCA causes that. It is evidence in that sense yes.
    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic EileenH

      Posted

      I was hoping that I finally will get some answers.  Just got to wait till October 10th when I see my rheumatologist.  As he is reluctant to give me a diagnosis.  See how he explains that away. I could see and could hear the difference in blood flow. I was surprised that it was a doctor who done this but as it is a very specialist procedure he is the only one trained. I had to travel to a hospital over 1 hour away as this could not be done at my local hospital. Whish they would have done this before the biopsy . Might not have to have had my head cut open. Thanks eileen for you help . As always you are a rock for us  smile  
    • EileenH
      EileenH groovy_chic

      Posted

      Where was it done - Leeds? I know that there are research registrars/consultants who were involved in the original study who will carry out the procedure as they are, as yet, the only people trained to do it. It takes 6 months to learn an ultrasound technique properly and even then if you don't do it several times a week you lose the skill - my colleagues in vascular medicine used to say they struggled for the first few days when they came back from annual leave!

      If only people understood how difficult some of these techniques are...

    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic EileenH

      Posted

      No it was done in Grimsby.  In our nhs trust which covers serval hospitals that one is the only one who does this specific ultrasound as they have doctor who is trained in it . He was really good and explained everything to me and showed me what he saw and will report this to my rheumy. 
    • EileenH
      EileenH groovy_chic

      Posted

      Dear old Grimsby!! My husband was born in Cleethorpes - don't laugh! 
    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic

      Posted

      Eineen when you said about a halo... does that look like red and blue rings ?? That is  what I saw on the screen but only on my bad side   
    • EileenH
      EileenH groovy_chic

      Posted

      I honestly don't know. On an normal arterial u/s the red and blue bits are usually the blood flow and it shows if there is turbulence due to the artery being changed in shape. That's the best I can explain it. I haven't seen images of the new technique.
    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic EileenH

      Posted

      Nothing wrong with good old Grimsby hehe. At least it appered that they knew what they were doing smile 
  • weshellsea
    weshellsea groovy_chic

    Posted

    Hello. This is my first time on this website. I was recently (approx 2 wks ago) diagnosed with PMR. About 1 month ago, I had the temp artery bx done because I was also having double vision and alot of pressure in my head. The bx is really easy. Mine was done uner local anesthesia and the recovery time was a breeze. The bx was negative as have been all my other tests. I am 54 yrs old so my rheumatologist was leerie in diagnosing me with PMR. I have all the symptoms and predinose helps with alot of the pain so he decided to. This is the most frustrating thing I've have ever had to deal with.
    • groovy_chic
      groovy_chic weshellsea

      Posted

      Hello weshellsea  so what are your symptoms you are having?  PMR OR GCA? I know what you mean with being frustrated.  I feel rather frustrated myself and not sure if I am coming or going no more. 
    • EileenH
      EileenH weshellsea

      Posted

      He's a bit out of date - the guidelines say over 50 now as the age from which you should consider PMR as a diagnosis. I was 51 when it started, 56 when they gave it a name. And it wasn't the rheumy - it was an experienced GP who accepted the diagnosis. 

      But let's face it - if the pain goes away with a moderate dose of pred, who cares what it is!!!!!

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