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I'm Confused and diagnosed with TA

Posted , 11 users are following.

Hazel1661
Hazel1661

Hi I'm new here and would really like to hear any advice any one is willing to give,so here is a quick summary of my life over the last few months;

I've suffered with bad hip pain for a few years and also neck shoulders arms , returning constantly to my GP to be told it's because I'm "fat" ! Take naproxen and lose weight was my answer! So battling on as I do about 7/8 weeks ago I am at the GP with a headache I cannot shift and a completely numb face ,twitchy eye,pain in my temple and so so tired ( I thought I was having a stroke) the GP obviously thought the same and I'm rushed to hospital, after all the tests I leave being told I have a migraine! ( never had one before) anyway the next day I'm at my GP surgery and he says I want you to have a blood test (10.30am) phew off I go again !!! Well by 5:45pm my GP is on the phone telling me to go to the chemist and take the 10 x5mg steriod tablets(prednisone) immediately and see him the next day POW that's me with Temperol Arteritis. I've had a biopsy but it

was nearly 3 weeks after starting steriods so was inconclusive what ever that means!

Now I'm taking 7x5mg of prednisone and at the moment I feel wonderful, the pain in my hip and shoulders and neck have gone my headache has disappeared and I'd like to return to work but I keep reading about the "crash" from treatment and long term fatigue so really I'd like any advice or help or information as really I've been told nothing !!!! Oh I'm 50 yrs young and had my menopause at 42 so been on hrt for a while and have under active thyroid so on medication for that too , can I go to work??! Help smile

3 likes, 18 replies

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  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK Hazel1661

    Posted

    Hazel. I was diagnosed with GCA in mid December of last year. I had been on a maintenance dose of Prednisolone for PMR of 2.5mg before the diagnosis and was then put on 40mg once GCA was diagnosed.

    I work full time in a very busy job, - well, I'm currently signed off work until 22 April.

    I was off work from a week before Christmas until end of February, when I thought I felt well enough to return to work on a gradual basis, doing 2-4 Hours per day and intended to slowly build up to full time again.

    I felt exhausted at the end of each work session but felt I was gradually getting stronger.

    By week 3, I caught a bug in the office, and because my immune system was almost non existent, it turned into a very nasty chest infection and I spent 3 nights in hospital.

    My rheumatologist was not happy I had gone back to work, even part time, at that stage.

    I'm currently waiting for results of my latest blood test, as I have been feeling really unwell for a week or so with increased pain in temples etc. I have a feeling my prednisolone dose will be increased.

    So, because of a combination of factors, - stress of working, chest infection, worry generally about where I go from here, I'm not making the progress I had hoped for.

    Your GP should definitely sign you off for quite a while and then a phased return.

    I wasn't sleeping very well either when I was on the higher dose and felt very out of it and slow during the day. I'm currently on 25mg, and sleep ok. I'll wait to see what dose is recommended tomorrow when I should have the blood results.

    Sorry you've joined our club, but you will get lots of support and we have some very knowledgeable people here (particularly MrsO and Eileen, they are fountains of knowledge!).

  • FlipDover_Aust
    FlipDover_Aust Hazel1661

    Posted

    Hi Hazel,

    I don't have TA/GCA but I'm 51 and work full time with PMR. I had a week off when I was first diagnosed as I was completely exhausted and in pain but 'recovered' once the high dose (50mg daily) of pred kicked in. I get tired/fatigued when I have had a reduction and occassionally had to take a day or two off, but as I adjust to the new dose I'm good to go back - albeit for a half day at first.

    My boss is very understanding so I'm lucky in that regard.

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