Large temple arteries, should I be worried?
Posted , 8 users are following.
Ok so I feel like I've hit a brick wall with this and feel like I'm getting no where with my doctor so I need a little adivce. Over the past few months I have been suffering with on again and off again headaches where I can feel pressure at the top of my head and sometimes get a pain in my jaw on the right hand of my face, I than begain to notice that throughout the day I get very large veins/arteries running down both sides on each temple on my forehead, with the right hand temple being far more noticable are very large so I started to become more concerned as these are extremely large and I've never noticed it on anybody else or myself before. I started looking up my symptons online and everything always links back to Giant cell arteritis (GCA). I am only 23 and thought it couldnt be that because usually it is seen in people over the age of 50 but did my research and there has been cases of children as young at 12 having GCA. I decided then to go to my doctor and they ran a blood test to check my SED rate, which came back normal but I'm terrified it might be GCA or something else that I don't know about. I have taken pictures of when my temples are flared up just to show what I'm talking about because I've no idea what is causing these arteries to flare up, anyone have any advice? I'm actually terrified it might be something bad and I'm being fobbed off by my doctor!
0 likes, 7 replies
Dianella ross09013
Posted
Ross,
i had PMR about two years ago, my GP sent me to a Rheumatologist, I was on Prednisolone tabs reducing down gradually to 0. Over 12 months. But the bloods Esr and Crp were only slightly elevated. But after a few days of taking the prednisolone my symptoms got much better. I never had GCA, but was made aware of the possibility. My advice would be seek another opinion, or get referred to a specialist. Yes you are very young, but I have seen men on Tv who also have bulging pulsating scalp vessels. I guess it's because the vessels are near the surface. You may be suffering from migraine type headaches as well. Hope all goes well. Remember if you are worried seek advice.
Rmkerley Dianella
Posted
Daniella, I have this. I cannot get a doctor to help me because my sed rate is normal. The artery is hard, hurts severely, my jaw is freezing up, Im losing my vision and one whole side of my body is weak. Ive been to neurologists, opthalmologists, and 5 rheumatologists and none of them will help me. I also have PMR. What doctor did you go to? I will go anywhere.
Anhaga Rmkerley
Posted
If you see this, please post your question on the HealthUnlocked forum , the PMRGCAuk community. Sorry, I can't post a link. That is a very active forum and you will get excellent support there. Where so you live - what country, what area, not your address?
(This thread where you have posted is five years old!)
EileenH ross09013
Posted
Actually, the sed rate can be normal in about 1 in 5 of even older patients with GCA - and it is felt that that is more likely to be found in younger patients. I think really you can only seek a second opinion - but without more symptoms I think you will struggle to find a doctor who takes you seriously with a suggestion of GCA. Even older women (the population it is most likely to be found in) often face an uphill task to get a diagnosis.
You mention jaw pain - what is it like? Is it at any time or does it happen when chewing and then go away when you stop, for example?
JanSP ross09013
Posted
Jaw pain with GCA usually comes with chewing. I've never noticed puffy veins in my temporal area but I do get headaches (still but not nearly as bad) there as well as the top and back of my head. Most of my headaches come when I'm lying down My sed rate was elevated and my biopsy was positive seven years ago. Good luck and let us know what the docs decide.
JanSP ross09013
Posted
Anhaga ross09013
Posted
Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist who will check the back of your eyes for signs of GCA. At the very least it could put your mind to rest. It is most likely to be another kind of headache, but if they are debilitating you should be getting proper investigation from your doctor anyway.
Migraine very often presents as a throbbing pain in one temple. It may be preceded by visual disturbances. This is also called a "vascular" headache, but it is not GCA.
Do you notice any pattern to when you get one? After eating certain foods? Exposure to dazzling sunshine? Dehydration? Lack of sleep? Even stress? As a young person my first three headaches all occurred after drinking an icecream soda, a pattern I recognised the third time. And the last time I ever had an icecream soda! It certainly wasn't the only migraine trigger I've experienced over the course of my life since then, but it was the first. I suspect a reaction to food dye.