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Paranoid and GCA

Posted , 7 users are following.

paula63201
paula63201

Christmas in my house is pure chaos starting early in December, due to a large family that includes 9 grandchildren. I shop, cook, purchase gifts for them. I also just retired, so have been dealing with all kinds of paperwork and annoying one step forward 2 steps back with insurance, etc. The last of the family left this past Sunday and I was just relaxing into my post Christmas calm (I was tired, but felt pretty good, despite it), when I got a phony phone call from what purported to be my health insurance company. They got some information from me (my health insurance number), before I realized that I was being scammed. I was extremely upset. There ensued a 2 1/2 hour phone call with my real insurance company to discuss this issue and also to get me onto their website, from which I was locked out for some strange reason. As I was talking to the IT person, I developed a migraine 'aura.' I used to get ocular migraines, but have not had an episode in 10 years. This aura (both eyes involved) was no different from those I used to have and it eventually faded. Differently from other times, it left me with a headache above the eyes and that now, 24 hours later, is still with me. I took Tylenol (Paracetamol) and it helped a little. The back of my neck is sore. Otherwise, I have not other 'head symptoms.' I am on 4 mg Prednisone for PMR.

So, is it just the stupid migraine or is it GCA? My vision is normal. 

Paula-Paranoid in Northern Virginia.

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • artfingers
    artfingers paula63201

    Posted

    Paula, I wonder if GCA would start with an aura?  I know migraines do since I get them a few times a year and they always start with that darn aura sparkling away.  I know that I have roughly 20 to 30 minutes before the migraine headache starts.  I have no idea about GCA's sympoms and if they include the aura.  I hope you keep us posted on what they find out.  Gosh I'm so sorry too about the scam.  They just never stop trying but that was a new one (using insurance scam to get your info).  Annoying!
    • paula63201
      paula63201 artfingers

      Posted

      Hi Artfingers,

      I figured it was a migraine aura. It was the usual one of cracked vision glistening and sparkling. What I find perplexing is that I don't get a headache that lasts more than 1/2 a day with a migraine and it is a mild one but with strong photosensitivity. This headache is over 24 hrs and the light did not bother me at all after the aura wore off. I suppose migraine symptoms can change over time...

      Thanks!!

      Paula

    • EileenH
      EileenH artfingers

      Posted

      Most people describe GCA visual effects as dark patches or a feeling as if there is a curtain across part of the field of vision which can be fleeting or longer lasting. Blurriness or double vision are also mentioned, especially in the morning or after waking from a nap. I've never heard of anyone describing an aura though I suppose it is possible though the causes of migraine and GCA are very different I think. In GCA the blood flow to the optic nerve is being interrupted which leads to damage to the nerve so it is unable to transfer the signals from the retina to the brain for interpretation.
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