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Temporal Arteritis - advice please

Posted , 11 users are following.

dawn55273
dawn55273

I have had a swollen vein on on my left temple 3 times since February. The first time I dialled 111 and spoke to a Doctor who said he didn't think it was anything to worry about. The second time I went to see a Doctor at my GP practice. He arranged a blood test for Temporal Arteritis the same day, and this came back negative. He said to see how it goes and that I could just have a tendency to big veins on my head. The only other symptoms have been a mild headache in the area of the temple. The vein on the left temple was up again last week, and last night my right temple vein swelled up. I have now arranged another appointment for Thursday as I am worried. Are these the usual symptoms for Temporal Arteritis? Please any advice would be appreciated. I am supposed to be going on holiday in just over a week to China and India, and really don't know what will happen now.

1 like, 34 replies

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  • jacky1950
    jacky1950 dawn55273

    Posted

    hi dawn my name is jacky i have been suffering for 6 years now i can not get any awnsers,i have had ct scans, mri scans,lots of blood tests,i even had a lumber punch everything came back normal.then about 2 years ago my left eye went in i see a eye surgen and he straightened the eye for me for two weeks i had no pain brilliant then it came back since then i get this pain over the top of my left eye.i went back to the eye clinic but they said there was nothing wrong with my eye,the pain is so bad i cry neary very day i feel like committing suicide.now in the last 2 months i have this vein come up by the side of my left eye and when i touch it i can feel it throbing like you i get told it is nothing to worry about i have spent thousands of pounds seeing different people none have helped have you got any ideas many thans jacky1950
    • EileenH
      EileenH jacky1950

      Posted

      This is a very old thread I'm afraid so I don't know what answers you may get.

      If you are in your late 40s or older there is a real possibility you could have something called giant cell arteritis which would affect the temporal artery which is where you describe the swollen blood vessel. If you have any visual symptoms you need to go to A&E - but if you are talking about pounds, why have you spent thousands on doctors? The NHS doesn't cost.

    • jacky1950
      jacky1950 EileenH

      Posted

      thank for your reply i have been to a@e and they say see your gp i see the gp and they do nothing except try this tablet, since i had bowl cancer in 2009 tablets do nothing for me.i have tried everthing i am fed up with it all my marriage is on the rocks my husband had to give up work to look after me i do not go anywhere any more my life is finished
    • EileenH
      EileenH jacky1950

      Posted

      Then you must take your husband with you to the GP - it does seem to concentrate some doctor's minds! Tell them you want to be referred to a specialist - since it isn't typical GCA if that is all you have they may send you to a medical clinic but they should be able to work it out and get a rheumy involved. Get him to be insistent - after all, it affects him as much as you. If nothing else - you need some sort of help if you are having suicidal thoughts.

    • FlipDover_Aust
      FlipDover_Aust jacky1950

      Posted

      Hi Jacky, sounds like it's time to sit in the GPs office or A&E and refuse to leave until someone takes you seriously. Take a loud and demanding support person with you. You don't have to live like this and you certainly don't want it to kill you. Get angry, use that anger to get things sorted.

    • jacky1950
      jacky1950 FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      hi went to derriford yesterday to see a headache specilist again 7minutes we were in there and he said we will try botox again if that does not work then he can not help.i suffered all the way home with servere sickness and pain in my eye still,supposed to be going to the eye hospital today but i do not know if i will get there i rearly do not want to do anything anymore i am so fedup with it i can not go on
    • EileenH
      EileenH jacky1950

      Posted

      Since I assume you are in the UK - you would be better to stop wasting money on so-called "headache specialists" and stick to the NHS. Or at the very least use your money for seeing a good NHS specialist who does private work. 

    • jacky1950
      jacky1950 EileenH

      Posted

      yes i do live in uk cornwall i have seen 3 specialists already it cost me £900 for them to tell me 1 low mood 2 migraine 3 get out and exercise no one seems to take note of what i am telling them.i am writting this while i am in bed because i just can not get my self together, my husband phoned our doctor this morning they said someone will call back they did only to tell him we will try her on another tablet rubbish.had to cancel the eye hospital because i can not get in the car for feeling so sick. 

    • EileenH
      EileenH jacky1950

      Posted

      I'm sorry - I've run out of suggestions. Except maybe a new GP without pre-conceptions as to what it might be?

    • jacky1950
      jacky1950 EileenH

      Posted

      thank you Eileen for listen to me i will try my hardist to sort this out god willing i will many thanks jacky
    • FlipDover_Aust
      FlipDover_Aust jacky1950

      Posted

      I'm in Australia, and I know that if I went to my A&E and refused to go home until someone sorted it out they would get moving pretty quick! DEMAND you get treatment, not a fob off!

    • FlipDover_Aust
      FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      My impression of you pommies is that you don't like to complain or make a fuss, but I would advise that NOW is the time to do exactly that! :-)

    • EileenH
      EileenH FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      It is unlikely to happen like that in the UK! You MIGHT even find yourself being escorted from the premises by the police for causing an obstruction.
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