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What are Symptoms of GCA in body other than head ?

Posted , 14 users are following.

jan21306
jan21306

Can anyone tell me if there are any symptoms of GCA to look out for in the body ?  I remember reading a post a little while ago that said to check pulses and blood pressures.  Do blood vessels protrude in your body like they do in your temples ?  I have a small protruding vein (artery?) in my lower abdomen which my doctor says is probably a varicose vein.  I would be grateful for anyone else's experience on this please.  Thank you.

0 likes, 48 replies

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  • david14272
    david14272 jan21306

    Posted

    Eillen H. Once again there with full info, Take a Bow. where would we be with out you and the other ; Been There and Done it Girls.: Take Care.Dave
    • jan21306
      jan21306 david14272

      Posted

      You are so right David, it is such a comfort to know that Eileen is there with all these explanations for us.
  • jane37712
    jane37712 jan21306

    Posted

    My husband has GCA only.  Symptons were persistant headache over eyes, total fatigue and night sweats. His GP did not recognise the illness  and nothing was done for some months.  Fortunately his glaucoma consultant  immediately suspected GCA and did an emergency  temporal biopsy the next day which proved positive.  Fortunately no loss of sight but the preds raise pressure in the eyes so  he is presently waiting a glaucoma eye operation.  He also had a pulmonary embolism in January, they do not know why but we expect it maybe due to GCA.
    • jan21306
      jan21306 jane37712

      Posted

      Your poor husband seems to have been very unlucky having 
    • jan21306
      jan21306 jane37712

      Posted

      Sorry Jane, something went wrong and it froze !   I was going to say your husnand is very unlucky having all these things at the same time.  What a relief that he didnt lose his sight.  I hope his glaucoma operation goes well.   Good luck !
  • carol20979
    carol20979 jan21306

    Posted

    Hi Jan, My rheumy told me that 30% of people with PMR develope GCA which seems rather high he told me to beware of the GCA symptoms.So as you can see there can be little agreement on anything regarding this malady.This site is an excellent source of info. Regards Carol
    • EileenH
      EileenH carol20979

      Posted

      I'd be very surprised if it was a third - though possibly it happens to a third of the people he sees since he probably gets the more difficult PMR patients who don't respond as expected because the dose wasn't high enough to deal with the GCA causing the PMR symptoms. The easy-peasy PMR patients probably all stay with their GPs. The official figures in the literature almost all say 1 in 6 or so. 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy carol20979

      Posted

      My optometrist said that around twenty five percent develop GCA who have PMR. He then said look on the bright side, seventy five per cent do not!
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