ChatterBank2 mins ago
Giant Cell Arteritis
Hello everyone.
I just thought I would post a cautionary tail for those with older relatives/friends who have this combination of symptoms. Catching the symptoms EARLY is key.
If your old person complains of these symptoms please get them to the Dr as soon as you can. And ask for them to be tested for Giant Cell Arteritis
Jaw pain that stops them eating or only able to eat soft foods.
Cant open their mouth wide.
Veins on the forwardhead/temple are prominent.
black or dark 'splodges' or floaters in the eyes
difficulty lifting their arms up
excessive fatigue
headaches
slowed or limiting mobility
My mum had this and no one spotted the pattern of symptoms. She is now totally blind in one eye and on a huge amount of steroids. Which in itself has other problems but that's another story.
It is hard to diagnose but if you know what to look for it helps catch it early enough to treat.
Answers
No best answer has yet been selected by cassa333. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.A.k.a. 'temporal arteritis', which is what my friend was diagnosed with a few years ago. (Fortunately, the steroid treatments seem to have worked for him).
NHS info here:
https:/
I was diagnosed with PMR in January last year. I also had the symptoms you describe. Couldn't even get my little finger between my teeth, headaches, aching all over, fatigue and so on. Was on steroids for about 8 months, lost over 3 stone in weight and had to endure a diet of slop.
It has been my opinion since the previous December after a severe allergic reaction to the Covid jab, that it had something to do with it all. My face swelled and the inside of my mouth etc was numb, GP wouldn't even discuss the possibility of it all being linked.