Giant Cell Arteritis

Hello,
I had my biopsy yesterday, not a pleasant experience. I was in the operating theatre for nearly an hour. I was warned it would be painful today but actually it isn’t so bad. I have an appointment next week to see the consultant to get the results. My problem started over two months ago when I fell ill with headache, sore cheeks and a painful neck. The doctor diagnosed a virus infection and said antibiotics would be no good, take paracetamol and it would clear up in a few days. As there was no improvement, a week later I went back to the doctors and saw a practice nurse who again said just take paracetamol. A few days later with the pain much worse I saw a different doctor who then prescribed antibiotics. This had no effect so again at the doctors a third doctor sent me for blood tests and told me to come back in a week. A week later I saw the doctor who I had seen at first and he prescribed 5x5mg Prednisolone tablets a day and come back to see him in a few days. By now the pain in my head was so bad I could not even comb my hair. My jaw was so painful I couldn’t eat properly or move my head. I saw the doctor again in a few days and he said he thought I was suffering from Polymyalgia Rheumatica and I should carry on with the steroids and come back in a few days. When I saw him four day later he decided I might also be suffering from Giant Cell Arteritis and he increased the steroids to 12x 5mg a day, all to taken at the same time. Whilst in his room he rang a specialist at our local hospital who agreed this action. He then referred me to a consultant at the hospital whom I saw three days later. The consultant did an ultrasound scan of my temple and agreed I had GCA. I was told to continue with the steroids taking 12 x 5mg tablets a day for 2 weeks, then to reduce by 2 tablets every two weeks. He then referred me to an eye Consultant whom I saw a week later. This Consultant arranged the biopsy operation which I had yesterday. A small section of artery in my temple was cut out for analysis under a microscope. This apparently is the only way of positively confirming GCA. The steroids do seem to be working. My jaws are much better and I can now comb my hair without pain. I will inform you of what the Consultant reports when I see him next week.
Marpil