GCA - Giant Cell Arteritis

My GCA Journey

I was diagnosed with GCA in August 2023 - just two weeks after I returned from a very active trip to Ireland. I felt like I never recovered from jet lag. I had a headache that would not go away - I would wake up with a headache and I was always tired. One morning I was on my way to the gym to workout and instead I pulled into my doctor’s office. I described my symptoms - a recurring headache in my right temple and fatigue. I “just did not feel like my normal self”. My doc sent me for bloodwork that indicated elevated CRP and SED rate. He immediately suspected PMR or GCA. Two days later I had a temporal artery biopsy and two days after that a positive GCA diagnosis.

I immediately began 60mg prednisone and have tapered to 1mg as of September 2024. I have experienced the jitteriness of prednisone - dizziness, anxiety, inability to sleep, random aches and pains, etc. but fortunately have had no major flareups or setbacks. It has been a long, slow taper. I feel extremely grateful for the great medical care that I have experienced - I was referred to a team of rheumatologists who specialize in GCA (and do research and clinical trials) at Mass General in Boston (35 miles from where I live) who are very responsive and very knowledgable. My hope was not to be defined by the disease and to put the disease into remission, hopefully permanently.

Over the years, I had become familiar with teachings about inflammation and the steps to adopt a non-inflammatory lifestyle. It was time to put this knowledge to work! I removed anything from my diet that I considered inflammatory - processed “junk” foods, simple carbs, alcohol - and I upped my meditation practice to include healing. I decided to take more time for myself. I eased back respectfully on my exercise regimen. I became committed to helping my body to reduce inflammation!