Temporal Artery Biopsy Treatment in India

Sai Miller, a 42-year-old high school...

Sai Miller, a 42-year-old high school art teacher and single mother of two, had been struggling with persistent, severe headaches for months. She also experienced jaw pain while chewing and noticed tenderness along her temples. Her primary care physician, concerned about her elevated inflammatory markers, referred her to a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist suspected Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), a condition that can cause blindness if untreated, and urgently recommended a temporal artery biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Sai was terrified; the idea of a biopsy on her head was frightening, and she worried about the scar and the potential diagnosis. The procedure itself, performed under local anesthesia, was quick but emotionally taxing. She felt pressure and heard the snipping sounds, which she found deeply unsettling. The biopsy result was positive for GCA. While the diagnosis was serious, it provided clarity. Sai started immediate treatment with steroids, which rapidly relieved her symptoms. The small scar on her temple is hidden by her hair. Emotionally, she moved from fear and uncertainty to a sense of grim relief and control. Knowing the cause allowed her to commit to treatment and regular monitoring, protecting her vision and allowing her to return to her classroom and her children.