Ear problems

[Hhood]

I've been having reoccurring ear infections and wondering if it is related to my SLE lupus? Anyone else had ear problems with Lupus?

[DJK99]

Hi there - yes... all my life. I realised about 30 yrs ago that, as I use ear plugs, I could only use them once and then replace- otherwise I would get regular dreadful ear infections. Unbelievable pain and needed antibiotics without fail. Once I made sure I always used new pair of ear plugs each night they really reduced. More expensive, but better than having the ear infection and subsequent antibiotics! This is all pre-diagnosis. In January this year, I was rather unwell with a flare I guess - I had bad throat infection and cough, my joints and whole body got worse, my gut, and my hands inflamed and had lesions -and also, importantly for your question, had an ear infection... the pain went into my temporal lobe I think, and meant I couldn't eat as it was too painful ie I thought my jaw and ear were going to "break"when I tried to chew - even just a grape. My long time tinnitus got even worse too, and I lost most of my hearing in that ear - so I dragged myself to my GP round the corner and got a referral to ENT (which my rheumy was going to do nearly a year ago but apparently forgot). The waiting list, quite apart from not being able to go out and hospital teams putting appointments on hold it seems as not inviting people into the hospital, is "39 weeks" long. I am concerned about waiting that long, as I wrote on here to someone with ear problems and she sent me the following link: journals.sagepub.com/doi/fu... Anyway. The short answer to your question is yes! Hope that helps and best call your GP about this and get a referral to Ear Nose and Throat pronto. All the best,keep safe etc. D

[Hhood in reply to DJK99]

Hi thanks. I've recently been having niggly flare ups and now started having ear infections, so was wondering if they were related. Mine are the same very painful, cant touch my ear or around it as it's so painful and I'm also in pain when I eat.

My doc has referred me to a new rhumatologist as mine is off sick and retiring but due to the current situation with covid 19 there are no appointments at the minute so waiting to hear from them.

I might ring my GP and speak with them about my ear problems.