I woke up with a black eye this morning - PMRGCAuk

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I woke up with a black eye this morning

SheffieldJane profile image
31 Replies

I have chronic sinus problems that I suspect are Pred related. I woke up with a bruised eyelid this morning, I think that it is something to do with my sinuses which have been very blocked lately. Has anyone else experienced this? The eye feels as if something is in it, like an eyelash, but there isn’t.

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SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane
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31 Replies

Hi

My friend has had it 3 times and her Dr won't give her anything!! She has tried putting olbus menthol crystals n hot water and inhaling it, this seems to have helped. Love and hugs Lynne xxxx

Marilyn1959 profile image
Marilyn1959

Hi Jane, I have been diagnosed with Herpes of the eye. It started with similar symptoms, black eye, something in the eye. Then eye started to itch and felt gritty, then it felt like there was a larger lump, so I went to GP. It was incorrectly diagnosed by nurse at GP'S as conjunctivitis. Was given eye drops. Then the eye started to stream like dripping tap, became exremely light sensitive and vision impaired. Following PMRpro's suggestion I went to optician, who managed to get same day appointment at hospital eye clinic where Herpes diagnosis was made. It is taking a while to clear since I wasted a fortnight taking drops prescribed inappropriately by nurse.

Therefore I would advise you to make opticians appointment to check it out rather than GP appointment or assuming (perhaps incorrectly) it is sinus related or pred induced. Particularly in light of your forthcoming trip?

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to Marilyn1959

Oh! I remember your officious nurse and crying eye now - which I get too. I’d rather have that than the Granulitis Wegeners thing! God this is fun - not. 😫

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF

I never mess with my eyes. If I have a problem, no matter how big or small, I go to a medical doctor who specializes in eyes. Here in the States that's an opthalmologist. I understand that the titles optometrist and optician mean different things in the UK than they do here.

I've never had one turn me away if I showed up in their office with an issue, even if I wasn't a patient in their practice. They know something very small can turn into a major problem if not properly handled.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to GOOD_GRIEF

Unfortunately that isn't an option in the UK - GPs and optometrists/opticians (the old word) are the easier gateway option, A&E if it is really bad. But optometrists are perfectly able to do all the tests and to say if what they see needs medical attention, immediately or quickly, and write a letter. Mine used to call the hospital and say he was sending a patient with a referral letter and test results.

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed

Jane , go to the GP for this to be reviewed.

If it's sinus related , if you get to the point that the pressure is causing eye pain and bruising it requires treatment.

They will give you special decongestant drops to clear the sinus .

If it is steroid related it needs for them to see it and add it to your records.

Equally it could be vascular , some form of edema related to other inflammatory or autoimmune causes.

Or as you know from your past thyroid related ( sorry)

Whatever the case if you haven't inadvertently taken part in a bout of WWF in your sleep it needs a check up .

And probably a check of your inflammatory markers and have you had you ANA / ANCA done?

Hope it is just as simple as a sinus infection and it clears up soon , let us know , hugs , bee xx

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

That’s all enormously helpful thank you, everyone. There has been some itching prior, now you mention it Marilyn.

Oh dear Bee! ANA/ANCA, presumably I would have to ask for this blood test and it won’t have been covered in general blood tests? Other types of large cell Vasculitis like granulitis Wegeners or something, not the first time I’ve thought that.

Rimmy profile image
Rimmy

Sorry for you SJ this sounds unpleasant - but looks some good advice here and I am no expert in this dept but when I first had GCA I thought it was a 'sinus' problem - although they were completely 'clear' - it is so easy to attribute something to a cause which seems 'likely' and to be quite wrong at times - so certainly yes the doctor 'again' to be sure.

Best wishes

Rimmy

Daisychain12 profile image
Daisychain12

I have no idea but you don't muck about with eyes darling You know you must get it looked at asap. I know it is a hassle and a drag but please go . It is probably a blocked duct or something or maybe you rubbed it in your sleep? xxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Jane

How’s you’re Eye this morning? Are you going to see GP/Optician, probably worth making an appointment with both to be on the safe side.

Let us know how you get on

Angela xx

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

It’s fainter today. I had a terrible night though, feeling ill. You had black eyes 2 years ago and your doctor’s refused to get excited about it. 😉 Just saw an old post. I’ll let you know.

in reply to SheffieldJane

Yes, my eyes were really deep & sunken, Martin commented on them before Christmas when l was feeling really unwell but they looked very black.

See if you can get to see GP

Catch you later 💐

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to

I’m in with the best doctor on a Monday! 😳

York54 profile image
York54 in reply to SheffieldJane

Good luck. 🌼🌼

scats profile image
scats in reply to SheffieldJane

Now that is a miracle! Hope you get sorted and all goes well. xx

Telian profile image
Telian in reply to

Mine often go black, OH says it when I'm overtired!

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to Telian

I am trying to condense what I need to ask my GP about into a 10 minute period without gabbling. People on here should be paid a retainer by the NHS. 💐

Purplecrow profile image
Purplecrow

Good luck.🙏🏽

Marlenec profile image
Marlenec

Hi Jane

Go to any opticians today. They will definitely do their thorough check immediately, and get you into eye clinic if necessary. Please don't wait just in case it is serious. Hope there's no problem. Take care.

Telian profile image
Telian

It could be a number of things - the simplest would be an infection. I’ve had the same symptoms bruised eyelid that hurts to open and close - it started with a runny eye then itchy. Antibiotic drops did the trick.

Whatever it is it needs medical attention.

All these things and going away too! I was in Oz once and had this and the first drops they prescribed I was allergic to......they were very good and got me sorted out.

Hope you get on alright let us know how you get on. X

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to Telian

Australian medicine seems pretty impressive to me. Son in law’s a doctor too. That’s helpful and sounds the same ( the other options are scary)!

Telian profile image
Telian in reply to SheffieldJane

I agree, my lot seem to do okay - at least they get good value for their money. My granddaughter Rebecca, 21 today, had a routine 'women's' check when she was 14 and they found precancerous cells - if she'd been here she would have to wait until 25 - remember Jade Goody? Beccs gets checked every six months now and is so passionate about girls not being afraid to go and get tested.

You've got your own medic too! Impressive.

I'm allergic to Chloramphenicol eye drops, they use them here too - recently had my first cataract op and it is one of the many drops they use pre op - I did have to ask what they were using even though it's top of my list of allergies/reactions to meds which they had a copy of! Unfortunately the patient has to be on the ball all the time.

My reaction to the drops nearly led to eye surgery but luckily the antidote worked.

Pongo13 profile image
Pongo13

Only thing I can add is to keep eye pack in freezer to help soothe. Hope you get it sorted x

Megams profile image
Megams

~So sorry to hear your sinus problems so sending big hugs your way.

Sinus issues can make one feel so miserable over & above your other health issues.

Respiratory challenges been with me off & on thru life so know I can't blame steroids nor PMR. Just think susceptibility to the weakest point tends to show up first when immunity low.

Prevention the key for me & from past infections I always flush my sinus's to get rid of gunk using saline NeilMed sinus rinse - neilmed.com

Last infection my ENT prx'd Diprosone Cream 0.05% which is a topical corticosteroid for external use but told me to add 2 centimetres to my sinus rinse.

After 3 months of antibiotic's ENT suggested opening up area & cleaning out as have fine narrow bone structure, drainage poor. End result worth it.

Also blood supply to sinus region not plentiful for healing so use Bioptron light therapy - excellent results. Google Bioptron - I picked one up 2nd hand which is much cheaper.

As suggested by other members do seek professional advice for the eye - most precious.

Blessings once more ~

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to Megams

Thank you for your comprehensive and thoughtful reply Megams. I wrote this before but it disappeared 👻.

Blessings to you too.

Jackoh profile image
Jackoh

Have no wisdom to give. Just hope you get on ok at doctors this morning and can have some joy with what best to do or not do as the case may be.

powerwalk profile image
powerwalk

Oh i hate things to do with eyes. Hope you get it checked as soon as you can. Let us know how you go.

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed

Forgot to say , hope it's not too late , take some pictures of it at different angles in case it goes down by your appointment so they can see how bad it was , and it might help with diagnosis.

Also good to have a photo record of any new visible symptoms that come up to show your Rheumatologist when you go in , so they can see exactly how things are affecting you. xx

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

Thanks Bee. GP was more interested in Australia than anything I presented with. He is treating the sinus with stronger nasal spray. I had careful notes to use my 10 minutes wisely and he wastes it with chit chat. I will go to my supa dupa money eating optician and see if I’ve scratched the cornea in my sleep. It doesn’t seem infected, just irritated.

Janstr profile image
Janstr

Jane, I don't want to scare you, but my PMR & GCA was diagnosed when I went to my GPs practice partner ( as my GP was away) with what I had self diagnosed with the help of Google as a sinus infection. It wasn't a black eye though, but inability to eat in the mornings especially due to painful teeth & jaw as well as a low grade headache that I had had for over 2 weeks & that wouldn't go away. I had also thought this was due to sinus. ( I had a lot of other symptoms as well, but wasn't going about those as had been seeing a Rheumoltologist about them).

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

It is weary making that we have to fight to get a correct diagnosis sometimes. I had been going back and forth with seemingly unconnected symptoms for a year or 2 before the PMR diagnosis. Thanks for sharing this.

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