GCA and Ears

[fairy100]

Hi

Has anyone with GCA experienced balance problems and pressure in ears?

When getting up off sofa I invariably get pressure in my ears (like they are blocked) and a weird sensation of being off balance. No dizziness but it has been bad enough to feel like I am about to fall and have to hold onto things to get to a chair. After a few seconds sitting down and trying to equalise pressure in the ears it is better.

I don't think its blood pressure dropping when standing up as I have had this before and as I say it is an intermittent problem. I am also suffering from white noise in the ears and occasional tinnitus.

This only started when GCA did.

Thanks in advance.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This relates to GCA and ear problems - link.springer.com/article/1...

Tinnitus and balance issues are quite common, sure others who suffer will be along, but having suffered with labyrinthitis (long before GCA) all I can say is just get up carefully/slowly trying to keep head in upright position and think what you’re doing before you do it (not always easy!)

[SnazzyD]

Have you had your ears checked for impacted wax and/or fluid on the other side of the eardrum? Prior to GCA diagnosis I my hearing became impaired on one side with some tinnitus and I got progressively more and more car sick. Over the years I’ve had occasional labyrinthitis too. I know from my nursing days that wax or a bunged eustacian tube can mimic these things, so it is worth getting checked. If you do have a middle ear disturbance like labyrinthitis, there are medications to make things easier. Even a small amount of catarrh at the back of the throat can cause problems with pressure in the middle ear. It’s worth pursuing if it starts to make the risk of falling higher.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Just a bit more info- exercises for balance etc -

dizziness-and-balance.com/t...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

Enough members of a support group in the NE had ear-related problems to prompt a survey and then a proper NHS-funded study.

[brambles22]

With my GCA I suffered intensepain in left ear on odd ocassions and ongoing tinatus.

[RoadTrip in reply to brambles22]

Just struggling after failed taper/flare at 50mg (back up to 60mg), woke last night with bad earache, just wondering if GCA symptom or something else.

[brambles22 in reply to RoadTrip]

Could well be. Not had any ear pains lately but I assumed mine were linked with GCA

[Luciejc]

Since being diagnosed with GCA a year ago, my gait is definitely off. I have to be careful with stairs especially.Doing tree pose in yoga almost impossible without holding on to a chair.