PRESSURE ON EARS AND VISION NOT BLURRY, BUT EYES VERY IRRITATED

[Missus835]

For the last few weeks I've been experiencing great pressure on my ear drums but from inside my head if that makes sense. Almost like they're clogged with water only worse. Sometimes it feels like my ears are going to burst with the pressure to the point where I can barely hear. Also some very loud tinnitus.

My eyes have also been extremely irritated for the last few weeks. I thought it was something I was using, but nothing has changed in that regard and everything is sensitive or unscented. I've had to move my chair closer to the computer monitor. My glasses script is only about 6 months old and has, up to now, been perfect. I do use prescription eye drops every couple of hours for dry eye.

Also, have been experiencing more esophageal spasms of late, which last from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Discussed this with GP yesterday. He doesn't like the word "spasms". He's sending me for scope of esophagus (this is NS, so who knows when that will manifest). His wife whom I saw a few weeks ago for a rash on my breasts, wanted to rule out angina, who also took my BP which was elevated. I mentioned this to him yesterday and he didn't bother taking my BP and has not done so yet (i.e. since he has been my GP). I don't care for him at all and will probably try to transfer within the clinic or go back on the waitlist. He only allows one issue per visit, and one visit per week. He was 15-20 mins late for the appointment and told me I had to manage the time for the appointments (I had made a list of questions so I wouldn't forget anything), then he wouldn't refill my anxiety medication which I've been on since 2001. We need a separate appointment to discuss that, but couldn't get one until next week. What a bunch of quackadoos.

Thinking of contacting the Rheumatologist because the GP only allows one "issue" per visit, even though all the issues are related. Can't stand either one of them, but it what it is and I'm fortunate at this point to have someone. Without this forum I would be up the creek without a paddle. Thanks for any insight you can provide.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Tinnitus/ear issues can be a symptom of GAC, so think it needs to checked out, and your Rheumy is probably the best option -

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/314...

You may also need some stronger eye drops, and Pred does make the eyes irrated..

[Missus835 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks DL. Now to attempt to get hold of her. One of life's other challenges.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Missus835]

True!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Missed your chance to tell HIM to manage his time better! One issue/appt and one appt per week is a bit crackers for complex patients, Thank goodness for my system - one very long discussion, hospital appointment booked.

[whitefishbay]

They treat ear issues like a stroke so you should see someone asap. I know from experience. Good luck.

[Broseley in reply to whitefishbay]

I've been complaining about my sore ears for years, to GPs and rheumy, but it just gets ignored!!

[whitefishbay in reply to Broseley]

Well last summer my right ear became super muffled. I finally saw my GP who hadn't a clue. PMR Pro told me to go to A&E. I got it checked out and was seen by ENTs who put me on high dose steroids for two weeks. It was too late (3 weeks later). Also given a steroid injection in my ear. Anyway they should treat hearing changes urgently. Turns out I have a vestibular schwannoma (benign brain tumour 5mm in my right ear). Good luck.

[Broseley in reply to whitefishbay]

So sorry to 'hear' - pardon the pun - about your diagnosis. I presume they'll keep an eye on it and only act on it if necessary? I hope it's not too painful. My hearing is OK, it's just that my ears are sore and itchy inside and sometimes painful if I press on them e.g. when lying on my side. It's like an allergy, I think. I have tried putting tiny amounts of hydrocortisone cream in them on a cotton bud. That helps enormously for a week or two.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

"on a cotton bud"

Cotton buds should be banned from ever coming near ears!!!! Ask your doctor for hydrocortisone drops!

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

I didn't know you could get them! Damn, just got back from GP appointment follow up re my blurred vision on 27th Dec - yes, its taken that long! He's going to test my thyroid function as a possible cause...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

I saw my GP yesterday - the day I decided I needed to! - and she was horrified that I must wait 5 weeks to see my specialist cardiologist. Of course, I could see someone else next week, as an emergency I would be seen by "Someone" today but I wasn't keen on risking getting an Italian who doesn't speak German or English and messing about with a nurse interpreting! Or landing with seeing the creature who stopped ALL my medication "because it isn't working" last time I was in the ED for tachycardia - a one-off because of exhaustion and stress when my husband was dying! Her solution? "Avoid stress". The irony was that she was the cause of some of it with her attitude to him needing medical attention after falls.

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

I think you have to wait even longer here to see a cardiologist. It was 12 weeks last time for me. Then a wait of another 12 weeks to get the results from my Holter monitor.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Depends - my friend is, like me, an existing patient and her a/fib also went mad in November, She rang her NHS cardiologist, he decided it needed an ablation and she was put on the list - done the 28th December!

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

At least there's some good news!

[Missus835 in reply to PMRpro]

Sounds like a familiar tale...different continent. LOL. I contacted my Neurologist who was so amazing (prior to my referral to Rheumie). Told him what was going on and he sent the email on to her. Then the Rhematology Clinic called me (from yesterday's voicemail). Told her I had contacted Dr. Taylor (on their staff) and she's asking me who's Dr. Taylor. Anyway, they wanted me to go into ER (snow storming here in NS), so I may venture in tomorrow as they say "symptoms of possible GCA are urgent". I'm surprised they know that much tbh.

[AussieKid]

I had oesophageal spasms not long before I had jaw claudication when trying to eat a pizza. The spasm was immediately relieved with swallowing cold water. I then had a dull headache that refused to go away for a week, so I saw my rheumatologist urgently who immediately booked me for a TAB and had me start Prednislone 60mgs. The TAB was positive on one side so GCA was diagnosed. The rest of the story is gradual reduction over many years and now on 5 mgs daily. Please don’t ignore the presence of spasm especially to do with swallowing etc. good to hear you are being investigated, but in the meantime maybe a small drink of cold water could help.

[Missus835]

Our medicare system in NS is ridiculous. I'm trying merely to REACH the Rheumatologist, not even being treated at this time. The GP is sending me for a scope of my esophagus, but didn't have time to listen (no pun intended) about the ear pressure. So frustrated that you can't get help with something which could be very serious and it's an 8 hour wait at ER which is crowded and I don't need to be in crowds full of other sick people.