I have only joined today and so first of all I would like to say that I am looking forward to joining in with forums and learning things here.
I haven't been diagnosed yet, but from my symptoms it just seems likely that I have PSA. I know I do have rheumatoid arthritis.
I am finding my way round here for a start. One thing I did see was a previous discussion but going back to 2012 about hearing problems. I have Otosclerosis and suffer from tinnitus. I had the operation done twice but each time it wasn't successful. My mother also had it and was constantly having to have wax removed from her ears. I also have wax in my ears. I did get a hearing aid but couldn't cope with it, as all the time there was a constant noise a bit like a motor running! Fortunately, there is only my left ear affected at the moment. Having said about a previous discussion I am now wondering if this is part of PSA. Would anyone on here know if that is possible?
You are not alone with the hearing problem. I have "Rock and Roll"hearing loss. From the 70’s to the 90’s I’ve gone to more 350 concerts. Now with PSA my wax build up is unreal. Every other day I have a lot of buildup. I use alcohol and peroxide to flush it out. Take one cup warm water, add a capful of rubbing alcohol and a capful of peroxide. If you have an old water pic, use that to gently flush out the wax. Welcome Sheltie, you will learn a lot!
Thanks for replying to me about this. It was only reading old discussions that I saw that this illness could have an effect on things like hearing and wax build up. Very interesting about you having "Rock and Roll" hearing loss, as my husband had that as well, fortunately I escaped it! We used to go to concerts in the 70s and I think it was after going to see AC/DC that he more or less lost his hearing, but he recovered from it.
Well mine certainly wasn't tied to noise induced onset. I have had this for as long as I can remember. At first it was weird, can't remember exactly when but I used to think there was a noise from somewhere and I would say to Bob "What's that noise". He had wonderful hearing and he would say "What noise I can't hear anything". Then I knew that it was coming from inside me rather than there actually being a noise. The two operations I had were to replace the stapes taking a piece of bone out of my hip, but it didn't work. At the time of the hearing aid the audiologist thought I had a perforated ear drum and that's why I got this constant noise when wearing the hearing aid and he referred me to an ENT bloke, who said I hadn't got a perforated ear drum. I was supposed to be referred back to the audiologist, but being the NHS it never happened and there were other things going on more important and so I didn't follow it up. However, now I am thinking is this why I had that loud noise of something sounding like a motor running when I wore the hearing aid, maybe it was enhancing the tinnitus. As I said whilst my right ear is working I don't want to get involved with a hearing aid at the moment. On a different thing one thing that does worry me is that I have recently been assessed for carers to help me and since then I have had various cold callers on the phone trying to sell me things like electric beds and only a few minutes ago someone phoned saying they believed I had hearing problems and this was a private company. I am beginning to think that my local Council is giving out information to people, as it's only been happening since my assessment!
Hello, Sheltie, and welcome. There are several people here with ear issues. I’m one: I’ve got Meniere’s syndrome, but more and more I’m thinking there is a connectiono with AutoImmune Ear Disease.
Hi Seenie, Thanks for the links. I will look them up now. It keeps amazing me how many of my things are connected to something else I seem to have. As I said I haven't been diagnosed yet, it certainly seems as if I have a lot of the symptoms. I don't see my rheumy man until August, but I will certainly point him towards this group as he probably has never heard of it! When I told my GP he didn't know what it was.
Hi Seenie, Just had a very quick look at those links and thanks they helped a lot even without really studying them. My balance is awful I fall quite a lot really. In my case it's difficult to know if it's genetic or not there are two possibilities. One is the genetic one as my mum had more or less complete hearing loss in both ears, which happened when she gave birth to me. The other is of course I had those two operations, plus a lot of ear infections even when I was very young.
For years and years everything that was wrong with me was attributed to a difference cause. Since being diagnosed, I look back at so much of what has happened, and things that I’ve been treated for and I realize that all of those things were most likely connected with my having PsA.
When you say that your GP didn’t know what it was, what do you mean? PsA or this support board?
If I were you, I’d consider picking up a copy of the Gladman and Chandran book and having a very close look at the chapter on diagnosing PsA. Interesting reading in there.
I do believe the same has happened with me sometimes being seen as mentally ill. I once saw one specialist the ENT man who said "I have a friend who I would like you to see". It turned out his friend was a psychiatrist, obviously I didn't bother!
My GP didn't know what PsA was, perhaps if I had used the full name he might have. He is coming to see me either tomorrow or Thursday so I will know more then.
Will do get a copy of that book. Yes, I am glad I joined it was purely because of Jules that I joined, knowing her from EM.
Thanks Seenie and Jules for info about the book. Jules you said it was on Kindle but I have an iPad and I have found two books by them one is the one that you sent me a few pages of and there was another one by the same authors, so which one is it that I buy?
As I'm reading this thread I'm nearly going nuts from the shrill noise going on in my head! I had mentioned lipo-flavinoids in a previous discussion about tinnitus. I have yet to try them--I haven't heard from anyone who took them, so not sure if they work. Supposedly it takes months before there are any results. My doctor told me ENTs often have their patients take them.
If you have an iPad, Sheltie, just go to the App Store and get the free “Kindle of iPad” app. It’s free and it works perfectly. Once you set up an amazon account, you’re good to go and you’ll be reading the book in a few minutes.
Yes, there are two books by Gladman and Chandran. The second book is newer and has a third author, and is mre technical. You want the older of the two books. Although it is a bit dated, it is still the best and most comprehensive PsA resource that I’ve seen.
I do have the Kindle for iPad but prefer the Apple book reader. I have found both on Apple's store it's just I didn't know which to buy. Now I know as you have told me the older one, so thanks. Just seen you ask how I was, so I will tell you here. You went just as I was doing this! I have just got back to my computer as I have had a lady here about my equity release. I have had a carer coming for the first time this morning to help me get up and dressed, which will be easier once we get into a routine. My feet and legs are worse this morning mainly as it's got a lot warmer here now and the EM side of things is worst then. If I buy that book now I will be able to show my doctor the book as well when he comes tomorrow. So, thanks for recommending it.