Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group New symptoms

Hello everyone

I have developed some new (and quite scary) symptoms. For a few weeks now I have had extremely sore and itchy eyes, mostly in the mornings and to a lesser extent in the evenings. The only relief I can get is to close my eyes; it feels like there is something under the eyelids, but there isn't as it is in both eyes in the same place.

Today my son looked at me and said 'mum your eyes look weird, the pupils are really big and one is bigger than the other'. I looked in the mirror and sure enough my left pupil was noticeably bigger than my right. I looked drugged.

This is really worrying me; sight is such a precious thing. I have made an apt with my GP but that is not until September, which was the earliest one available.

I have a rheumatologist apt in Nov to discuss the findings from my bloods, xrays and MRI to determine if it is AS or not, but in the meantime I am getting worse.

I have also lost a toenail - it just fell off after splitting vertically from tip to cuticle - all nails are affected on my left foot.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks

Call an ophthalmologist and tell them you need to get in ASAP. Explain your symptoms, tell them you have a spondyloarthropathy (or AS). They won't play around with the potential for eye inflammation. Don't wait! If its inflammation, you need to deal with it NOW! If its not, it will be good to know that.

I have allergies and before zyrtec would get mucous forming in my eyes as an allergic response. Always felt like grains of sand in there. Zyrtec took care of it.

Now, when I flare, I get dry eyes. They feel itchy and scratchy. Hot water (in the shower, a hot water wash cloth, etc) helps me.

I'm lucky that eye inflammation has not happened to me.

The ophthalmologist can see evidence of past inflammation as well.

As for the fingernails; could be a sign of psoriasis. Or a nutrient deficiency if you have inflammation in your intestines that prevents proper absorption.

Either way, go to eye doc NOW!

Hi Sue

I'm not sure if I can self refer to the ophthalmologist in UK. Our hospital has an eye casualty dept, would I just be able to turn up there do you think? They close at 5 so I am too late now but I was thinking of going in the morning. I would buy eye drops but I am afraid of putting the wrong thing in my eyes and making it worse.

Alternatively would an optician be able to help?

OK. Easy dealt with. Optho-Optomertrist. No, NOT specsavers, or Boots or any of that lot. Yellow pages. Find who is nearest to you who offers full diagnostics. Phone them and ask what equipment they have. You'll need an Heidelberg OR an OCT - more likely to have a Heidelberg. This will scan the back of the eye and show up any abnormalities. Need a slit lamp - again checking eye for inflammation. A Humphrey will cover the visual fields test - checking on clear visual fields no scotomas. A tonometer to check your IOPs (intra optic pressurers).

Depending on where you live expect to pay between £45 - £75. Tell them you need an urgent appointment. Advise you have AS - and therefore have to be careful re eye inflammation.

The ophtho-optomertrist will give you his report on the spot (usually) and suggest whom to see if an emergency. They work closely with ophthos - many in fact attend clinics at the hospitals.

Now, ask for a print out of ALL the tests. The OCT will be in colour so ask for a colour print ouit. You will need these as a base line to refer to in the future.

No. You will not be able to get an appt with an opthalmologist on the spur of the moment, not unless already seeing an ophtho, in which case you would be seen as an emergency situation.

Can ALWAYS phone your rheumy and tell the practice nurse (whatever) that you need an urgent ophtho appt, would/could they so arrange for you.

Yes. Have heard of that condition where rupils enlarge etc etc - was only doing a skim read the other day. You may be referred to a Neuro-Ophthalmologist - depending on findings and seriousness.

Don't hang around with this. DO. Too late for today but first thing tomorrow.

Meantime. Bath eyes with cool water. Keep em closed and rested in dim lit room.

Take care - let us know how you fare -

Just seen yr question to Sue - do not put eye drops in eye. Do nowt until you are advised by the ophthalmologist..

The ophtho-optomertrist is the diagnostics fella - very often the 'first step' in the UK (UNfortunately such don't exist in France). But a good first port as gets all the diagnostics out of the way. Pvt ophthalmologists in the UK do not run to anything more than a slit lamp and a tonometer... So, either the ophtho-optomertrist who has the FULL diagnostics available (and the 'best' ones do) or specialisit eye dept at nearest hospital.

I'd phone both and get both moving.

Take care -

Molly lived in England, so knows that system. Follow her advice

As for the nails, also thyroid, fungal infection, a number of things.

But often our symptoms are related, so psoriasis seems like the most logical.

Yes. Am English. Recently relocated to France. Was diagnosed in the UK and had all the diagnostics in the UK. Also diagnosed with eye probs in the UK - had to return to the UK in order to get the diagnostics sorted.

Toe nails? As Sue says, could be any one of a number of things. Psoriasis, fungal, infection...needs lab work-up on a nail sample and a sample of any thickening of the under nail. That means going through a dermatologist or through yr GP. Meantime to hold matters in check, Possasium Pomanganate is pretty good for fungal : tip powder in a receptacle that will comfortably take your foot (or feet), add water and soak feet. Do this once per day for a week. PP will dye yr feet so they look like kippers - very beautiful, not... (Takes forever to get the dye out and the nails look pretty horrid tobacco yellow for a while!) Could also try colloidal silver. Available from Boots (probably) or a health outlet. Take a cotton wool bud, soak in the CS and apply to toe nails paying particular attention to under the toe nails. Do not place used Q-tip into bottle... Tip CC into a small receptacle. Or can also get a spray on applicator. CC is anti fungal and anti bacterial and does not dye yr feet and nails !

Hope this helps.

If you have an eye casualty department at your hosptial, then thats the place to go, and yes, it is urgent to get it checked out. I'd always choose a hospital based service over a non-hospital based one - you want it all to end up in your hospital records so the rheumatologist can get access to all the information easily and they can tie it in to your spondy investigations. Don't forget to explicitly tell them you are being investigated for spondyloarthritis - thats important. Also get them to send a report to your rheumatologist.

The toenails - take photos. SOunds like nail psoriasis, and you can guarantee it won't look like that by the time you get to see the rheumatologist. A good photo might help with your diagnosis.

Also dont forget to tell the rheumatologist about your eye problems when you see them.

I just want to second Sue's advise. Please call your Optho. You don't want to mess around with your eyes and also that could possibly be a symptom of something else.

Let us know.

Blessings.