Help, More Advice Please. (Was- Should I go to Emerg? )

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I'm having similar,but not nearly as bad, episodes as you. Here's

some background, I am indeed searching for advice!

Since mid-november I've been getting burning painful red ears

nearly every night. It usually starts sometime between 6:30PM and

11:00, I often fall asleep with one or the other still burning. (It

is bilateral, though it doesn't always start with both) Today it was

earlier unfortunately, I was at work, it started around 4:30. I have

one white spot on an ear rim, I believe I have 2 other white spots

that are just starting. I also have been somewhat dizzy for about a

year or so. Sometimes my ears feel like they must have fluid in them.

I should add here, my ears are overall very sensitive now.

Touching them is pretty much a no no. If I get real hot, they're also

probably gonna start burning. However, they do burn painfully

independent of any contact.

I am frustrated. My original doc said I had auricular chondritis.

(I also have a thyroid condition and very iritable guts)She put me on

a small dose of prednisone and sent me to see a rheumy. I'll try and

make it brief- Rheumy don't think I have RP. However, she is at a

loss for why my ears burn. (She likes pointing out that the tests

came back negative.) She sent me to an ENT and put me on Naprosyn and

something called Entex. They did tests at the ENT and told me I was

fine just that my hearing wasn't all that great for a 33 year old

man.<G> ENT, said I didn't have RP as my throat and nose were fine. I

held my temper in check.

Saw Rheumy one more time, she still doesn't think I have RP and is

just hoping it will go away on its own. She also said, although very

far fetched, that maybe I have a food allergy though she didn't

really think so. I'm now on no drugs for the ears,(though I have been

popping ibuprofin when I feel one of my ears start to burn, it really

isn't helping I fear) and have no doc appointments scheduled. What

do you all think? This sound like RP or something else? I'm

interested in your opinions and advice.

Thanks, Pat Crowly

> Hi there:

> I still haven't been formally diagnosed with RP. Since Jan./02 I've

> been on Prednisone 50mg/day for 7 day stints, (then off till

throat,

> ears, joints, whatever swell again), 4 times!!

> This last time (I took last Prednisone Sun. Feb. 24/02)I've been

very

> ill wvery day since I stopped the medicine.