looking for help

[nlotsopain]

I've recently gone to the eye Dr and a Rheumatoid Dr. for what I was told was Iritis.  Of course the redness was gone and the pain was lessened, but I got no answer.  They just asked me "who told you, you have Iritis?
The pain started about 5 years ago with just redness in the left eye and only on the outside part of the eye up to the colored part.  It remains that way for about a week then recedes back. It was like that for about a year.  I had no pain during that time.  We moved to another state and my problems got worse.  The redness came and so did the worst headache I've ever had.  (and I do have migraines, but this was different!)   I was out for four days, hiding in my room, (out of the sun and away for noise, mostly because that is what I would do for my migraines) and vomiting most of the time.  When I thought they may be associated with the migraines, I took my meds but it did not touch the pain.  
Where I am now, is that I do not always have the eye pain when my eye gets red.  Sometimes, it gets red and goes away in a week with no pain, other times I have no redness but awful pain.  Still another time one will proceed the other by a week.
I've been to the clinic, to ER, I've been on things that help hide the pain but I still have on reason for getting them or what is causing them.  I am out of work and worst of all away from my family.  Headaches are something that others can not see and hence they do not understand the severity of them.  CAN ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE.............

[sonderella08]

YOU MUST get a second opinion.  Iritis can rob you of your vision.  My son has suffered from JRA complicated with Iritis since he was 4 years old.  He has had numerous surgeries.  The scary part is that you can have iritis WITH NO SYMPTOMS.  so your eyesight can be robbed without your knowledge.  You need to get into a professional.  We have done a lot of research and Dr. Foster in Boston has my top recommendation.  We live on the west coast and travel to see him despite the fact there is a uveitis clinic in our town.

Good luck.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

If you have iritis - then the rheumatologist may be able to help try to find the underlying cause.  There are dozens of possible causes - but a handful of usual suspects like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, tuberculosis, sarcoid, syphillis, chron's disease, lyme disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and several others.  About 50% of the time - no definite cause can be found.  Unfortunately, if you do indeed have iritis, then you may have relapses and remissions for years to come. I strongly advise you to see a well-qualified ophthalmologist and if neccessary see an ophthalmologist that specialized in uveitis.

Michael Kutryb, MD