What are these worrying symptoms that my mum has? Eye related. Please help

[Quarantini]

Hello,

My mum has had quite poor eyesight for the past couple of years. Often switching between glasses and over the past couple of months has definitely got worse.

For example, we were sat next to a massive wall clock and were only about 10 feet away and she couldn't see what the time was. It really was huge, so we were all a bit concerned.

Then she was rushed to hospital a few weeks later with incredibly high blood pressure - Systolic reading 230! The GP suspected a pulmonary embolism, but she was given the all clear for that and was sent home with blood pressure tablets, which worked very well. It brought it down to just over the normal to 140, so after a fortnight, she stopped taking them I didn't agree with this, but didn't want to push it. Her blood pressure has been creeping back up, but occasionally does come back down again. I think it's hovering around the 160 mark now.

One morning she woke up and felt absolutely awful. She describes it as feeling drunk all the time, with 'shaky camera' vision, but only when moving. She was wrongly diagnosed with labyrinthitis initially. The doctor just wasn't listening to her symptoms, but she took anti dizziness tablets for a few weeks anyway, with absolutely zero effect.

All over the phone GP appointments she's had have been cancelled. I pushed for a GP to call her and she spoke to a new doctor who said that her symptoms need to be investigated asap, but again, her appointment for today has been cancelled!

She spoke to an optician today over the phone and he said that it doesn't actually sound like a problem with her eyes, because the shaky vision only happens when she moves. He believes it's neurological.

She also mentioned to me today that one of her eyes, at the side, feels like her vision is being squashed.

This is an emergency isn't it?! She needs to be seen now imo, but nobody seems to be bothering.

I understand how stretched the NHS is right now, but I'm so scared for her and I can't even be with her for support.

What do we do?

Sorry to sound so desperate, but we are. This has been going on for a month, with no improvement.

Thank you

It does sound like she should be seen.

Have you called gp reception to explain. Maybe they would do phone consultation initially?

Can you afford a private gp appointment online?

@Lumene, yes I called when her last appointment was cancelled to really push that she needed to be seen. This doctor just said that she was almost certain it wasn't labyrinthitis and that she will need to find a way to see her, but as I say, that follow up appointment has been cancelled.

They could go privately, but would still need a referral from the GP. I hadn't thought about an online GP appointment - thank you.

She and my dad are both considered high risk and the last place she needs to be right now is A&E, but at the same time, she can't be waiting for weeks and works for a referral, so I don't think they have a choice, but to go privately.

*weeks and weeks

Sorry to cause alarm but my dad had the squashed vision symptom which was diagnosed as a macroadenoma, a benign pituitary tumour. He had it removed and is fine now.

@flutterby31, I'm already alarmed, so it's fine. I'm really glad your dad is ok now.

The thing is, there are so many things it could be with her symptoms, but all of them need dealing with now!

How is your mum, has she spoken to her GP?
High blood pressure can cause major problems for the eyes, is she taking her medication now?

Many common eye conditions have high blood pressure as a risk factor, the symptom she is describing is called metamorphopsia and needs to be investigated. (the other symptoms she's describing could well be down to an infection or uncontrolled high blood pressure).

If you haven't been seen yet, I would call the optician back and mention the new symptom - in conjunction with the high blood pressure and find out that the referral pathway is in your area for acute eye problems. It may be that there is a way to bypass A&E, but it's very area dependent at the moment. There are also some opticians open in most areas, Specsavers and Boots are trying to keep some of their practices open, you could give them a call this morning and see if one of them can see you.

She shouldn't have stopped taking her blood pressure tablets, but you know that.
Is she back on them now?
I think that is probably the most important thing right now.