The first time I noticed symptoms, I thought I was having an allergic reaction to something at work. My ears became so red and inflamed and hurt so bad. I let it go on for almost 3 days before finally going to a hospital where I was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis. Since then it's taken awhile to find a good rheumatologist and I am now getting treatment. Throughout all of the testing they also found 6 solid masses in my lungs, Sjogren's syndrome, and thankfully nothing in my heart yet. I am frequently bothered by joint inflammation and pain, as well as multiple ear flares in the last year.