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Need Help!!!

Posted , 5 users are following.

shortwoman
shortwoman

I am recently diagnosed with Blepharitis. I was also diagniosed with Ulcerative Colitis in May, so I think there is connection to autoimmune disease.  I am reading few posts and some people have mentioned that it is bacteria related. How do I know whether it is bacteria related or not? Is there a test for it in US? My Dr prescibed usual stuff. Clean, massage and wash with baby shampoo and 2 weeks of Lotemax. My eyes were good for 2 weeks when I was using Lotemax. But it is now sore, itch, tired, inflammed at night.  I cannot sleep. Please help!!

0 likes, 22 replies

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  • mrsmop
    mrsmop shortwoman

    Posted

    I wonder whether you also have dry eyes, that would cause the symptoms you mention.

    My Ophthalmologist recently changed my prescription regarding my eyes drops and I use Hyabak drops when necessary and VitA-POS gel at night, or during the day if my eyes are really dry but the gel makes them blurry for a few minutes.

    The lubricating drops won't hurt you, so you can use them without having to see your Ophthalmologist if necessary but it might be worth checking to see that there is no other underlying problem

     

    • shortwoman
      shortwoman mrsmop

      Posted

      I have inflammation at night on the eyelid that prevents me to sleep.  Is there any cream that I can put it on?
  • sandra40102
    sandra40102 shortwoman

    Posted

    I have battled this for years and have tried all kinds of treatments, some from doctors, some home remedies.  I finally found Lynda's blog and tried the Wet Ones and within a week my eyes were better by using them4 times a day.  I had eye surgery and could not use them and it came back.  I am using them again and it is gone after using them for 3 months.  I still use them first thing in the morning and at night and will soon try going without them.  I do not know if they will work for you but after 15 years, it is the only thing that has worked for me. I also have a compromised immuno system. Good Luck!

     

  • haircrazydaisy
    haircrazydaisy shortwoman

    Posted

    I'm so sorry to hear about your eyes and also the UC.  I have Blepharitis and my husband had UC for many years before having to have his colon removed so I know that you must be feeling really fed up.

    There is an ingredient in Wet Wipes that seems to help the Blepharitis - I prefer to use Optrex Eye Solution - I put a drop in a clean cup and wipe a cotton bud around the eye margins (upper and lower using a clean end of the bud each time) after washing with unscented baby wash, moisturising etc.  It's the last thing that I do morning and evening - any grease/makeup is then wiped away from the eye lid.  This really seems to keep the Blepharitis at bay - believe me, I've tried everything else including Arithromycin, Lotemax, eye lubricating drops etc..

    As for Blepharitis being connected to autoimmune diseases, my husband has no problems with his eyes but I have always had skin allergies which are thought to be related to autoimmune problems.  I would really recommend trying a Candida diet - this seems to be something that helps the gut as well as problems with eyes - starve out the bad bacteria.

    When my eyes are really itchy on the lids, I wipe them with a solution of Bicarbonate of Soda and cooled, boiled water, initially.  If this doesn't work, I then take one teaspoon of antihistamine liquid like Piriton.  I keep the dose as low as poss as this can also dry the eyes out which causes a Catch-22 situation.

    Good luck with it all.  I hope you find some relief.

  • henryj527
    henryj527 shortwoman

    Posted

    Lotemax is the most "gentle" of the Steroid products. Short term OK but for the long  haul their effectiveness has worn off for me. Doctors (shoud qualify that) MOST doctors do not know to do. One was giving me a steady dose  of Tobradex and another drop to driop the eyepressre elevated by the Tobradex.On prescribed Lotemax ointmentm another said it is a "Quality" of life issue but sight is not lost and one was honest and said she did know what to do. Next Fridfay I do BlephEX, hope it works., Some people on this thread hace has great success with "Wet Ones" 
  • shortwoman
    shortwoman

    Posted

    Can anyone please share the routine they do with wet ones?  How often? How many tmes?  Do I need to find out what kind of Blepharitis I have or can I use them regardless?  Is there any over the counter ointment/lotion that I can use to stop inflammation? Thanks,
    • shortwoman
      shortwoman

      Posted

      sandra40102, I am so soory to hear that. It is so hard.  Hang in there.
    • haircrazydaisy
      haircrazydaisy shortwoman

      Posted

      Re the type of Blepharitis you have, there seems to be no way of finding this out.  I've asked every different consultant that I've been to - surely, if they could find this out, it would mean less trial and error when it comes to treatment.  Apparently, it's really hard to tell which one is causing the infection.  The eyes are full of so many different bacteria types - even those without blepharitis - that they can't tell which is causing the problems.  I kept asking, so the last consultant I saw most recently gave me a very painful swab which he scraped across my eye ball.  I didn't ever get any results - sure he did it just to shut me up! :-(
    • sandra40102
      sandra40102 haircrazydaisy

      Posted

      I agree about the bacteria...since staph is so prevalent on the skin, Lynda did a lot of research and also thought it was Staph.  No matter what bacteria it is, the Wet Ones will kill it if you stay with the treatment. My dry eyes have also improved immensely.  Now I think the bacteria and skin particles (dandruff) were plugging up the oil glands causing the dry eye and whatever the bacteria was causing the inflammation of the lids.  Not sure a doctor would agree but the results are what I was looking for and and am happy that I did.

      Ouch that sounds like torture to have your eye ball scraped!! I too have asked questions and never get a real answer. Sorry you had to go through that ordeal and get no answers.

    • haircrazydaisy
      haircrazydaisy sandra40102

      Posted

      Yes, it was agony.  Have to say, I've lost any belief in eye doctors.

      I've found out that Staph is only one possible cause - it can also be caused by something called malessezia furfur - a type of yeast.  The last consultant I saw said it was most likely caused by Strep - I'd NEVER heard that Strep caused it before or since.  Not convinced he had any idea what he was talking about, to be honest. 

    • sandra40102
      sandra40102 haircrazydaisy

      Posted

      I hjad never heard about Strep befor either. I have had some thoughts about a yeast overgrowth since I have been on a lot of antibiotics and prednisone over the years for Uppper respiratory Infections, and ENT and sinis infections.  Probably killed off the good as well as the bad.

      One thing for sure I will nevr let them take a scraping of my eye ball!!! Thanks for the heads up.

       

    • henryj527
      henryj527 haircrazydaisy

      Posted

      I agree with you.....completely. Just got back from my PCP=Primary Care Physican and so help me God she asked me how to spell it. I was hoping since she is from Asia she may have heard of a Herbal remedy etc. My Optamologist from one of the Top hospital in the world said its a quality of life issue i.e. bothersome but you will not go blind. The Bleph I have IMHO is a combinations of things that include a lot of prednisone, roseaca, seborrea blockage of the tear duck glands etc ,
    • haircrazydaisy
      haircrazydaisy henryj527

      Posted

      I think there's always the hope that the doctor will be able to help and will be the sort of person who researches their area of so-called "expertise" so that they can give you hope and sensible advice.  This is followed by disappointment that actually, they don't know any more than many of the non-medical people on this forum.  It never fails to amaze me that the vast majority of consultants don't bother to read around their own subject.
  • sandra40102
    sandra40102 shortwoman

    Posted

    I stared with using the Wet Ones 4 X Day.  First I put  eye drops lubricant OTC in my eyes Cut the Wet One  into 8 strips and use 2 each time.  One for each eye so you will not reinfect. I put the other 6 back in the puch and fold the top over and fasten with a paper clip so they do not dry out. Wipe the top lid with eye shut being sure you get it on the base of the eyelashes, The I lift my top lid and carefully run it under the eyelash at the base. Then I wipe the bottom lashes at

    the base of them.  The base of the lash is where I think the staph germ hides out.  Repeat with new strip on the other eye. Some peole use a QTip to wrap the strip around.  I found it is better if I use my finger tip. After your eyes start getting better you can cut back on the number of times.  After 3 months I am down to twice a day.  If my eyes start to itch I do it extra times.  Hopefully in another month I can stop and see what happens..  It has taken me 3 straight months to get to this point and I am so grateful to Lynda who started telling people about this.  My eyes look amazing...no redness, no tearing, no itching!!  Hope this helps you too.

    • henryj527
      henryj527 sandra40102

      Posted

      I am trying Wet Ones again, for 8 days they worked like magic  then back to agony. I never have itch. I do have excessive grit, crust but no itch. My regimen for cleaning is taking over an hour a day.and there is grit with the consistency of sugar being manufactured akways.
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