Purple, if you read this, I hope first, that you are feeling better.

Personally, I had a miserable, horrible night, due to a flare-up of my tinnitus (ear noises!)
But one thing I am noticing is as tired as I am from lack of sleep, my left eye is clearer than in months! I am wondering what your Dr. would say about the effects of sleep or lack of, on acuity? Also, I am wondering if the quality of sleep can affect this? I have suspected for a long time, that my sleep pattern is a big factor in this, not just the dry eyes or blepharitis.

Looking at the screen, the left eye sometimes looks sharper than my rt.!!
That is something. I'm exhausted from lack of sleep, but the left eye vision is better.

If you could sometime, bounce that off your Dr., I would appreciate it. I wouldn't mind if you relayed my post to him either.
If that is so, that looks to be a neurological influence working here. Or it could be the quality of the tears is better from exhaustion, or maybe even less of the bad stuff is being secreted--lots of possibilities there.

Hmm.

Okay...

Bump~ :confused:

Hey Tony, I think "Miss Purple" is feeling a little under the weather today. Hope she's ok. Just a thought (I have way too much time to think)...you don't blink when you sleep, so maybe if you're sleeping poorly, you blink more awake & that somehow helps clear the goop out better????? Don't know, like I said I have WAY too much time to think. Sorry you can't sleep. I know how that is. At my age the hot flashes wake you up all the time! I haven't slept well in about 5 years.
Glad you're seeing better though. That's a good thing. Praying it keeps getting better for you.
Faith

Hellas: For some reason I always thought you were a guy. Hope I never referred to you as "he". :)

Torre

Howdy, Faith & Torre! Yep, I read where Purple is having withdrawals from the high-powered steroids. Poor li'l thing. She's so good-hearted to everyone yet goes through a living hell every day of her life. Prayers will always be, for her.

Yep, could be I'm blinking when I'm awake! That's a pretty sound theory to me, Faith. Thank God, my ears got quiet where I could crash and sleep last night! You know anyone with tinnitus? It's a killer!

Tornado Torre!:eek: Good Gwarsh, where you been, gal? That Torre is a character, Faith, but a mighty sweet person. I never have known or may have forgot, what kind of eye problems you have Torre.

Well, I'm still seeing pretty well despite having a good night's sleep--(weird huh?) Good sleep should result in good vision--oh well.

You cats have a great day, and we'll SEE ya'll later.
God Bless,
T:cool:ny

Well, doing slightly better now, although I was literally bouncing off the walls last night. BBBOOOIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!!!! I was like a basketball bouncing from one wall to the other, then back again and again and again and again, oh God, here I go again. Whoa, calm down there girl!

I did finally crash today and fall asleep at about 7am! I think I woke up at about 10 or 11 and called the neurologist's office and begged them to please help me! So they are going to give me a small dose of oral steroids to taper me down more slowly so I don't have the severe withdrawl symptoms.


Tony, I am not sure I understand what you are asking.... You want to know why your vision is better when you DON'T sleep??? (my brain fog has gotten the best of me here. This is all just gibberish to me right now!)

Are both of your eyes totally closed when you sleep?

Hello, Elyse-- I think they goofed royally by not tapering you off that very powerful steroid, IMO!! I would re-evaluate my medical care by them not tapering you in the first place. That's kinda dangerous just on & off it like that.

I guess I do write stupid posts. Just toss that one in the can.

I just have noticed that sometimes when I've not slept well and been through rough nights with my tinnitus, that I tend to have a better focus with the glasses next day. I think what is really happening is my eyes are weaker and matching the stronger glasses better, all I can figure.

I assume my eyes are closed during sleep or I'd probably wake up.

Sorry for a confusing post--I just felt at ease and thought I could say what I was thinking about my eyes--thinking outloud I guess.

I'll leave ya' alone now. ;)

Hey Tony, Glad you got some sleep. I have a wee bit of tinnitus, but only bothers me at night if I'm out in the country and no outside noise. (Too quiet for me...I've got a runway about 1/2 mile across the harbor from me, so I get lots of noise to block the ear humming). Sometimes I get it during the day, but usually fleeting noise...nothing like you seem to have...I always figured it was from the BP med I take, since aspirin makes it worse.

Purple, glad you are getting some help with the steroid withdrawal...I wondered why it wasn't being tapered off, too. You rest up honey, you've been thru a lot lately.

Geez Torre. :rolleyes: ...I thought you were a guy too, but from what Tony just wrote(callin you gal)I guess I was wrong, too! Sometimes I think I should've been a guy...I like more guy things, than women things for some reason.

Hey Tony...just wanted to say I think you're a hoot sometimes...loved your post about that quack who told you to take all those vitamins. I laughed out loud...you are a very funny man! I love dry wit!
Have a great night all!
Faith

Howdy, Faith! :wave: Well, looks like you have that noise too at times. It can really be a bully sometimes, for a lot of folks. I'm on a tinnitus support forum, and there are really some heart-breaking, sad cases on there.

Yep, far as I know, Tornado Torre is a she-male!:D

Glad you like my stabs at the funny stuff. I wish we could post pics here, I have some funny ones I've picked up lately.

Well, that's my wind for tonight, so will blow on outta hyar!

Saw ya' later~
T:eek:ny

Sigh, I'm very goopy today. I've been sitting here pulling strings out of my eyes. :(

I am finally feeling better from the steroid withdrawl. Last time I was on IV steroids they didn't taper me off and I was OK. They said that some people need it and some don't, but the only way to know is just trial and error. They actually ended up not giving me anything to taper me, because they said at this late point it would have been like starting all over again.

I did finally go back to work yesterday, to a very warm reception from my colleagues and students. My kids were so glad to see me! I really missed them. There I was laying in bed with a steroid drip going into my chest, thinking "Oh God, my kids are going to fall so far behind if I'm not there!" I did go in yesterday and tell my principal what is happening to me. They didn't know I am sick. It wasn't their business. But I had to take so many days off, that I had to tell her because I didn't want her to think I was playing hooky! My colleageus have been extremely helpful and supportive. We've all become friends, and everyone was VERY upset when I told them. But it is good to get it out in the open. No more secrets. I told my kids too (well, I just explained to them that I am sick and need their help.) Everyone has really been wonderful.

I also want to thank everyone here for all of your support during this most trying time. You guys have been great!

I have finally stopped bouncing off the walls! Now I am just pissed off as heck because my eyes are bothering me really badly again. It's from the steroids. They dry you out. I didn't need any help with that!

Tony, I will ask my doctor what he thinks about lack of sleep giving you better tear quality. Maybe it is because when you are awake, you are blinking and spreading the tears around your eyes. Obviously when you sleep you don't blink!

Hi Elyse, Glad you are feeling better from the withdrawal, and sorry your eyes got messed up from it. And to have more support from the people at school will be a great help for you. Was thinking about you and Tony today. Saw an ad in the newspaper for a lecture group on MS, with the actress Teri Garr (who has MS) explaining how she is living with it. and there was also going to be a neurologist there (who is also Neuro-opthalmologist) that was the director of some Clinical research organization who was going to be answering questions in an open forum.
Anyway, was just wondering how you and Tony were doing, but looks like Tony isn't around. Hope he's OK. TONY? YOU OUT THERE???
Seems a little crazy (since I don't know you), but I worry about you both.
Have a good night.
Faith :yawn:

Hello, Elyse--Thanks for speaking to me. I was afraid I had upset you in some way!

Well, I'm about square-oneish with my goop too. During the rainy days, cooler weather, I thought my eye was well! This a.m., when I got up, I could hardly see for the owl poop in it! I looked in the 'mirry', and dang, it looked like somebody had gone *hochh-ptooiee*! in my eye!:D Probably that dang owl! I'm about to decide this stuff is chronic!

That's good that everyone understands your problems with the illness. Pert nigh had to tell 'em due to it having you down for those days--I hear that. I know the young'uns missed the sap outta ya' too.

I do appreciate you bouncing that off the doc about less sleep, better quality. My vision is seeming to go back into it's stronger cycle now. Over two weeks, I'm weaker, then back into the up swing into stronger vision again. I guess I will never know what that is!

Well, I'll go for now--Sure is good to see you back on, and I admit I go through some depression too--I had been down the past post or two back up there--probably noticable! Hopefully, we're still a Bro & Sis regarding the eye stuff any-who.;)

See ya' later, one eye or the other!

Gooperwoman here! My eyes are just icky today! ick ick ick!


Faith, thanks for worrying about me. :) I worry about all of you guys too!

I actually went to one of Teri Garr's seminars back when I was first diagnosed. It is probably the same type of seminar that you are talking about. She spoke for a while and then they had a neurologist do a presentation about MS. I got to meet her after the seminar. It was at that seminar that a lot of my questions were answered, because the neurologist was nice enough to talk with me for a while afterwards. If I didn't like the doctor that I am currently seeing, I was going to go to this other guy that I met there.

Tony, I can't think of anything that you could have done to upset me! I might have been acting a little crazy myself these past few days! Don't forget, I was in a very weird state of mind when I was going through those withdrawls! I probably said some things that I don't even remember!!

In the heat of the withdrawls, I actually dreamed that I was a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines! Since I couldn't fall asleep they told me that if I would just give out some peanuts, they would help me fall asleep! So, in my bed I rolled over and handed out peanuts to one side of the "airplane", then rolled back over and handed them out to the other side! I think I served a few drinks too! Then at some point that night I decided that I didn't like my TV anymore, and I wanted to throw it across the room! But then I decided that if I did that, I might hit my computer and that wouldn't be good! So I talked myself out of throwing the TV across the room! Then I stormed around the house, half asleep, handing out peanuts to people in my bathroom! Then I developed a thing for the TV again and decided I was going to take it and go around the corner and throw it at my neighbors who were blasting the loud music! But again, I decided against it because I didn't want to have to buy a new TV! So, being the diligent flight attendant, I got up and handed out some more peanuts in my bathroom! Eventually my mom heard me and got up to see what the hell was wrong with me! Can you say twilight zone???? They threw a few Xanax down my throat and put me in bed!

It's been a rough week, and not just with eyes.
I will try to write later when 15 people on another site aren't down my throat!

Take care,

Tony

what do you mean? what's the matter?

Hello, Elyse--It's a long story, but I've been a member of a computer help forum for a long time, and they have this O.T. One of their board "pets" got it in for me, and all her black-hearted "friends" came at me with fire in their eyes. I've been battling it out with them all week. It started when I tried to kid with her a bit, as I do everyone. You know me--I try to be outgoing and cut up with everyone. Everyone takes it okay, but she didn't. She called me nasty names before the whole board. It escalated all week, and while ago, when we came back from running errands, I could see the jerks were still at me. So, I told the last person I was "talking" to on a thread (one of the nice ones) that I was checking it to 'em, logging out and not coming back! I don't chew my terbacky twice, and do mean that! It's been crazy! I also made the mistake of mentioning God on there, and that's all the devil's children needed, to try to make soup out of my bones. Well, I'm gone for keeps this time.

I better mention my eyes so this won't be deleted. They are lousy as ever. Blurred vision too strong for my glasses, in the left eye. I had 2 or 3 days where I could see better, but I'm back in Square One times again. I'm so sick of it all.

Anyway, having you & Faith as our pals here (sisters), means all the more when I've been raked over fire like I have all week, on that Satan Forum as I call it. All they do is tell sexually filthy jokes on there. I fit in there like an Edsel in Donald Trump's garage!

That's the story.
Hope you're doing better. Been missing hearing from ya', Sis!:)

See you later, sooner, we hope- :wave:
T:cool:ny

Ahhhh, you don't need em! I learned a long time ago not to take things like that too seriously. People can be very nasty, and you don't deserve that. If they are going to be rude and nasty, they are not worthy of you. :) You're too good for them big brother!

My eyes are soooooooooooooooooooooo crappy today! I think it might be because I ran out of my allergy drop a few days ago. It seems that they got much worse when I stopped using it. Usually I would just get a refill, but he doesn't write me a prescription for it. He just loads me up on samples. (once he came in with about 6 bottles and said "here, I've been saving these for you!") I have an appointment tomorrow anyway. I guess we'll do the vision tests again and see how the left eye is progressing. My vision is not quite as sharp in the left eye, but it is improving. So we'll see what the vision tests show. Plus, I have been very very goopy so I need to make sure there are no little critters (bacteria!) crawling around in my eyes!

This was actually a good test to see if the Alamast (allergy drop that I ran out of) was really working. I guess it was!!!!!

Hello, Sis--I just posted one last one on that "children's forum". I have scored #1 on a Trivia game on yet another site for the past two months. I pasted the results for those idiots to see that I was not as stupid as they thought. I have aced those trivia games!:D I went out in a blaze of glory and saved face too, on that asinine mess.

Now, to your very sweet post this a.m.

I do appreciate so much, the very nice compliment about me being too good for them. Hugs all over ya' for that, Sis!;) We're cuts above that kind, ain't we? Dang tootin'!;)

I'm sorry those little eyes are messed up again for ya'. Dang it. I don't know what we're gonna do. Well, my ol' focus is still not good in the left eye--par for the course, right? I am so glad that your left eye is improving! That is good! I'm thankful for that.

I have some Alamast, but have been afraid to try it due to my sensitivity to meds & side effects. I may get brave! I've also put off starting the Rastasis for the same reasons. I might be better if I would try one or both. I get to thinking how much time out of my day is already spent in the bathroom mirror fighting this crap, and I think "Why take off MORE time from my day doing the other?" But, I may have to. I still am wondering if the left eye blur is from my brain, the cataract, the poor tear quality, or all of the above? This has been the issue with me for a long time now. I get different opinions from different doctors, and come out even more frustrated, no answers, no help, no improvement. That's how I stand now, and have stood for so long, Sis. I need to get guts up to have that MRI. My gp office called last week wondering if I had had it done yet!:eek: Guess I need a butt-kicking over that.:D

Well, Sis, I will go for now. Barb's in there manufacturing another weekend gourmet meal. Wish you and your folks were here to help us gobble it up!;) We'll think of you every bite!

See ya' later
Bro T:cool:ny

My mom is a gourmet cook herself! :) My best friend is getting married and she made her a really nice recipe book with all of her tried and true recipes.

I saw my other big brother today (Not my real brother, my eye doctor! He's so protective!) He said I have no pink eye and my corneas look pretty good, but I had a ton of white stuff floating around. My eyelids are puffy and swollen, and I'm having a major allergy attack! So he loaded me up on Alamast. This time he gave me three samples AND a prescription with 3 refills! I'll never run out again! Boy did I catch hell about that! And he still thinks I am lying to him when I tell him that I AM doing my hot compresses! Apparently my eyelids don't look any better! He told me "somehow I don't believe you when you say that you do hot compresses twice a day." I told him to call my mom and ask her! Or doctor cutie pie can come home with me and see for himself! ;)

I also asked him your question about sleep. he said that lack of sleep can definitely affect your dryness. When you sleep, your eyes are supposed to bathe in tears. It's just the opposite of what you thought. Lack of sleep would hurt your eyes, not help.

AND GET THAT DARN MRI MISTER!!!!!!! I'M GOING TO START YELLING AT YOU!!!! :nono:

Y-yes ma'am! Wilco, Roger and TENNNN Foe!:D
Howdy! Well, honestly, my eyelid don't look all that much better either. Sometimes, I think I'm keeping it blistered and chapped from all that heat and humidity!

Ten foe on you getting it from the Doc about the allergy eyes! Oh, when I get up some a.m.'s, it looks like somebody has hocked phlegm in my eye! I hit the Q-Tips before I even eat breakfast! A regular riot around here.

Yep, I'm wired up backward for my eyes to improve from lack of sleep. So on goes the mystery. If they can't find it, they can't fix it. Real "nice" prognosis.
I just want to see clear in the left eye again, all I want. I may get other health problems, just let me have my eyesight back. Getting to seem Mission Impossible.

Talking later-

t.

Hi Tony & Elyse. First time all day I got a chance to see how you all are doing. Was hoping for better news in the eye dept, but seems like the two of you are having some pretty junky days. I'm sorry about that. It all seems so frustrating, and wish I could help you guys out of that messy eye stuff.
Tony, Elyse is right...you don't need those other people. Life is way too short to have people like that around. Elyse & I are here, and I for one love your sense of humor. And apparently Elyse does to. :D
And Elyse, you sound like your "old" self today. I trust the steroid withdrawal has eased up & you're starting to feel better.
Wish I could find answers for you two. But, I'm just a "little guy" in the world, so I'll stick to my praying you two to find good answers...or better yet...BIG miracles.
Well, gotta go get some heat or something on my back, or won't be able to move tomorrow. I'll check with you later.
Faith

Hello, Faith! Sure good to see our other sis on here tonight! After this last week of upset on that other board, what a breath of fresh air!

I forgot to say while ago, some mean person burned a pet store down near us, killed precious and pretty birds and other animals! That hurt so bad because we have a 9 year old cockatiel named Babycake. We traded with them a lot.

Yep, me & Sis Elyse are still battling the eye goop. I'm gooperman and she's gooperwoman! Seems like our wheels are spinning doctoring these eyes all day long, and not gaining anything from it. It sure gets old.

Thanks for thinking I have some humor. Some days, I have to dig deeper than others to find it!:D

Well, it's getting time for me to put this machine to bed, so I'll do that I reckon.
Hope you are doing super too, Faith, and have a great weekend.

Love ya'll,
Bro Tony

Yeah, I am done with the steroid withdrawl. Thanks for all of your concern during that really hard time! I no longer think I am a flight attendant. :) I also no longer have a hatred for my television. (for some reason I decided I didn't like it anymore and I wanted to throw it across the room! all night I tried to figure out how I could do that without hitting the computer!) I am not 100% yet, but I feel much better. Another thing I am glad about is that my eye pressures did not go up from the steroid use. He's been watching me very carefully for that, because it can definitely happen! I have to go back in two weeks just to check the pressure again and make sure it is still OK. He worries about me!

There was woman in the room next to me today, and I heard the conversation when he was examining her. She had a corneal ulcer, and was afraid to let him put numbing drops in her eyes! I wanted to scream "SILLY! They will make your eye feel great!" I LOVE NOVOCAINE DROPS! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM! When I had my corneal ulcer a few years ago, I had such a severe infection that I had to see him every other day for almost a month. (well, every day for the first week!) I was in so much pain that I cried. I used to walk in and BEG for the numbing drops! I told him he better keep that lovely little bottle in his pocket, cause I was trying to figure out a way to take it home!

The good thing is that my vision is back to normal. Whatever little bit of Optic Neuritis I had is gone. He did another vision test and I am seeing 20/20 in both eyes. (sorry to mention that Tony!)

Yo, Sis! I still want to throw our TV sometimes!:D Some ads or programs cause this effect.;)

Glad you're you again.

You & me both on them numbing drops! We get a few fleeting moments of relief from the burning, sticking and itching! I wish I had some here to use!

That is good that the vision is better--why be afraid to share that?

It's hot here in Texas today, and I'm just here and that's it. It's one of my more goopier days, and I've been mopping it out. With me and goop, I'm about to decide, it's 'Til death do we part'. This stuff moves in on ya'!

Well, I don't have anything further or of any importance to rattle about so will go for now.

Hi guys, Glad your vision is back to normal Elyse :bouncing: . That's good news. I think everyone would be glad to have 20/20 vision around here, and are thrilled that someone (YOU!) has that again.
I think the Texas heat FINALLY found it's way up here in the Northeast! I'll take it any day. Even if it brings out all the pollen and make my eyes all itchy & gritty & blurry. I'd rather be Sneezy, Itchy & Blurry than Freezing!!
Wish I could send you the humidity though, Tony,...if it helps your eye goo.
We get more than enough to go around.
Tony, Sorry you haven't been feeling good lately. What with the eyes, and that other group of people, and burning down a pet store! That's awful.
Well, hope you guys have a great night (no throwing any TV's though :nono: )
and an even better tomorrow.
F.

Howdy, Faith! Keepin' da' Faith!:D

It's hot as a poker here now.
Oh, that bunch of foul mouths on that OT board are the same. I've been lurking, but not going back in. They've got this "lady" on there that is the favorite and tells jokes that would make a marine blush! She hated my guts, and one of her posts referring to me went: Him, a Christian, my butt! It's in my rear view mirror now, and it looks like a trash heap back there!

The pet store folks aren't going to rebuild. I guess he either didn't have insurance or just didn't want to try it anymore. It was so sad about losing those birds and other animals! I've been sad since it happened.

Our TV is too heavy, so I'll just hit the mute button instead!:D

Well, I'm gonna run. There is some weather off to the west that could move in--storms, and I'm keeping one eye on radar at present. Well, really one eye is all I have!:D Nah, it's there, just fuzzy is all.

God Bless,
Tony

The poor animals! I love birds too Tony. I had a Parakeet that lived for 10 years. I sobbed like a baby when he died!

I like my TV again. I promise I won't throw it if I get angry! (I can't believe that I was that Koo Koo from the steroids that I was trying to throw my TV across the room! Oh boy!)

My dry eyes actually feel worse in the hot, humid weather because the humidity makes my allergies worse, therefore making my dryness worse. I have to say that the time of year that my eyes are at their best is in the fall. It's not humid or hot, and there are very few allergens floating around in the air. It's not so cold yet that we need to put the heat on, so my eyes aren't dry from that. My eyes like mild weather. Not too hot and muggy, not too cold. One would think that since it is unseasonably cool here for this time of year, my eyes would be happy. But the steroids dried them out. :( They are very goopy and crusty. :(

Tomorrow it is supposed to start to feel like June and hit about 80 degrees. (until now, the temperature has been in the low sixties.)

Faith, I am VERY happy that my vision is back to normal! Last time I had optic neuritis I didn't have a diagnosis of MS, and I refused to see a neurologist. So I never got put on steroids, and it took over a month to get back to normal. I won't make that mistake again. My vision is not always 100% in either eye though, because of my poor tear quality. It is always a little on the blurry side.

Mornin', Sis Purple! Going by the time stamp, you were up in the wee hours. Hope you're not having trouble sleeping. I have that sometimes, and it's the pits!

Well, coincedence! When I was a kid, I had a parakeet too that was about ten when we lost him. He was a real pal. I was sick a lot--out of school more than in, and when I was sick in bed, he was there in his cage keeping me company all day long!

I know how weather can affect this stuff. During the cool, wet spell, my eyes felt almost well, but now the heat is back, it's miserable again!

I've never asked, but is it both your eyes, Sis? I'm scared to death my rt.(better) eye will get down with this. I had some uneasy feelings in that eye after hitting the hay last night! I wonder what the statistics are of folks having this in one eye as opposed to both eyes? I'm just scared all the time it will spread to the good eye. In my case, it seems, once you get it, it's for life.

My vision ain't 100% either mainly in the left for the same reason. Today, the left is better, and the screen looks pretty sharp in it via the bifocals!

Well, this is windy, so I will go for now. I might dry both our eyes out from all my hot air!:D

Hugs,
Bro.

Hey Tony, You're probably gone for the night, but I was doing some surfing last night, trying to understand this thing you & Elyse have. For 1, I have lots of time at night since I'm stuck in the house & can't see in the dark, and 2, wanted to find something that maybe could help you out. I know you've more than likely been on every site you can find about it, but...wanted to at least try; and 3, I figure since I've had every other eye problem, I'll probably end up with it at some point in time, too. (I was a Girl Scout & we were taught to be prepared!)
I don't know what I've read is true or not, but guess it makes some sense...one thing I read was that certain drugs can cause blepheritis (i.e high blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, and some others I can't remember). I don't know if you have to take any meds for other things, but if you do, wondered if you checked them out for side effects on the eyes.
Since, I'm so fanatical about my eyes, I don't take anything without first checking if they can have bad effects on the eyes. (Personally, I don't think I could live if I were to loose any more vision...I'm the artist type & I need all the sight I have left.) ANYWAY...just a thought.
And hey you guys...I had a parakeet when I was a kid too! 'Cept my mom got sick of taking care of him and gave him to an older lady, who had him for years...I even got to visit him once in awhile. (Funny, I'd forgotten all about that till now....I was only like 6 at the time.) I go to the pet stores all the time wishing I could had a pet again...landlords seem to hate pets. My BF has always had the fancy songbirds...canaries, finches, etc. I like 'em all, but would love an African Grey.
Well, this is longer than I wanted. Just thinking again...that's all.
Have a good night.
F.

I have checked all of the side effects for the drugs that I take. The thing is, that I have had the eye problems for long before I started taking any of the drugs I am on now. I am on Hyzaar, but only for about two years. I have been on Lexapro for a while, but it lists zero to no side effects. And Zyrtec, which is for the allergies. And I just started Prevacid.

My eyes are so crusty and goopy again. They are so crusty, if I didn't know better I'd swear I have pink eye. But seeing as how I was just at the eye doctor on saturday and he said I don't have it, I probably don't. They have been soooooooooooooooooooo itchy! It also can't help that it is now 90 degrees here and we have all of the fans going. I try not to let them blow in my face, and I keep my eyes well lubricated, but it can't be good. My classroom is so hot, and I only have one small fan to keep on my desk (sorry kids!). With my MS, I have to keep cool or I could get really sick. I could have another exascerbation. I promised them I'd get a bigger fan for the room though.

I would absolutely LOVE to get another bird. I think it would really cheer me up when I am feeling sick. I loved mine so much. But I have no idea what feathers would do to my eyes! About a month ago, me and some of the other teachers were walknig out of the school at the end of the day, and sitting there on the sidewalk in front of us, looking totally stunned and dazed and confused was a little blue Parakeet! I tried to grab him, but he fle away as soon as I touched him! I would have taken him home! Even if I couldn't keep him, I would have brought him to a pet store or given him to my friend's veterinarian, who has a cage full of parakeets in his office! Poor birdie! :( I was devastated!

Just thought I'd come here and complain that my right lower eyelid hurts when I blink, and it feels like I have a clogged oil gland. :(

Hey Purple Elyse, Sorry the heat affects you so much. Is it allergies, too? THe A/C really make my eyes kind of dry & blurry, but the pollen makes them itchy. So being "old", I've resorted to using the A/C, and dealing with the dry, blurries. Can't win. We had a baby bird leave it's nest last week & flew right into our warehouse. I spent the better part of the day trying to catch him. He learned to fly pretty good being in there all day, but BOY! did he get dirty. We finally cornered him...opened the back door and he looked at us, looked at the door...and bolted for freedom! Hope he can survive on his own...cause I don't know if he was old enough yet.
We've got your same weather, so...I hear it's gonna get better as the week wears on, so hopefully you'll be more comfy.
Stay Cool! Do you get the Summer off? Hope so. You've been through a lot and could probably use the break.
Where's Tony? Hope I didn't tick him off by posting that last one.
Take Care.

Hey Purple Elyse, Sorry the heat affects you so much. Is it allergies, too? THe A/C really make my eyes kind of dry & blurry, but the pollen makes them itchy.

That is exactly the problem that I have. I have year round allergies, plus the general hayfever seasonal allergies. The A/C is better than the fan because it's not blowing in my face, but it still dries them out. At work I have two fans. One fan is small, and is just for me, and sits on my desk. The other one is a big box fan for the whole room. The thing is, I need to sit in front of the fan and stay cool because of the MS, but it really dries my eyes out very badly. So, I pour the tear drops in all day long. My students are used to seeing me do that.

At home we have ceiling fans in every room, and central air conditioning/heating. But, I need to be cool when I sleep (not freezing, but not sweating!) and sometimes the A/C turns off at night (when it gets down to a certain temperature it shuts off, and then when it gets warmer it turns back on) So then I have to sweat it out, because I can't possibly sleep with the ceiling fan on! Even on low, my eyes would be incredibly dry! Can you say "immediate corneal abrasion"? I do have a special eye mask for people with dry eyes that I can wear to sleep with, and it is supposed to protect my eyes and keep the moisture in. It is made by a company called eyeeco. It's a really good product. It has two sponges on the inside, and you wet them and they rest against your eyes the whole night, theoretically keeping the moisture in. It also prevents your eyes from opening during the night. I thought this was a great thing, but apparently my asleep self didn't like it too much. On several occasions, I put it on at night and went to sleep, and woke up in the morning with it thrown across the room, or even put away neatly in its case! I have absolutely no recollection of doing this! So I can't sleep with the ceiling fan on, because I can't trust myself to keep the eye mask on!

Tony, where are you? Sister Faith and I are worried!

Hello, Sisters Purple & Faith! Where am I? Oh man! I just inherited nearly 80kclams is all! My late relatives' will just exploded and we were brought the check last night. We spent today getting a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid V-6!! I'm beat, but whatta way to get that way!:D The rub is working our way through these govt. programs we are on. We are seeing a financial advisor Thurs. and we're hoping he can advise what to do with the remainder. Our disability lady who helped me and Barb get dis. suggested putting it in a trust fund. We will see what the advisor says. We need a few items yet, we've been needing for a long time. It will be interesting to see how this lands.
But, been really busy attending to the business of this, and still am.

The left eye has seemed better the past two days--better focus and less irritation. I hope this is burning out like a spent Roman candle! I've been using the warm comps just as ever.

Well, I'll go for now, but wanted to let you guys know what happened for us. So much to be thankful for now.

Hi Tony, Congrats to you & Barb. That's wonderful news...well not about the relative passing, but...you know what I mean. Good luck with the hybrid, too. If I were there, I'd throw a handful of coins in the back seat (some kind of Italian/Greek tradition for good luck).
And the eyes feel better, too! So glad you're having an uplifting week. And Purple feels better, too. This IS a good week!
A W E S O M E !!! :bouncing:

Howdy, Faith! Thanks! We should take delivery on it tomorrow. Neither of us have ever had much, except each other, which there, is worth more than all the money there is, but as far as cars go, we've never had anything but used ones with problems! It will be a new experience getting one brand new and with just the stuff we want on it. That's a once in a lifetime thing for most folks.

What's ironic about the coins, I found a dime in the floorboard of this loaner car they are letting us use until the new one arrives! That says it!:D
God sure has blessed us. I'm so glad that Elyse is feeling better too. We can stand that for shore!:D
See you later~

Yeah, I am back to my normal self. My eyes are just as crappy as ever, but I nev er expect them to get any better anyway.

Congratulations on the car Tony!

We had our end of term party tonight at a really nice place. I had a very good time, although a few people threatened to take my camera away because I was being very sneaky and taking pictures of them when they didn't see me! Tee hee! :angel: Candid shots are always the best! It was nice just to party for a few hours and forget about my health. It was good for me to get out for a few hours.

On the way home I went to get my eyedrops and realized they weren't in my purse. They fell out at the catering hall, and I had to go back and get them! Thank God they had found them and were holding them for me.

It must be because of the fact that I have fans going in my classroom that my eyes are so dry. They are VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY dry! I've got crud all over them and I feel like I am scratching my eyeballs when I blink. Well, 11 more days of school and then I will be at home in the central air and not have to worry about fans so much.

Glad everyone is doing well!

Elyse

Oh, but I do have tonsillitis again. My surgery is being scheduled for the first week in August. (my parents are going away in July and I need someone home when I am recovering. Then when they get back, my doctor is going away! So it has to wait until August.)

Mornin', Sis Elyse! Sure glad you got out at the party and had a good time. God knows you deserve it more than any human I know! I think those candid shots are always better--catch 'em off guard!:D

Believe it or not, my left eye seems better! Oh, I still have redness on the lid, may even still have a stye, but it has felt better the past couple 'o days. The vision has been better, thought I do need a weaker lens for the eye--a bit too strong. I had just a "spittin'" of crust this a.m., which is good.

I don't know if I will get a Dell with XP or what. Going to have to see what our financial guy thinks. There are strings attached to getting money when you are on govt. help. We have ss income, on HUD, and foodstamps! You can't have your cake and eat it too, in other words!-ha! We can go our own way for a while, but if the money isn't somewhere making money, it will eventually be gone. We shall see.

You're going in for a tonsillectomy, Sis? All the best to you on that. They yanked mine when I was 10, so that's been about 100 years ago.:D I was sick all the time, and my parents like to not ever talked the goofy pediatrician into letting the surgeon get them out. After that, my health improved drastically, so you stand to gain after getting that out of the way, Sis. Lots of stuff may get better, maybe even your eyes!

I been meaning to ask, and this is a dumb question, but is the bleph in both eyes? I think it is, by how you say eyeS. I sweat out getting it in my rt. (good) eye. So far, Thank God, it's staying okay.

Well, this is windy, but I'll go for now.

Hugs at ya',
Bro Tony

Yes, my eye problems are ALL in both eyes! (I even had optic neuritis in the other eye two years ago!)

I am looking forward to getting my tonsils out and getting it out of the way. I don't think it wil help my eyes but it will certainly help my throat! And I can live on Dunkin Donuts iced coffees and lattes for a few days! MMMmmmmmmmm! :)

I think I have pink eye again. I have lots of crud and I see some green mucus this morning. But I don't have time to go until saturday, unless they are there late on friday. I am off from work today because it is "Brooklyn Day" but I have to make a Condolence call to my father's cousins. His aunt died, and we were all very close with her. We'll miss her dearly.

Hugs at you too Tony! (and you too Faith!)

Elyse

Howdy, Sis! Well, the Honda Hybrid may not be here til tomorrow, but well worth the wait! Can't believe how much God is blessing us ol' folks now!;) Cool to da' max!

I was thinking that was in both your eyes. Bless your heart, it's double bad when you don't have a good eye to fall back on. The donuts and lattes sound larrapin'!
Well, dang--the pink eye again. That's pretty chronic off and on for you. Sure sorry to hear that too. We are sorry to learn of the loss of the aunt. That is where our estate money came from--my late aunt and uncle. They were so great. She was like a mom to me, when my own mom died in 1990. She wanted me looked after, and boy, did that happen!

Well, I'll wind down for now. My left eye is a bit off today, more dry and blurred-- ohhh well, what else is new, right? I see the eye doc Monday, Sis in case I didn't say. The lid still is red, so I don't know what he'll do--probably want to come at me with a knife!:eek: I hope not.

I'll fade for now.

Hugging ya',
Bro Tony
Sis Barb

My dad is really upset about the loss of his aunt. She was really a great lady. She was like a mom to him as well. (His own mother isn't so good to him!) His uncle died 2 1/2 years ago and ever since then she has not been the same. They were married for over 60 years. Everyone in the family was very close with them. She has 3 children, and they are all wonderful people too. Even in the midst of losing their mom and being so sad, everyone wanted to know how I was feeling.

It's been good to get my mind off of my eyes and my other health problems these past few days. I'm a bit nervous, because there have been a lot of power outages very close to my house. So far, 14,000 people are out. It's over 90 degrees now, and I wouldn't be able to take the heat. I'd have to go sleep at a friend's house, or in my car! Keep your fingers crossed that they get the problem fixed soon and it doesn't spread! Yesterday it was only 4,000 homes, now it is up to 14,000! I didn't even know there were 14,000 people here! LOL!

The eye doctor's office left a message on my cell phone to change my appointment time for NEXT saturday, but I think I need to see him THIS saturday! Darn cruddy eyes! I can't figure out how they got my cell phone number, because I don't remember giving it to them. But, HE has it because he has returned my phone calls so many times! I bet you he gave it to them! LOL! Why didn't they just call my house????

Tony, that is really great about the money. It's about time something good happened for you!

Hello, Elyse. Well, as "heck" would have it, the day we probably get the car, my left eye is "above average blurred" today! This sure gets old. But, doesn't it for all of us!

Please pass our deepest sympathy to your dad and of course you too, Sis. It really hurts bad to lose someone who genuinely cares for us. My aunt died of lung cancer--never smoked a day of her life! Where that came from, I guess we'll never know.

I can't believe the TV news hasn't said anything about those power outages! I take it you don't live in NYC itself, but in a suburb, zat right? Sure hope you keep power there. Extremes of temps is not a good time for juice loss.

Yep, it's really something about the windfall, but it's causing worries and headaches regarding the s.s. income. I guess all will come out in the wash. We have a financial advisor on all this, and he seems to be good at his work.

Well, Sis, gonna go for now. I have to decrust shortly. Got my usual "Mrs. Smith" quality crust this a.m.! I feel like a pie every a.m. Ol' Pie Eye himself!:D

See ya' later & Hugs,
Bro. T. & Sis Barb

Hi Tony,Barb & Elyse. Just checking in to see how you all are doing.
Sorry to hear of your loss Elyse. It's reallly hard to lose someone so close. Must be really hard on your Dad. My Aunt over in NY (my mom's last remaining sibling) died a couple of weeks ago. She was just a few short months away frm turning 100! It was sad, but she lived a long, full life. Even was driving up until a few yrs ago. She was the last aunt/uncle on my mom's side. Seems wierd they're all gone now.
Elyse, I hope & pray the power stays on for you. I know how hard it is for you with the heat. I hadn't heard anything about the outage either. Before I had A/C, I used to just spritz myself with a spray bottle filled with water. It worked! I'd cool right down. Maybe was a bit damp, but cooler. (Just a little tip....just in case.)
Tony, Hope by now your eye is better and you got to pick up the new car and got to show it off to all your friends. Good luck with it.
Have a nice night & enjoy the weekend.
F.

Well thankfully the power did stay on for us, and now Con Edison (our utility company) seems to have fixed it for everybody, although the cable television keeps going out. For some reason when the electricity went out, it blew a cable line. Some people were without power for 3 days! Two years ago the entire city had a power outage that laster 24 hours, in 90 degree weather. Some substation out in the midwest had a fire, and affected as far as New York City! I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in the Brooklyn Marriot for a job fair for the board of education, and I was about to step on the escalator to go down and go home, and all of a sudden it stopped, and the lights went out. I was like "oh, I guess the Brooklyn Marriot os haing a blackout." Then I went outside and all of the traffic lights were out, and I was like "oh, I guess Court Street is having a blackout." Then as we started to drive away I noticed all the opther streets had lights out too, and was like "Oh, I guess downtown Brooklyn is having a blackout." Then we turned on the radio, and heard what had happened, and I was like "Oh, all of New York is having a blackout!" It was the day before my graduation party, and I was only afraid that the restaurant that was catering it had a blackout too and all of my food would be spoiled. But they are in New Jersey, and thankfully still had power, although some of NJ had a blackout too. Tony, I do live in New York City itself. As you know, there are five boros. Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. I live in Staten Island, which is considered to be like a suburb. But it actually is part of NYC.

I am on my way to the eye doctor right now. Woke up this morning with lots of greeish yellow goop in both eyes.

Hi Elyse, Glad the power stayed on for you. I remember that blackout...that was nasty! Scary too. Couldn't help but be grateful for everyone that it wasn't in January. Back in 1965 the whole east coast was without power. Don't remember how long it lasted (I was 10), but remember sitting in the dark listening to a transister radio, and talking to people on the phone (luckily they worked).
How'd you make out at the eye doc? Your description was a little icky!

Hey Tony, How are your doing today? Hope your well.
Hugs to you guys!

Well, fortunatley for me I have no pink eye. But he said my eyes are dangerously dry. I attribute it to the use of the air conditioning and fans. But what can I do? I can't not use them. So I just have to be extra careful about lubricating them and use lots of hot compresses. I told him that I feel like a hypochondriac running to himevery time I have a change, but he said that is what he is there for, and with the problems I have had, I definitely need to be very careful and come to him immediately if I have colored goop! Also, the left eye is giving me some blurring again, so he made me take another vision test, and he examined my pupils very closely to make sure I'm not having any neurological problems. I'm not. I just have poor visual acuity in that eye because it is soooooooooooooooooooooo dry. And I had put tear drops in my eyes not twenty minutes before he examined me! I just have to keep up with all of the drops, and make sure I am using the tear drops at least once an hour, if not more. I don't want to scratch my cornea(s) again. I'm not going down that road again! (that very long, painful road!) I could have kissed him when he put the numbing drops in so he could check my pressure today! (11 in both eyes! Yippeee!)

Hope everyone is staying cool! Faith, for me personally, I would rather have a blackout during the winter than during the summer. At least if it is very cold, you can bundle up and burn candles. In the summer, there ain't nothin you can do to stay cool! (I really miss my swimming pool right about now! Although, the chlorine would probably kill my eyes!)

Tony, how is everything coming with the money? Got any extra to share with your adoring little sister? LOL

Hey Elyse, you take good care of that dry eye. I looked up that eye mask thing by eeyco you mentioned. I think it might be a good thing for me too, especailly during this pollen, A/C season. But I think I might do the same with it that you do...fling it across the room in your sleep. Whenever I try to wear my night guard (teeth) that ends up somewhere on the floor while I sleep, too.
We lost our power this winter from something like 9:00 am on a Tues. to 3:00 am on Weds. It wasn't too bad with all the candles I had going, except it sucked all the Oxegyn out of the room & had to open up the window. Then I had to put them all out to sleep. Woke up at 2:30am freezing, even with my coat, hood, gloves, fully clothed, etc. and had to light the zillion candles back up. Even heated some water to make tea over a candle. No thanks...I'll pass on that one again.
Hope your eyes are feeling bettter in the a.m.
Nightie, night!

Hi,

In my quest to figure out what no dr. can, I came across a condition that may interest you. When you have this, water accumulates when you sleep causing vision to blur in the morning and then get better as it evaporates during the day. It can also cause "blisters" of water in the eye that are painful when they "pop". I think it starts with an "F"...sorry I can't remember the name. Google "vision, water, evaporate" and it should come up.

Hope it helps.

Well, I've gotten so far behind on this thread, I may just start another one. Be much easier!;) :D