Hello everyone!

Well I posted a lovely long post a little while ago, but it is gone so I don't know what happened. I just thought that I'd check it and see how everyone is doing dealing with their dry eye problems.

Lately, I have been dealing with a lot of anxiety... about everything. I know that my main problem of course is dry eyes, but I think that it is making other things in life extra tough right now. I just seem to worry so much about my job, my family, my eyes. It all adds up. I think that the root of most of this is my dry eyes. When your eyes feel bad then everything else seems bad also. The funny thing is that my eyes have been doing okay lately as long as I stick to my routine of stuff.

Hmmm... Anyone have some good tips for relaxing and getting my mind off of my eyes for awhile.

Thanks!
Missy :)

I like to take a hot bath when my eyes are driving me insane and I can't stand it anymore. It helps calm me down AND it usually makes my eyes feel better too (atleast for the time I'm in there). Sometimes I'll just lay in there with a warm washcloth over my face and it helps me to relax. If that doesn't help...close your eyes and try to think about something nice and relaxing....hmmm....maybe like a cruise... ;)

I have found something that helps me with my dry eyes. I purchased a small spray bottle (NOT the big plant sprayers, but a little 4 inch one that produces a very fine mist -- I got it at the drugstore where they have empty plastic cosmetic bottles for travel and such). I use it with distilled water. I had tried the spray bottle before and gave it up instantly because regular water was extremely irritating to me eyes. But I LOVE the distilled water. I carry the bottle with me everywhere and spray my eyes all day long. It's important to hold the bottle at least 12 inches away from your eyes, otherwise too much water gets in and it irritates. But a fine mist of distilled water from a 12 inch distance is SO relieving. And it only takes a second to do. Spritz, spritz and you're done. When watching television, I do it every few minutes. It's the only thing that has given me relief. I walk around all day long saying, "I love this spray, and thank God for this spray." My family thinks I'm nuts, but THEY should have to deal with the dry eyes to know how it feels to have something that relieves them! Good luck.

Hi there all Dry Eyed ones,

I am dealing with extremely dry eyes since 5 years, and it's been horrible!!!! I always seem to think about my eyes, it's just drives me nuts, it really does!!!
all four of my tear ducts are closed, and I am on Restasis since about 5 weeks, it'll take a while until I'll feel any changes in my eyes!
Well, my whole life sorrounds on my dry eyes, and that makes things really worse. People don'T understand us, they think it's like having dry skin or something.
I am having a 11 hour flight to Sri lanka, my home country next week, and I am really scared about it!, I'll probably have to use loads of eye drops/gels etc. What I would want to know is, what do you guys use, Endura drops, which seems to be good?
take care, and let me know how all of you are doing


Regards
Shahara

Hi there all Dry Eyed ones,

I am dealing with extremely dry eyes since 5 years, and it's been horrible!!!! I always seem to think about my eyes, it's just drives me nuts, it really does!!!
all four of my tear ducts are closed, and I am on Restasis since about 5 weeks, it'll take a while until I'll feel any changes in my eyes!
Well, my whole life sorrounds on my dry eyes, and that makes things really worse. People don'T understand us, they think it's like having dry skin or something.
I am having a 11 hour flight to Sri lanka, my home country next week, and I am really scared about it!, I'll probably have to use loads of eye drops/gels etc. What I would want to know is, what do you guys use, Endura drops, which seems to be good?
take care, and let me know how all of you are doing


Regards
Shahara

Hi All,

Sorry you are all having really bad problems with the dry eyes. Missy and Michelle, I had hoped you were doing alot better by now. Missy, I know you had your surgery about a year ago now, but still don't give up because you know how long it took me to get better! Now most days I can go till over in the afternoon before I even use any eye drops. I am still using Systane. I have had to take Allegra (antihistimine) for my allergies every day, and still doing well.

Please don't let this overshadow your life, it's just not worth it. You know I went around with constant burning in my right eye for about two years and it didn't affect me that badly - it just hurt. Thank God it doesn't do that very often at all now. For the most part they are pretty comfortable. I just know that yours will get that way in time too!

Hugs!

Jackie

Hi Missy,
Well I do know how bad the anxiety can get when you just have something like your uncomfortable eye dryness every day. It isn't something you can easily forget when they feel so bad all the time. I've had 3 bad bouts of this blepharitis since it started in April. Not easy to forget when they burn, sting, look like raw hamburger!
I just try real hard not to focus on them feeling awful, and knowing that it will get better one day. Just keep yourself busy, get involved in something you love when you aren't working (or if it's work you love...focus on that).
It's when we constantly focus on our ailments that the seem their worse. I think stress plays a good part in how we view our afflictions. Stress just seems to make them worse, which you've already noted.
I got myself a yoga tape and yoga ball and will try that to ease my stress, as I've heard it's great as a stress reliever. The yoga ball I used for physical therapy and it really does feel good and helps me to relax.
Hoping you find something that will help the stress level, and with less stress I think your eyes will bother you less.
Enjoy life as much as you can....don't let these things take over your life. It's easy to do that I know, as I've done it myself. It isn't worth it emotionally.
Breath deep, stretch, meditate, pray....whatever it takes...all these things can help you deal with the dry eye a lot easier....and think positive.
Faith

Thanks everyone for the positve advice. Sometimes you just need to hear from others and share ideas.

Jackie, I am SO glad that you are doing well. I am doing a lot better, but I still have those rotten days. I hope that I continue to follow in your footsteps. You have improved a lot since I first started chatting with you. :) It always brightens my day to hear how well you are.

Faith, Thanks for the advice about yoga. I've been thinking about doing something like that. I've also thought about kickboxing. Anything that I could do at home would help. Maybe I should get a punching bag! :eek: I could beat on it when I'm having a yucky day!

My favorite thing right now when I'm having a bad day is to take a looong bath. Hmmm.... a cruise sounds wonderful!! :D

Well, I need to check back in here more often! The old gang!

Missy, I've been taking two teaspoons a day of cod liver oil for over a month now, and though I'm not perfectly well, I am better, with the dry eyes. When I wake up now, my eyes "defog" quicker, and I never have fog from dryness in the right eye now!

By night, they are getting pretty dried, but overall, I am better using the cod liver oil.
Might even try giving that a "shoot".:D

I know what you mean about disappearing posts and threads. Nowdays, they yank 'em and give no reason. "Sweet".

Hope you get to feeling better soon. I'd get that punching baq and just pound the doo-whacky out of it!:D

t.

Tony, I'm glad that you are are feeling better! Every little bit makes a big difference when it's your eyes. How is the glare doing for you... any improvements?

I'm still thinking on the punching bag... :D

Howdy, Missy! Oh, I've still got my starburst, but I try not to let it bug me. I need to get brave enough to ask the doc if he got the letter from the 2nd opinion doc.

You're gonna float like a butterfly and sting like a bee with that punching bag, "Ali", cause you're the greatest!:D

I've tried a lot for my Dry Eye over the years. Last month, I went back to the Opthomologist for it. He recommended I try Restasis to see if it helps. Before I started the Restasis though, he said my eyes were very inflamed from the Dry Eye. I have been on Lotemax eye drops to reduce the inflamation in my eyes before beginning the Restasis. It has been three weeks now and I have only been on Restasis for a couple days, but I can say that the Lotemax has helped some with the pain of the dry eye. I am still frequently using my Refresh tears, but while the dry eye is annoying, currently it isn't as painful as it was. I finished my three week period on Lotemax today. Time will tell if the inflamation stays down and if the Restasis works. For today though, I am doing better.

By the way, the doctor said that Restasis is never effective if the inflamation isn't reduced first.