Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
well the only thing that i can think of is since they don't want to open maybe it isn't quite so pressing and they will not dry out as fast. will they open maybe in cooler weather? i'm not sure that i would force it.
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
For me, not being able to wink is a good sign. It means the botox is working. It was strange at first when I would go to take a picture. I would look through the viewfinder with one eye and try to close the other - it didn't close. I got used to it, though. That's how I check to see when the botox is becoming effective and when it's starting to go.Virginia in AL, sharing your weather, but not your sentiment (I'm enjoying the warmth)
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
I woke up at 2:30 this morning with both eyes hurting, feeling scratchy and like briars in them. I tried to put ointment in my eyes but could not. When I turned on lights, my eyes would just squeeze shut which made the eyes hurt more. Finally I turned on the hall light which did give some light in one of the bathrooms but it still was hard to put ointment in my eyes. I got ointment in one eye but it squeezed shut and even tho I pulled the eyelid down on the other eye it was impossible to get any ointment in. I finally put a hot cloth on my eyes. I have had a very bad headache today. Oh well, another day in the life of a person with BEB. Joyces in NC
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
Joyce,
Is there not someone at home who can help you get ointment in your eyes? Carl will put it in while I hold my eye open with both hands. It's not great, but better than painful eyes. Are you covering them at night with a sleep mask?
Virginia in AL
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
I put ointment in my eyes every night, infact the doctor has given me a realy good brand which was easier to get out of the eyes in the morning. I use a washcloth and sleep mask to cover my eyes. But I still have trouble when I put the ointment in at night. Once one eye gets the ointment I can't open the other eye. The scratchy feeling in my eyes usually happen after I get Botox and I just got it last Nov. 26th. I hated to wake my husband up last night at 2:30 so I was trying to manage on my own. He has helped me with the eye drops in the morning because it has been hard to get them in. I think it is because when I try to pull the bottom lid down a defence mechanism makes them want to spasm and pull shut. Just my thought on it. Joyce in NC
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
Joyce,
I've never tried this, but I ran across it some time back. It describes a technique used by someone with Sjogren's Syndrome in which petrolatun is used outside the eyes. Maybe that would work when you are faced with late night applications. I understand about not waking the spouse. I didn't even do that when we had newborns in the house. Mine needs his rest.
Virginia in AL
Related link: http://www.dry.org/petrolatum.html
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
That was an interesting link, Virginia, thanks. I might try this when my botox is running out and my eye squeezing is such that I have trouble putting in drops/creams in my eyes. We learn something every day on this bb - its wonderful.June in Toronto( beb/meige)
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes/virginia
this should help joyce. where did you find this? just searching the net?
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
Virginia,
Very good link. What they suggested is something that I already do because of the surgery that I had done. I usually "lube" all around the eye area at night. I was doing it because that skin always felt tight and dry and sometimes irritated. This always helps relieve those symptoms and some of course does get in the eyes. If my eyes are doing a lot of squeezing, my hands are rubbing my eyes more and things get sore and irritated so I use a little petrolatum or pure Vaseline all around the eye area during the day, too, during these times. I'm not bothered with excessively dry eyes so don't use the lubricant in my eyes every night but I do if they start feeling at all irritated.
Thanks for the useful link. It will help many, I'm sure.Shirley in AR. with another rainy day.
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
Virginia-since having surgery 2 1/2 yrs ago, I haven't been able to wink. My kids altogether got me a "fancy" camera last year for Christmas, and I finally worked out a system. My right eye does not close all the way. I hold the middle finger of my right hand on that eye, look thru the viewfinder with my left eye, and click with my right forefinger. Usually works for me! Mary
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes
Hi Joyce, You may have already tried this but I'll suggest a few things anyway. Put a little ointment on your finger(right index finger), pull your lower lid down and out with your left fingers, then gently put the ointment that is on your right finger in your lower lid and sort of wipe that finger with the ointment across the lid leaving the ointment in the eye. Then blink to spread it around (if you can)
Many people try to put drops in their eyes by trying to open their eye real wide and dropping the drop in. It is much easier to just pull out the lower lid and put the drop right in the pocket of the lower lid. Of course if your lower lids are pulling up and squeezing this is more difficult to do. You can also lie down and put a drop in the inner corner of your eye with your eyes closed and then try to open your eye to allow the drop to flow over and into your eye.I have also found something else that works well for a sleep mask. The wintertime head bands that are found in Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart or any of a number of stores. They are inexpensive(less than $2) washable and fit snugly over your eyes (keeping them closed). I just put one on and it fits all around my eyes, nice and snug but not too tight. There are a variety of different ones to choose from. I like the Wal-Mart ones best. Real sleep Masks don't hold my eyes closed but these do. They are about 3 inches wide. They are the type head bands that you wear in the winter to keep your ears and forehead warm. They are very soft and stretchy. Good luck with the drops. I wish that I could put them in for you. We'd get it done. Of course, I might wind up with more ointment on me than in your eyes. :-) Can you believe how much that little tiny tube of ointment costs? It is a major ripoff for what is actually there. You mentioned that your eyes were better immediately after the botox. Mine always were, too, for a short period of time. I've always thought of it as a type of acupuncture thing. My opinion is that it is not the botox that causes the immediate relief but the needles being used in this area and possibly the solution entering this area that may trick the brain for awhile into thinking that things are different. I feel that if it was actually the botox working this quickly that the relief would continue. Shirley in Arkansas trying to get out of a slump
Re: Using ointment or drops in eyes/shirley
my eyes react exactly the same way after botox and i have thought about this too, strange!! i at one time, thought maybe i was really getting acupuncture but they just weren't telling me. yes maybe it's the "shock" of the needle that opens them.
thanks for the headband suggestion.
Re: MOISTUR-EYES/SHANASY ARE YOU THERE?
Hi Joyce, way back at the beginning of this year, Shanasy in IL posted that she had excellent results from using Moistur-Eyes (containing Borage Oil), taken orally, by Carlson Labs, for dry eyes. I haven't tried the product because it cost $69.90 U.S. for 360 tablets which would be about $115 Cdn! (90 caps was $19.90 U.S, 180 caps $36.90 U.S). Shanasy said after a month she noticed a "great improvement and was very excited about it". She took 2 pills/day then 1 pill/day - apparently the bottle reads "take 3 pills 2 times/day" but that seemed too expensive. They can be bought at health food stores or they can order for you. I wonder if they might help you? I would think its worth a try as you are having so much trouble putting drops and creams in your eyes. I hope Shanasy sees this post and will let us know how she is doing with the Moistur-Eyes. Good luck Joyce.June in Toronto (beb/meige)
Re: MOISTUR-EYES/SHANASY ARE YOU THERE?
Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions. Most of them I have tried but there were a few that seemed like a good idea. As for the Moisture eyes I took it for 6 months and could not tell a difference so I stopped it. I did ask my doctor if it was Ok because I was trying to lower my chlorestol and he said it was. I am also taking flaxseed oil to help lower the chlorestol. This has nothing to do with BEB but if you are trying to lower your chlorestol - try the Red yeast rice. It is a large capsule but it really works. In 3 months I lowered my chlorestol from 238 to 201 . I also take Provacal at night and the chlorestol was slowly coming down but with the Red yeast Rice (bought in health food stores) it cam down much faster. One thing puzzles me. If you can't wink and it means the Botox is working - why are my eyes squeezing shut? I am going sometime today to get my drivers licsence renewed but I have to get these eyes open first.
Joyce in NC who thanks you again for all your advice.
Re: MOISTUR-EYES/SHANASY ARE YOU THERE?/cholesterol
oat bran in breads, or in "shake" form is also good for lowering cholesterol. Blueberries they keep saying over and over again is good for memory problems.
Re: MOISTUR-EYES/SHANASY ARE YOU THERE?/cholesterol
Kathy. Do they keep saying over and over again about the blueberries helping your memory because we are loosing our memory?
Couldn't resist that one.Catherine
Re: MOISTUR-EYES/SHANASY ARE YOU THERE?/cholesterol
no, my mother has Alzheimers and i am very aware of that. my memory is so good that alot of people cannot believe it. many of you have mentioned that some of the meds you are taking somehow interfere with your memory and i am wondering if eating blueberries could offset this side effect.
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