Re: Tear duct plugs
Joyce,
I would think you would notice the difference rather quickly. Have you checked to see if the plugs are protruding and maybe irritating your eyes?Back when I was first trying to find out what was wrong with my eyes, my ophthalmologist thought it was dry eyes and suggested plugs. He first put in collagen plugs that would dissolve on their own - just to see how I would do with them. The insertion of the plugs was a miserable experience with him constantly telling me to open my eyes and me telling him that I couldn't (should have been a "clue" about what was really wrong). That was in May (my allergy season) and I went out in the woods where my eyes overflowed with tears and I wasn't so sure I wanted the plugs. But that was the only time that happened. After the temporary plugs dissolved, he inserted regular ones (much easier process). But they wouldn't stay in. First they would come out just enough to irritate my eyes, then they would come completely out. So he cauterized my lower ducts. One of them opened slightly and I had it redone recently. It has made a big difference. I still have some dry eye problems and have considered having the upper ducts done, too. But, all in all, I consider it a big improvement. I was a little hesitant at first about the cauterization, but my doctor had his eyes done and later had one undone, so I felt that he knew what he was talking about and I was willing to try it. I'm glad I did. Back when I first got on the board, Susan Hasselle was posting regularly and she would frequently suggest that people look into punctal cauterization when they had severely dry eyes. Virginia in AL, where the thermometer has already dropped and I want my spring weather back.
Re: Tear duct plugs
Hi Joyce, Three months before I had a myectomy, I had the regular plugs inserted. Never got much relief, and had small yellow bumps to come on my eyelids. They were still very dry, and I had that sandy feeling you are having. During the myectomy surgery, The surgeon cauterized the upper ducts. Still had the bumps and burning of eyes. Went back to my opthalmologist and had lower plugs removed. Eyes were better right away. I do not have much problem with dry eyes anymore. The cauterization helped tremendously.Before I had the myectomy and cauterization my biggest problem was the dry eyes. I know how miserable it can make you feel! The Dr. never admitted that the plugs were causing the problem. Do hope that you can get some relief from that problem.
Corrie in S.C.
Re: Tear duct plugs
JoyceI know exactly what you are going through. Dry eyes is my biggest problem and when I had my surgery 2 years ago with Dr Anderson I had him cauterize the upper ducts. My eyes were still dry so I tried the plugs in the lower ducts. I have had a lot of problems over the past 2 years with them. Usually they would fall out. I have tried all different kinds and the ones I have in I have had since last September so they have lasted the longest. Now that I have read the other post I am going to have another doctor check them out tomorrow. I have a recurring "cold sore" on the cornea. I have been on steriods and anti inflammatory drops since the fall. It seems to come and go. The only good thing is that right now it is bothering me very much and my appointment happens to be tomorrow. I have stopped using eye mask and want to know why I can't seem to get rid of it. Maybe it is the plugs that is causing it? Should I have the lower one cauterized. My doctor says it can't be reverser but according to another post it can. Who the heck knows? It is very painful and red and no amount of concealer hides it. ANyone got any answers for this one? Catherine Catherine
Re: Tear duct plugs
Thanks for your answers. I didn't know there was a upper and lower duct. He used a blue plastic plunger "thing" to put the plugs in. He put them in the eye corner closest to the nose. He turned the plunger down and upward so he must have put in upper and lower. I could feel them gong in. When He looked into my eyes I don't think he could see them so he got the plinger out of the trash to make sure they had gone in. He went and got another set, whether the first ones were too small or just didn't go in I am not sure and I failed to ask him the question. Anyways he put in the second set. I don't see anything protruding from the corner of my eye so they must be in. The very first night I thought that I wouldn't use the ointment or humifider just to see if they would help. WRONG THING TO DO. Both eyes felt like they had been turned wrong side out and Pain is so intense. Since then I still use plenty of ointment and the humifer. Last night I thought to my self, tomorrow I will feel better because the prednisone pack and the shot would really perk me up. I usually get a lot of energy when I take them. WRONG. I woke up 4 am (that must be my magic hour) and I had that gritty, briars in my eyes. It always feels like it is up under the eyelid where the crease is and you can't get the ointment to it. If this keeps up I will go to a local ophthalmologist
that I know and trust. I have gone to see him years ago for eye examines. He has always been up front with me. Again thanks for your help at least I have a little more information than I had before. Joyce in NC where tomorrow we will be lucky to get out of the 30's.
Re: Tear duct plugs
Hi Joyce, I too have a severe dry eye problem. I have had the lower tear ducts cauterized and had the upper ones plugged. It has helped some, but I still have problems. I had my shots on Feb 4th and yesterday was the first day I could drive. I went to the store today and it was cold out and now I am in the house for a while again. The cold seems to effect me the most. Right now my eyes are burning as if something has been sprayed in them. I have had to keep Pm Refresh in all day. My Doctor says he thinks the only place to live for people like us is the rain forest. Sometimes I think he is right. I am glad I had the tear ducts taken care of even though it only helps some. I used to sit and cry because they hurt so bad. (and I am not a crier). Good luck to you. Judy in Ohio where it is sleeting and in the low 20s.
Re: Tear duct plugs
Sure sorry to hear of the dry eye problem. Hope you get relief soon.
It seems like there's still so much to learn about BEB.
I have the 'plugs' & have had no problems. Dr. Yen, Dr. Anderson's assistant in Salt Lake City put mine in. I only use eye drops a couple of times a day, & GenTeal at night.
I had a routine appt. with my opthamologist today. All was fine, except I had a couple of eyelashes going in & scratching an eye, so he plucked them out. It had felt like something was in my eye & drops, etc. didn't help
Joann in Ark.--modified by Joann Humphrey at Tue, Feb 26, 2002, 20:04:55
Re: Tear duct plugs
Hi Joyce,I must have had 8-10 plugs put in over time and they just kept falling out (or "in" - I don't know). They irritated my eyes and never seemed to help. They were a complete waste of time and money (although the opthomlgist didn't seem to mind!). they were painful going in and usually I never knew when they fell out. However, there is a brand out on the market that makes them so you yourself can see if they are still in or have fallen out. I also had cauterization - that was more painful than I could bear and my second dr after that said that the ducts had already re-opened. ANOTHER waste of time and money - not to mention agony! I, too, had severe dry eye and nothing - not even a million ointments, drops, lubricants, etc. ever helped. Then I started taking a natural supplement called "Moistur-Eyes" and I have not had dry eye since. (knock on wood!) It was a miracle for me - however I know many others have tried it and have not had success like I did with it. But thank God it worked for me and I haven't done any drops or anything since I started taking the stuff. It is kinda expensive though. Or you could try taking flaxseed oil - at least that's what my dr. suggested. Good luck!
Shanasy
Re: Tear duct plugs/joyce and Shanasy
i wish i could say something about the Hydroeye nutritional supplement but i have some questions to ask my pharmacist before i take it. I may be allergic to some of the things in it.
Re: Tear duct plugs/Hydroeye
I talked to my pharmicist friend today( he is pretty knowledgeable about the way vitamins and such interact with other meds). He said I should not take the Hydroeye nutritional supplemant because i Had a slight allergic reaction and it is not recommended with the magnesium supplement(Maginex) that i am already taking. This is only for my particular situation! The people at www.ScienceBasedHealth.com were very nice when i explained this situation and apparently it is working very well for others. And I agree totally in theory with them as to what they are trying to do: improve the internal health of the eye so as to eliminate the constant need for these temporary, exterior ointments . You don't need a prescription for it. A pharmacist can order it for you, or you can yourself.Their phone number is I-888-433-4726. You might want to check with your doctor anyway, to at least ask him about it.
Since I can't take this supplement I am going to try the Moisture_Eyes supplement next.
Re: Tear duct plugs/Joyce
I am so sorry you are having to got through this ! I don't know much about this so I'll have to read the rest.
Re: Tear duct plugs/Joyce
Thanks again for your input. I have tried the Moisture eyes but I did not think it helped. I took it for over 6 months, but I do take Flaxseed oil everyday for the Chlorestol problem. I have checked into the Hydroeye medication and I got the impression that I had to get it from a doctor, but Kathy called it a suppliment. I have noticed that there is a Hydroeye eye drops but I didn't know if it was the same thing. Joann mentioned having eyelashes pulled out but my "scratcheness"(sp) is under the lid up near the crease line. I have often thought it was a "stitch" that maybe had not disolved and was scratching my eye, also the white of my eye is often very red , not bloodshot (small lines) but like the pink eyes used to be except it is only on the bottom of the eye. You all have given me more information that I can use. Kathy please let me know if the Hydroeye is a prescription medicine or over the counter suppliment. My doctors had not heard of it. Shannsey this has nothing to do with tear ducts but felt this was an excellent time to say that you and maybe two others always thank me for the "inspiring or humorous posting that I get and pass along. It means a lot. I receive things some time that speak to my heart or just make me laught, and Sally is one to send some good laughs, I know this is not good sentence structure but what the heck, I type like I speak. Joyce in NC who is making sour dough bread today. I have to make a "tent" to cover the loaves up because it is very cold here and I don't keep the house too warm at times. I will bake them this afternoon so about 4 pm to 5 pm if you smell bread baking it is mine!
Re: Tear duct plugs/Joyce
JoyceYours sounds very similar to my problem. I kept complaining about dry eyes. One doctor kept saying thats what is was. Then I happened to go in on a really bad day and he thought that it was a stye. Off to another doctor. Of course by the time I got to see him it was not as bad. He did say he thought it was a stye and made an appointment to have it removed about 2 weeks later. The day I went to have it removed it was really bad. I though Great. He can really see it now. Low and behold he said it is not a stye but a type of cold sore on the cornea. Apparently it comes and goes so he sent me to a cornea specialist that very day. I still have the darn thing. Can't seem to get rid of it but going to see doctor tomorrow. Hopefully he can suggest another sort of treatment.
Just wanted to let you know to ask about seeing a cornea specialist
Catherine
Re: Tear duct plugs/Joyce
I love the way you write joyce! I will post at the end of this thread what i did today regarding this. I used to make sourdough bread the way you are doing it, along time ago. Took forever but it was well worth it.
Re: Bread
Joyce, that bread smelled so wonderful that I dropped by and had a piece in cyber space. Yummmmm!! THanks.Sally in North Idaho where it's still staying below freezing and is not windy, so it's just nippy out. My mother and mother-in-law made such good bread that I was always afraid to try. My sons got me a bread machine a couple of years ago but I've not really gotten the hang of it.
--modified by Sally - in - Idaho at Wed, Feb 27, 2002, 20:32:44
Re: Bread/Sally
Sally, bread machines are great! But it's also very satisfying. And therapeutic to make it by hand.
Re: Bread
Finding you still there ! Great... The shingles which I thought were fading fast, zappped me again. Back on strong medication and something for pain. Eyes feel better closed. It's all down on left leg where the nerve endings are. Red swollen and painful. The immune system is not being repaired easily. Wow! the cold artic air came this way a day or two ago. The pretty yellow daffodils were zapped, too.
Sending South Carolina greetings all the way to NOrth Idaho...greetings and the smell of my homebaked yeast loaves....soy flour, oatmeal, etc. low fat but tasty. And blessings, Sally!
--modified by Kathleen Bowers at Fri, Mar 01, 2002, 12:38:49
Re: Bread/Joyce
Ironically,after reading Joyce's desription of her sourdough, i had 3 pieces of sourdough toast from a local bakery whose sourdough is wonderful! Butter and cinnamon sugar. thanks a lot joyce for helping me go off my diet!
Re: Bread/Kathleen ... yummm
Hi Kathleen, way down in South Carolina. I think you got some of the weather meant for us, although we have had cold, too. Sorry about the daffodils getting zapped. That often happens here, but I don't have any. Today the air lets us know that spring is around the corner.Your bread smells wonderful. I just may have to get adventuresome and make some one of these days. Sally in North Idaho
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