What questions & tests to ask cornea specialist HELP -Need answers before 11 am today

[Trac]

I have been trying to get an appointment with UCSF for a couple months and they have not been calling me to schedule an appointment. Well they finally called yesterday and my appointment is scheduled for today. I have to leave by 11 am to make it to my appointment on time. I would like input from all of you as to what kinds of questions I should ask and if there are any tests I should ask then to request. I might be able to get them to draw blood for serum, which my eye doctor says may be cheaper then getting it drawn at his office.

My current symptoms include: burning sensation in eyes, dry feeling in eyes, gritty foreign body sensation (right eye worse than left eye) Eye lids red and swelling almost to the point of closure. It is worse when I read and when I am on the computer (I am a teacher & I have to grade papers and work on the computer). It is also worse later in the day. I often have dry mouth. My vision is poor, but it changes throughout the day as my symptoms’ get worse. I have filaments, which the doctor removes on occasion. I thought I was also removing filaments throughout the day, but after the last doctor I saw I am wondering if it is just dust and stuff than would normally leave my eyes through the tear duct but cannot leave with plugs. This debris causes irritation and my eyes form mucus and that is what I pull out several times a day.

Restatis: 4xday
C-serum 20% (tears made from my blood serum) 6-10xday
Mucomyst 2-4 X f\day
Muro 128 drops 0-3 times a day
FML ointment 1x at night
Muro 128 ointment 1x at night.
Phiocarpine 5 mg1/2 pill 3-5
Docyccline 50 mg1Xday

Over the counter
Fish oil 3600 mg/day
Vit B complex daily
Vit D 5000 IU Daily (once a week now)
Glucosamine & chondroitin 900 mg daily
Calcium 500 mg 3Xday
1/8 cup flax seed daily

I have never been tested for allergies.
I know I should ask for smaller vials of serum if they draw for that as mine last at least 2 weeks each.

Any help would be appreciated, but unfortunately it has to be right away.

Trac

[PotatoCakes]

If you haven't already, ask if they can recommend an endochrinologist for tests (and referral). Can't hurt if you don't know what your cause is.

Ask the basics... is there anything I should be doing that I'm not? Is there anything I'm doing that I shouldn't be?

Since not all doctors will tell you (my 1st specialist didn't), ask what your diagnosis is (in plain English if necessary). Ask if you have any corneal damage.

Don't forget to bring a list of your current treatments and medications, including warm compresses, etc. Bring your glasses as you'll be tested with them.

Good luck!

[Trac]

Thanks for the support. I have been working on condensing my symptoms and meds for the past 2 hours. I am trying to come up with a list of questions. I am also trying to drink plenty of water incase they draw blood for serum. I wish I had a little more advance notice for this.

[joanieb]

Hi Trac,
I'm new to this blog. I don't see a follow up to your visit to UCSF. How did it go? What do they think and what did they suggest? Are they seeing more of this condition? Working on it?