Blood serum

[kimby2007]

Wan't to get some feedback about blood serum? My doctor seems very reluctant to try it. Does it help? Does it at least last a bit longer than an artifical tear? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Kim

[Toril]

Hi there!

I tried blood serum 3 years ago or so, but didn't do anything for me (might also be that I gave up on it too fast). I do know a women in my city though (with Sjogren disease) that got much help from it. As far as I know it's the only tear substitute she's using (she's using it several times during the day). So, if you manage to convince your doctor, I think it's worth a try!

Greetings,

Toril

[rubyslippers]

What is it? Where do you buy it? Expensive?

[kimby2007]

Blood serum

blood serum is made from your own blood and then mixed with artifical tears. It has to be done in a lab. Not sure if it is expensive or not. I imagine that it is not cheap.

[bernmee]

I think I read something by another member, Diane, who uses or used it. I could be wrong on this but I think this is where I first heard of it.

Bernadette

[Lucy]

Serum drops.

Diana T. uses serum drops.

Kim, I've used the drops for the last couple of months. I had to travel to Detroit to have the drops made. It's a 200 mile round trip and the time to have 12 vials of blood drawn, then one hour or more to spin the blood. Then you take the product on ice to a compounding pharmacy and wait another two hours before you can take home the tears. If you had someone in your town, it would be much quicker.

The pharmacy charges around $80 for around 3 weeks worth of drops at 4 x a day. I found the drops so few that I only used them on my worst eye. I like the way the drops feel, but have not gotten any lasting benefit. After a couple of hours, I'm back to the burn and pain. The drops have to be kept refrigerated at all times.

I found out my insurance isn't paying for the drops and I'm not able to afford them. Plus the travel, plus etc.

I'd say it very well may be worth it to you to see if this will help you. It all depends on how much you'll be willing to travel etc. If there is someone in your town, check it out. Possibly a university opthalmology center--that's what I had to do. I'm not ordering any more. Lucy

[Amy09]

i use the blood serum drops and have been using them for about three years... i am not completely sure if they work, but my eyes haven't gotten worse since using them, so that has to be good, right? my doctor recommended that i use the serum drops because supposedly the plasma in the blood serum drops keeps the tissue from getting more damaged.

the last time i went to get the drops made, my nurse was telling me how common it is becoming for people to use the serum drops. at the very least, i would say that they are nice because i have to keep them in the freezer, so when i use them, the cooling sensation feels good on my eyes.

[Lucy]

Hi Amy-
I'm glad the drops are helping you. You are really lucky if you have this process available to you within a reasonable distance and also if your insurance pays for it. I'm glad you posted your experience.

People seeking this therapy need to know:
1. to make sure their physician will support them in finding facilities.
2. to find out how much of a distance they may have to travel and how much time would be needed. Cost $$ travel. Mine took a 12 hour day and 200 miles +.
3. whether your insurance will pay for this. I just found out after buying 2 batches that I get paid $2.42 on a $83.00 cost. Ins will only pay for the ingredients used in the process. This case the $2.42 is for sodium chloride.
Other insurances may vary. For me, I have paid the cost (other than 2 x $2.42) out of my pocket. It wasn't even worth a stamp to send to insurance.
4. be willing to commit to a real trial of this--including all of the above if they apply.
5. know you'll have to give blood at given intervals. every 3 or 6 months? They took 12 vials for mine and this would make 3 batches. Each batch for me was enough for about 3 weeks.

Although I'd like to try this longer, I can't afford to pay this out of my pocket.

Lucy

[indrep]

Serum drops like nutraceuticals seem to help some people and not help others. The studies that have been performed on serum drops are also inconclusive. Also the percentage of serum to try is debated.

There is a legitimate scientific reason they could work.

[Amy09]

lucy,

yes, you are right, i am very very blessed to be able to have the "plasma tears" made. i am less than an hour away from a specialist who makes the drops. he says that people fly to him from all over the country to have the drops made. my eye specialist literally happens to be in the hospital next door, and the drops are covered by my insurance, so when my eye doctor suggested i get the drops made, i just had to walk for a couple minutes to see my other doctor who i believe is a blood specialist. i go about twice a year- once in the summer and once in the winter- to have the drops made. although dry eye is something i have to deal with at only 21, i am extremely blessed to be so close to such excellent facilities that help with dry eye.

[L_Oswald]

blood serum

Hi
I had blood serum for seven months after Lasik It helped with one eye a bit (nerves reinnervated a bit) but the other remaind more or less without feeling (nerves did not grow back).. still both very dry .. but they may have been worse without the serum .. Dare not think about that.
L.

[dianat]

I'm not really using serum any more, though I have a bottle in the fridge at present. I did use it for years, and felt it was the turning point for me. I'd been burning post-LASIK for three years and when I began the serum the burning improved. Can't say for sure how it works, but my guess is that the serum acted on inflammation. Who knows, just a guess.

Today I only use Dwelle on a therapeutic basis.