Tweet
So... we were lucky around here... we had a positively BALMY November compared to usual, but finally, the cold hit us... HARD.
When the temps around here dropped to below -30F I had to turn the humidifier on our furnace off (to avoid water condensing on our windows)... the humidity in our home dropped from 45% down to 22%... The windows were nice and clear, but my eyes were sent straight back to dry eye hell. After a week and a half of having my eyes constantly red again and burning, my husband stated the obvious:
Why not turn UP the humidifier??
Screw the windows... we can wipe them down every day, and at least my eyes will feel better.
Hmmm... sometimes you just need someone else to set you straight...
I've managed to get the humidity up to the high 30's... that feels WAY better than 22%... but it's not as good as the 40's!
And go figure... now things have warmed up again (well, warmer than minus freaking 30!!!), and the windows are clear for the moment... even with the higher humidity... YAY!
Anyhow, when at home and my eyes burn, I've been applying a small amount of olive oil with a q-tip to my top and bottom lids.. this relieves any burning immediately, and the relief lasts for hours... much more effective than any drops I've tried ... just can't manage in the winter with nothing...)
When shopping, I still need to wear my Wiley's - but the air in the stores is so dry right now, that even WITH Wiley's I still need a drop of Celluvisc in each eye.
I'm still applying heat to my lids twice daily and expressing the glands with a q-tip as per Dr. Latkany's book...
Still taking tetracycline 250mg twice daily...
Still on Restasis 3 times daily...
Still wearing goggles 24/7...
Any other ideas for getting through the winter??
When at home, this regimen allows me to use no artificial tears except for overnight, and still be reasonably comfortable, as long as I don't read the newspaper for more than 15 minutes, and I limit television and computer use.
I'm starting to get stressed about the fact that my maternity leave ends on Jan. 18... I'm due to go back to work where there are NO available plugs for a humidifier, and because I work with the public, wearing goggles will NOT fly... so I'll have to use drops again... but at the moment, with no goggles, drops only last 15 minutes before my eyes feel aweful... how on earth will I manage...
I'll be constantly running around all over the place to help customers (the breeze created from that just KILLS my eyes...), entering data into the comp, reading, ack!! I hope to god that Restasis can improve my condition immensely before then...
When the temps around here dropped to below -30F I had to turn the humidifier on our furnace off (to avoid water condensing on our windows)... the humidity in our home dropped from 45% down to 22%... The windows were nice and clear, but my eyes were sent straight back to dry eye hell. After a week and a half of having my eyes constantly red again and burning, my husband stated the obvious:
Why not turn UP the humidifier??
Screw the windows... we can wipe them down every day, and at least my eyes will feel better.
Hmmm... sometimes you just need someone else to set you straight...
I've managed to get the humidity up to the high 30's... that feels WAY better than 22%... but it's not as good as the 40's!
And go figure... now things have warmed up again (well, warmer than minus freaking 30!!!), and the windows are clear for the moment... even with the higher humidity... YAY!
Anyhow, when at home and my eyes burn, I've been applying a small amount of olive oil with a q-tip to my top and bottom lids.. this relieves any burning immediately, and the relief lasts for hours... much more effective than any drops I've tried ... just can't manage in the winter with nothing...)
When shopping, I still need to wear my Wiley's - but the air in the stores is so dry right now, that even WITH Wiley's I still need a drop of Celluvisc in each eye.
I'm still applying heat to my lids twice daily and expressing the glands with a q-tip as per Dr. Latkany's book...
Still taking tetracycline 250mg twice daily...
Still on Restasis 3 times daily...
Still wearing goggles 24/7...
Any other ideas for getting through the winter??
When at home, this regimen allows me to use no artificial tears except for overnight, and still be reasonably comfortable, as long as I don't read the newspaper for more than 15 minutes, and I limit television and computer use.
I'm starting to get stressed about the fact that my maternity leave ends on Jan. 18... I'm due to go back to work where there are NO available plugs for a humidifier, and because I work with the public, wearing goggles will NOT fly... so I'll have to use drops again... but at the moment, with no goggles, drops only last 15 minutes before my eyes feel aweful... how on earth will I manage...
I'll be constantly running around all over the place to help customers (the breeze created from that just KILLS my eyes...), entering data into the comp, reading, ack!! I hope to god that Restasis can improve my condition immensely before then...
I need to move somewhere humid and warm!! My eyes would love it!!
Comment