Freshkote or Dwelle trail run?

[autumnn]

Faithfully- I'd bring in information from this forum. You can do a search and I think Rojzen posted about what to take to your doctor about this drop. You need a prescription for this drop and the pharmacy will likely have to order it for you as mine never has it in stock.

On a seperate note- Cali you mentioned that it should help as long as you arent allergic to the ingredients in it.....this may sound naieve but, how would you know if you are allergic to an ingredient? What would one look for in symptoms?

Also, the Freshkote website states that customers feel relief as early as 2 days after starting it to as long as two weeks. On this forum it seems that the consensus is that it takes much longer to help.....

[Lucy]

Also, the Freshkote website states that customers feel relief as early as 2 days after starting it to as long as two weeks. On this forum it seems that the consensus is that it takes much longer to help.....

Since when do pharmaceutical companies tell the plain unvarnished truth? You can believe what you read on DEZ more than you can what the drug companies tell you. They tell you what they "think they want you to know." Doesn't matter if it's real or not. Lucy

[calli66]

How to get FreshKote. Go to their website and print out some info. (About FreshKote> FreshKote insert---this has the information the doctor needs).

I asked my ophthalmologist to prescribe it. He's pretty open-minded, looked it up on the web, and wrote a prescription. I guess some doctors need to be talked into it, but I didn't have to do that. Once they read the ingredient list and see that it's not really a "drug" they usually agree that it "couldn't hurt anything to try it."

I had called up the company (the phone number is in the lower right corner of their web page). I asked what pharmacy would sell it in my area, and they gave me the info. My insurance doesn't cover it, and it's a bit pricey.

Autumn--- as far as being allergic to something in FreshKote. I am not an expert, but from my own experience---

I'm allergic to an eye ointment (anti-biotic) called Tobrex. The warnings about this product state that:
"SIDE EFFECTS: Temporary blurred vision, tearing, eye redness, eye discomfort, or eyelid itching/swelling may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly."
(this describes my own reaction--especially the redness, blood red).

Also, Autumn--I have a question for you. You said you preferred to have clean eyes at night. I know it's messy, but have you tried using Genteal Gel at night? That was the first product that had a dramatic effect in improving my eye comfort. Truly dramatic. The healing that took place overnight improved my comfort during the day. But yes, FreshKote is good for night, too, I just like the feeling of total drenching that Genteal gives me---personal choice.

Calli

[lilahp]

FreshKote started helping me IMMEDIATELY. Sometimes it feels better than others, that's true. But if I had money, I'd buy stock in it.

But it is the only one that I can use. I get horrible allergy/sinus/headache symptoms from all the rest.

Advice here - stay with what you want. If you need to change doctors, change them. If you need to hurt your doctor's feelings by stating your needs OVER and OVER, then do it. Those are your own two eyes. You are the most important person here, not him or her. If you want FreshKote, keep trying until you get it.

I am on my fourth or fifth eye doctor right now. May get another one, too.

This is not my first rodeo with the health care system. I am currently going around-and-around about medical issues regarding my mother. Because I didn't stand my ground. I knew better than what her psychiatrist said, and I now am paying for it.

Be smarter than me! And then please come back and report to us.

I am feeling empowered with all the great comments on this post lately. Keep going! NEVER GIVE UP!

[stella]

It is very unusual for you folks in the USA to have trouble getting eye drops

If you have trouble getting Freshcote ,why dont you go on the net and order clinitas ultra 3 (same thing) It is readily available on the internet

[autumnn]

In case anyone is wondering...I am on my fifth day. I have resisted the strong desire to give up as I had a pretty stingy/burning/itchy Saturday despite being faithful on the 4x a day with this drop. Sunday was a day in bed. But, I persisted with using them and today is a bit better, so far. Rojzen, Cali, Stella, and Lila are always in the back of my mind with their healing eyes.
For anyone interested...I'd love to correspond with anyone else who is on this drop or starting this drop.
Hope everyone is having a lovely Monday- as lovely as a Monday can be!
Autumnn

[lilahp]

Yay, you!

Keep going! in case you're interested, the other things that sometimes help me are:

1. doxycycline (2 times/day)
2. Alka-Seltzer Gold
3. SteriLid lid scrub
4. Tylenol
5. Pepcid Complete


Have tried fish oil and other Omega-3's, but they upset my tummy. If you can use them, many say that they help, too!

[autumnn]

Thanks Lila! Those are helpful suggestions

It has been a week on Freshkote. While I still dont feel significant relief from the drop it doesnt seem to be bothering me as much. During my visit with the eye doctor today he said that my corneas looked calmer than before and that my TBUT was up about 2 seconds. He also said that my tear film was breaking up more "evenly". Good news but I want to FEEL the change. I think I will stay with this for the long haul.

[Lucy]

Way to go, Autumnn! Stay the course a bit longer on the drops. I hope your patience pays off. If not, you'll know you have given the drops enough time to do their stuff. Dry eye is not a quick fix as we all find out. Fingers crossed. Lucy

[odydnas]

I am also on a Freshkote trial...it's been about 3 weeks so far. I will keep you updated on my progress (hopefully) Autumn. I think it will take a few months to see a difference. Dry eye is a very slow process, as my doc loves to tell me everytime I see her. I think by slow, she means years.

[mansfield61]

I'm also trying Freshkote. Only been a few days so far so we will have to wait and see.On an interesting note, I live in Canada outside of Toronto and the drops are not available here. So I went off to my opth. to see if she could write me a prescription and I would go to the States (about an hours drive) and have it filled in Niagara Falls N.Y. I did this once before for Azasite which is also not available in Canada. Anyway I phoned ahead to make sure they had it and they didn't but said they would order it for me. Finally two days later I went to the medicine Shoppe in Niagara Falls to get the goods but when I hand them my script they tell me it isn't needed as this is over the counter there. I check the box and sure enough it's the same as the picture on their site along with the same makeup. So I picked up two bottles for I think around $30 each. I even asked if they had made some kind of mistake but was assured not. Strange.

[faithfully]

I am also trying Freshkote for a first time. I got my Corneal Specialist to write up a script for it. He had never heard of it.
My co-pay for one bottle was $30. Was wondering if I could order it cheaper on the internet?
I used it last night instead of gunking my eyes up with Lacri-lube by Refresh.
My eyes havent been too bad today....not the constant burning.
Once again, I am not a lasik patient. My eyes dried out from Sjogrens and are severely dry.
I am wondering do I continue to use my Restasis along with the Freshkote? I just havent found a doctor who knows.
I am using a Lacrisert in my driest eye with the Freshkote. So far so good.
Hoping Freshkote will work but need to find it cheaper.
faithfully....not going to give up!

[autumnn]

Hi all Freshkote users! Does anyone notice that the drop makes your lids a little bit itchy? And, do you use it before bed? I notice that when I use it before bed I wake up with irritated/inflammed lids

[calli66]

I sometimes get a crusty collection of residue at the inner eye corner from FreshKote. The particles are brittle and they dry on the tender lid skin and conjunctiva. I tend to rub at it which irritates it more. Sometimes it itches but mostly, for me, it just feels dry, "drawn" (like stretched skin) and irritated. You know the little strip of dried "crust" that collects on the threads of the bottle under the cap? That's the texture that has irritating properties. You really have to have ALL the drop inside the eye, and NONE of it anywhere else.

You could try wetting and lightly washing the lid/lash area to make sure all the residue is off. I have found that adding more FreshKote doesn't usually help when it feels like this, and sometimes have to "start over" by rinsing my eye with saline solution. Then after awhile (like a half hour), I try another drop of FreshKote. Half the time none of this works.

I don't use FreshKote at bedtime because the mechanical aspect of the crustiness irritates my eyes. And they just don't feel wet and soothed enough to get through the night.

Calli

[autumnn]

I am officially a science experiment. If you read my other posts you will see that I saw a doctor re IPL for blocked glands. I was told to abandon ship with all drops. I am now out of the trial run. Darn! Good luck to the rest of you and please keep this thread going....I want to know how you get on with this treatment