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I'm better. Actually much better. I never thought three years ago that this would ever again be the case. Burning every waking moment. Eyelids sticking to my eyeballs at night. Significant depression. No real desire to continue on. I had zero Schirmer in one eye and 2mm in the other. My Lipiview showed 30% dropout in both lower lids.
I'm grateful for this forum for helping me understand I wasn't alone and to educate me. That being said, I avoided checking in for months at a time, as it often brought back the depression and the fear. That's why I'm posting tonight and hope others add more success stories - they are out there and I'm one of them.
I have two pieces of advice 1) find a doctor you trust and has a proven track record of happy patients - ask for references or do your own online research and 2) work with them on a treatment plan and a care program, follow it, and modify it as necessary with their guidance.
After unsuccessful attempts to find a good doctor locally, I bit the bullet and traveled to Tampa to see Dr. ******. My past posts of these appointments are available if you want to search all the details, but in summary, after all four puncta were cauterized and three probings sessions over three years, things are quite good. The glands I have left are working well and producing good oil. My eyes are moist, sometimes too wet but I'll take it. No more burning, no more sticking. I'm living again. Yes, I have spent a lot of money with Dr. ****** these past three years. Would I do it again? In a minute.
I've done all of these for three years now and will continue doing all of them:
Heat mask every night for 10 minutes
Doxycyclene 25 mg
NAC supplement
PRN fish oil
Borage oil
30 seconds of hot water over the eyes in the shower every morning
96 ounces of water a day
Blinking exercises
I've stopped doing the following:
Lid wipes - after running out and waiting for my amazon order, I noticed things got better. I continue to improve. I think there is such a thing as cleaning your lids raw. I never allowed the natural oils to build up and was always wiping them away.
Cevimeline - this was an experiment by Dr. ****** that we both agreed after a few months didn't seem to make a difference.
Allergy Eye drops - after a couple months, it seemed clear this wasn't my issue
Rewetting drops - haven't need them for 2 years or more.
Did I see continual progress - no, and that's what is frustrating sometimes. That being said, I can honestly say that every month was better than the next despite the daily ups and downs. If I was a 1 or 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 a few years back. I'm a steady 8 now with many days 9 or 10. I think if I hadn't been obsessing over my eyes daily these last three years, I probably wouldn't notice them at all. That's the next thing I need to work on - put this out of my mind completely.
I hope someone who needs a boost is out there reading this. I certainly needed it a few years ago.
I'm grateful for this forum for helping me understand I wasn't alone and to educate me. That being said, I avoided checking in for months at a time, as it often brought back the depression and the fear. That's why I'm posting tonight and hope others add more success stories - they are out there and I'm one of them.
I have two pieces of advice 1) find a doctor you trust and has a proven track record of happy patients - ask for references or do your own online research and 2) work with them on a treatment plan and a care program, follow it, and modify it as necessary with their guidance.
After unsuccessful attempts to find a good doctor locally, I bit the bullet and traveled to Tampa to see Dr. ******. My past posts of these appointments are available if you want to search all the details, but in summary, after all four puncta were cauterized and three probings sessions over three years, things are quite good. The glands I have left are working well and producing good oil. My eyes are moist, sometimes too wet but I'll take it. No more burning, no more sticking. I'm living again. Yes, I have spent a lot of money with Dr. ****** these past three years. Would I do it again? In a minute.
I've done all of these for three years now and will continue doing all of them:
Heat mask every night for 10 minutes
Doxycyclene 25 mg
NAC supplement
PRN fish oil
Borage oil
30 seconds of hot water over the eyes in the shower every morning
96 ounces of water a day
Blinking exercises
I've stopped doing the following:
Lid wipes - after running out and waiting for my amazon order, I noticed things got better. I continue to improve. I think there is such a thing as cleaning your lids raw. I never allowed the natural oils to build up and was always wiping them away.
Cevimeline - this was an experiment by Dr. ****** that we both agreed after a few months didn't seem to make a difference.
Allergy Eye drops - after a couple months, it seemed clear this wasn't my issue
Rewetting drops - haven't need them for 2 years or more.
Did I see continual progress - no, and that's what is frustrating sometimes. That being said, I can honestly say that every month was better than the next despite the daily ups and downs. If I was a 1 or 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 a few years back. I'm a steady 8 now with many days 9 or 10. I think if I hadn't been obsessing over my eyes daily these last three years, I probably wouldn't notice them at all. That's the next thing I need to work on - put this out of my mind completely.
I hope someone who needs a boost is out there reading this. I certainly needed it a few years ago.
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