im in agony my doctor is no help

[pinky58]

hi everyone im new here but have found this site to be of great help I have been diagonozed with severe dry eye had this condition for several years but has got worse over the last 12 months.Saw a specialist 2 months ago had i set of permanant plugs inserted and prescribed ilube as i get stringy sticky mucus strands constantly i found this helped but this product has now been discontinued GREAT so i rang specialist to see if there was an alternative and got an abrupt NO i rang round several pharmacies who told me a new product is available called EURONAC which has similar ingredients mainly ACETYLCYSTEINE which helps dissolve the mucus strings but guess what my doctor wont prescribe it me .MY SPECIALIST has now discharged me basically not interested and ive been told theres a 12 month wait to see him so where do i go from here.Like many on this site im in constant agony eyes are raw bloodshot and somedays i want to tear my eye out particularly left one i feel like ive a constant migrane in it i take flaxseed drink loads of water use my eye bag do everything i can basically but this dry eye takes over my life how do i get my doctor to take it seriously and where do i go next to get help im in uk ive also tried every lubricating eyedrop going thanks for reading

[irish eyes]

.....so i rang specialist to see if there was an alternative and got an abrupt NO i rang round several pharmacies who told me a new product is available called EURONAC which has similar ingredients mainly ACETYLCYSTEINE which helps dissolve the mucus strings but guess what my doctor wont prescribe it me .MY SPECIALIST has now discharged me basically not interested and ive been told theres a 12 month wait to see him so where do i go from here....

Hi Pinky58

I can tell you are having a rough time of it - made worse by doctors' dismissive attitudes.

I too was `discharged' by the head of the eye department at a city teaching hospital. Even more strange was his claim to be passionate about helping people with dry eye. (Was it just my dry eye condition he didn't take to..?) Well I'll never know. Being left in `limbo' to sort things out for myself, the eyes became much worse - as a private consultant later testified. Anyway, that's in the past.

It's unclear (to me) whether you are going to go back to this specialist or not. He's discharged you but you say there is a 12 month wait?? Do you want to see him again if he doesn't seem interested? Can't you ask to see another person?

On the matter of the Euronac, presumably you have checked that it is available on prescription here in the UK? When you say your doctor refused to prescribe it - do you mean your GP or do you mean the specialist? My GP is brilliant but she leaves the `eye' stuff to the consultant - unless she receives some kind of confirmation letter from him. He's the expert on eyes and she's the `generalist'. I keep my GP up to date with `eye progress' and from time to time, prescriptions are modified at my request - but if it's anything really new - she would prefer to leave it to him.

Sorry if I have misunderstood anything in your post.

[pinky58]

Thanks for your reply i feel as if ive been left in limbo to Euronac is available in uk it has replaced Ilube its my GP and so called specialist who wont give it me i guess its down to cost but its so frustrating not being able to get hold of something that helps. I have been told ive got to ask to be referred again if ineed to be seen by a specialist again so will be back to my GPnext week as i cannot go on like this im sick of being told its my age im 52 so its something ive got to live with . Ive been in touch with RNIBwho have a very good page about dry eye on their site im hoping they might give me some useful info which i will talk to my GP about as severe dry eye can lead to sight problems will keep you posted regards jools

[irish eyes]

Hi again

Ilube is still showing on the Alcon website - I assume you have contacted that company already to get any additional insights.

I've had the age issue thrown at me too - but often the speaker was older than me and wasn't suffering like I was. I was always polite when I pointed this out.

Whatever one's age, the impact can be significant. My children are adults now so things are a little easier but as youngsters, they often had to fend for themselves. I get iritis as well and there were times when I was barely able to function. This was bad enough without having to put up with the dismissive insults as well.

We could `live with it' if it could be managed.

[Lucy]

I kow we all know about "warm compresses" and lid scrubs etc.
For pain when it's very bad, try a blue gelpack that you put in the freezer. It is soft and small, they are harder to find, but do help. Wrap in a clean washcloth and lie down with the icepack over your eyes. I know it's only temporary, but probably has saved my life, or someone elses.

[msienkiewicz]

Lucy,

I most definitely agree. I would even stick my head in the freezer or out the doorwall during Michigan winter for relief.


Melissa

[pinky58]

hi again need some friendly advice

lucy can you tell me about the gel compress i would also like to know if i can get dwell clintas and dakrina in the uk and wondered if any members here have knowledge as to whether it can be prescribed on the NHS many thxs

[irish eyes]

Pinky

This statement is taken from http://www.clinitas.info/faq.html

Can I ask my doctor to prescribe any of the products in the Clinitas range?

Yes. There is a product – Clinitas - which is available on prescription. It is essentially similar to Clinitas Soothe and is prescribed in boxes containing 30 single dose units. Neither Clinitas Hydrate or Clinitas Ultra 3 is available on prescription.


Dwelle & Dakrina - I purchased these through DEZ shop.

Ice gel pack - there is a range of stuff available and it needn't cost the earth. http://www.firstaid4less.co.uk/hot-cold-therapy.aspx

[pinky58]

what type of oral antibiotics can help

can anyone tell me what types are available in uk im going to ask my new doctor if i can be prescribed some and can i ask how they help

[irish eyes]

Hi Pinky58

Doxycycline is a standard one that is often prescribed.

http://www.agingeye.net/otheragingeye/doxycycline.php

I took it for years with no problems but recently changed to Minocycline because the consultant thought it would be gentler on the stomach. (I have an ulcer).

[pinky58]

thxs

thxs once again irish eyes for responding