Blepharitis for 3 years

[Karjade]

Thanks Unicorn. My eyes may be getting better but the anxiety is still there - I am trying to find a good counsellor in Northampton (not too expensive) to get some support on anxiety issues. I have to keep busy to take my mind off things but problems keep arising - yesterday my daughter's dog got caught up on a twig and pierced the vein in her leg and it would not stop bleeding. They rushed her to the vet ten minutes before closing time - they kept her in and she has just had an operation at £600. Luckily she is insured but the vet want the money up front which she has not got so hence we have to lend it to her!! My eyes have caused me such anxiety and normally you would deal with problems like this but not now. I have to deal and accept my eye problems but how do you deal with the anxiety that goes with it. I can understand how you feel about the steroid drops - how long are you on them for and what are they for? Short term they should be ok but it is when you are on long term when problems arise. I really do try to be positive but it is so hard xx

[unicorn]

Karjade, I have sent you a private message - just check under 'Notifications' at the top right of the site.

[Karjade]

Unicorn, I have sent you a private message back. Not sure what I was doing so please let me know if you received it xx

[Karjade]

Littlemermaid/Unicorn. I am sorry I have not been answering your private messages because I did not know you could send them or receive them until Unicorn told me they were under Notifications. Thank you so much both of you as I have just read past messages xx

[Karjade]

Unicorn

I have tried three times to send you a private message and each time has not gone through - I just don't know what I am doing wrong. Perhaps you can tell me!!

Karjade

[Karjade]

Is this hot, humid weather making other people's eyes worse or is it just me. They also seem more dry and burning and I was wondering if anybody could suggest anything.

[rppnj]

Is this hot, humid weather making other people's eyes worse or is it just me. They also seem more dry and burning and I was wondering if anybody could suggest anything.

Hi Karjade, It's been hot & humid here in New Jersey also and I believe that it does make things worse. My eye doctor put me on Zylet (combo antibiotic/steroid, I believe); one drop each eye, three times per day. It seemed to be helping but like always and "out of the blue" I have another "bad eyes day". What's so frustrating is that I had a great night's sleep, I was using the drops per instructions and I was indoors in the air conditioning. There's just no "rhyme or reason" to this...it just "happens when it happens". Do you find that that is the case with you? I'm reading a new book that was highly recommended to me because of my allergies. It's called "Wheat Belly" and it talks about how genetically engineered wheat (what we all use today) is causing many of the allergies that we see today as well as obesity and heart disease. It's very interesting and I'm considering staying away from wheat products to see if this has a positive effect on my allergies. I'll let you know.

Kindest regards,
rppnj

[Karjade]

Hi rppnj

Yesterday I had quite a good day with my eyes but I don't hold out much hope for today or tomorrow - as you know two days are never the same!! My glaucoma specialist said it would take about six months to get my eyes under control - it has been three months now and they are not a lot different. I am going back to her on the 10 September and I will see what she suggests next. When my sinuses were really bad I had an allergy test at the hospital and as well as all the pollens I was tested for they tested for wheat and the reaction to my skin was worse for wheat than pollen. I was told to stop eating wheat by the consultant but I have slowly gone back to it because it was so hard to do as wheat seems to be in everything. I would be very interested to see how you get on with your wheatfree diet. How long has the doctor put you on Zylet because if I was you I would be very careful because of the steroid in it?

[Murtagh2012]

hi all,
I am new to this site and have been reading through a lot of threads. I find all the information to be very useful and thank you for posting. I was diagnosed with Blepharitis about 6 months ago but I'm pretty sure I've had it from a very young age anyway. As I spend a lot of my time searching on google hoping to find a miracle cure, I was wondering, has anyone here ever found a way to constantly keep the redness, inflammation and discomfort at bay? as I am starting to lose all hope!

[Karjade]

Hi Murtagh, I was diagnosed with posterior blethritis a few months ago. As like all of us, we have good days and not so good days. I use heat compresses on my eyes for ten minutes twice a day, then massage them to get the oil glands working and clean them with boiled water - I have tried all of these cleaning products for my eyes and they make them sore so that is why I use warm boiled water. I then put dry eye drops in and it is worth trying different ones to see what suits you most. I never miss doing this twice a day and they are very slowly getting better but as you know blethritis can only be controlled and not cured. But that it like lots of illnesses eg diabetes but it does not mean you cannot live a normal life. I am starting to do breathing exercises when I do get anxious and also relaxation - all this is time consuming but it has got to be worth it and worth a try. There are so many understanding people on this forum and can be a great source of comfort. Good luck!

[rppnj]

Hi rppnj
I would be very interested to see how you get on with your wheatfree diet. How long has the doctor put you on Zylet because if I was you I would be very careful because of the steroid in it?

Hi Karjade,

Well, I've been on the wheat free diet for two weeks now and I feel great! Lots of energy, allergies abating, sleeping better, more relaxed and several lbs. lighter. It seems as if my "good eye days" are increasing, also. Two weeks really isn't long enough regarding my Blepharitis but I'm very optimistic since my alergies seem to be the "trigger" for my "bad eye days". Regarding the Zylet...my Doctor put me on one drop, three times per day for seven days. It seemed to help at first but did not last. I still had "good" & "bad" days even during the treatment. I really don't think that any of the current 'medical' treatments are very effective. I just try to leave my eyes alone as much as possible and let my own body heal them...that's at least as good as the Doctors have done...maybe even better!

Kindest regards,
rppnj

[Karjade]

Hi rppnj

I have had a sinus infection on top of everything else and my ENT Dept has done an allergy test and I tested positive for a wheat allergy. They told me to go on a wheatfree diet which I found so hard - I would be very grateful if you could give me an example of a typical day or even a couple of day's diet which you are following. I have been to see my glaucoma specialist today - she told me my eyes were still extremely dry and I am not using the Hylo Forte enough. I thought because I wasn't using it as often they were getting better - obviousely not!! So I have to up the drops by double - my pressure in the eyes was 14 which is good.

Kind regards
Karjade

[rppnj]

Hi Karjade...

Hi Karjade,

I found it relatively easy staying on a wheat free diet because there are so many 'gluten free' alternatives available. However, you should limit the amounts of these highly processed items because they trigger an insulin response...I suggest having brown rice or baked sweet potatoes (yams) with your meals and eliminate bread and pasta altogether. "Mary's Gone Crackers" (google it) makes tasty, organic flax seed crackers that go well with a natural cheddar or provolone cheese...great snack! When I order bacon & eggs, I just have the 'home fries' and not the toast. Always check the ingredients on the label because wheat flour is found in many foods where you would not expect it to be. Read the book "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis first...this book will motivate you not to include wheat in your diet. You can find Dr. Davis's book on Amazon. He's also coming out with a Wheat Belly Cook Book in December. Good luck, Karjade!

Kindest regards,
rppnj

[Karjade]

Hi rppnj

Thank you for your help and I am glad you find it easy to stay on a wheatfree diet - I think I managed it for 2 days!! Wheat seems to be in everything but I am reading up on things and will continue to try. I went to my friend's yesterday and she made me a sandwich (with wheat!!) and I was so hungry that I ate it - however, I was aware that I should not be eating this sandwich so maybe that was a start!! Will keep trying - even if I cut it out by half - (no willpower!!) I will look on Amazon for the book.

Karjade xx

[hankm9]

If you are unresponsive to conventional blepharitis treatments, please get tested for Demodex mites.