Does this affect anyone else this much?

[spmcc]

i still walked my dog

Dogs cure everything. And they don't give you advice you don't want.

Speaking of advice you don't want... have you tried moisture chambers? I apoligize if this has been discussed already.

I can't live without mine - they're on 24/7/365. I have sunglasses, clear non-Rx, and reading Rx moisture chambers. If you have prescription glasses and you don't want the hassle and expense of getting moisture chambers with Rx, there are some "over glasses" types that might work to protect your eyes (mabye not as well as the foam-lined WileyXs for example... but some relief is better than none).

Also, if you're wondering if there is some kind of neuropathy going on in your eyes, Dr. Korb explains in this video (link below) how he uses swim goggles to test his patients. I think he said 15-20 minutes, if the patient feels better with swim goggles, then he concludes it's NOT neuropathy, but is dry eye (evaporative/MGD). That could be a little test that you give yourself just to see.

Dr. Korb video: http://dryeyephiladelphia.com/portfo...d-dysfunction/ (warning: it's 90 minutes)

Good luck. I hope you find something that works. Squinting is, I'm sure, hard on the muscles and nerves, also frustrating and *exhausting*! You need some relief.

[nutteetart]

im half way thru the video but i know what autoimmmune conditions cause dry eye but neuro stuff really scares me. i am affected by this quite dramatically but with my anxious history im not sure what is affecting me the most. i presume holding yourself in a rigid posture could be from compromised vision or anx :/
i havent got moisture chambers yet but i think i will have to find the money somehow.
As for the Compassionate Mind...i am very familiar with this book. Easier said than done however.
x

[Logandly]

Plus all the things it does for you: removes red veins from the eyes, elevates mood, improves skin, inhibits and kills candida, rebuilds the liver, increases energy, stops itcy scalp.

Wow. It's almost like it's too good to be true. I wonder why all doctors aren't prescribing it? Then there would be no obesity, diabetes, mental health problems or autism (to name a few).

Yes, imagine that. If people had enough Taurine in their systems, the entire trillion dollar medical and pharmaceutical industries will fall apart since so many conditions and diseases are linked to a Taurine deficiency yet we give them other names for the conditions.

[Logandly]

I'm not sure I can trust drops from overseas like that... seems like kind of a big risk, no? Are you taking them? What kind of improvement do you see?

I haven't received my package yet, but Japanese pharma companies have a higher standard than the ones in the US. Also most of the innovative medical research is coming out of Japan, which is then replicated by American scientists and researchers.

In Japan, they have for consumer usage: Taurine and Arginine and B2 drops for people's eye conditions. In America, we have Visine and Anti-biotics. We are far behind them in terms of research, but also, their medical system is different- their hospitals are non-profit and run by doctors, separate from both the government and private institutions/companies.

Logan x

[Logandly]

Have you had improvement on Prozac or Lyrica, Logan? which nutrient deficiencies have you had a definite positive for? are you experimenting with yourself on symptoms or do you have a naturopath or someone?

I'm not medical but isn't it more likely to be B12 deficient and anaemia if you're vegetarian, especially if you've been taking antacid tablets for stomach ache or digestion? Get your nutritional status checked out, that's what I think, so you know where you are with these supplements.

My neighbour was a trained homeopath and was keen to cure my child but he is in prison now for paedophilia. Apparently there is no regulation in UK at all.

You said it, bro. I'm just reading that the booming nutriceutical industry is owned and aggressively marketed by Big Pharma and the Food Giants (great name for a band). Who knew? http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/k...icals-markets/

I say 'trust no one'. The internet is deceptive - eg in real life I am not at all like the Little Mermaid in the movie, more like Ursula.

Lol, Spmcc - we're all cured

What I really want to know is 'where are the best international medical research centres on nutrition?' Interesting.

I've never taken Prozac nor Lyrica. I make my own informed decisions about which supplements and medications to take, along with the advice of my doctors, nutritionists, gym trainer, friends and research based on medical studies and anecdotal information from other patients.

Currently I have no nutritional deficiencies. Thanks for asking, littlemermaid

I think the nutriceutical industry that pushes Propolis, NAC, Fish oil and coenzymeQ10 have been the most successful, but I think the most effective vitamin supplements are the ones that are the least expensive.

Logan x

[nutteetart]

Ive just realised I missed a post back there from MartyM!
I truly appreciate your 2c worth of opinion and I am hoping that you are correct as anxiety issues are familiar whereas anything neuro is really worrying.
The squinting is definitely worse when i am under stress and the more I worry, the worse it gets. I just hoped that there would be an improvement since I had to sell my business because the stress got too much but if anything its worse at the moment.
Anxiety seems such a benign word unless you suffer with it to the degree I have. I thought I was doing really well with the anxiety in general but obviously not.
Back to the drawingboard.....

[littlemermaid]

NT, are they thinking Botox in case it's orbital dystonia? or are they thinking blepharospasm? do you want Moorfields or Queen Victoria East Grinstead to have a look? We did the rounds of secondary hospitals in our region for a year but didn't get diagnosis until we got to the national children's hospital eye clinic. I realise now that the nearest tertiary hospital cornea team in the next region might have diagnosed it but we couldn't get access because we got stuck in the secondary hospital clinics.

[nutteetart]

they havent made a diagnosis yet. My consultant opthal considered blepharospasm butmy symptoms are not typical. As a result it was decided to start with the plugs to see if it made a difference. if it doesnt then botix would be next. I am frustrated that no one is trying to discover why i have such a severe case of dry eye. From my observations it is always secondary.
How would i go about getting seen by moorfields or qvh?

[spmcc]

im half way thru the video but i know what autoimmmune conditions cause dry eye but neuro stuff really scares me.

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! I just hoped, since you don't seem to be getting quick answers from doctors, that a relatively inexpensive, "at home" test could tell you if evaporative MGD/dry eye is causing your problems. I think the nice thing about trying swim googles is that you can find out in 15-20 minutes if there's any relief. And the great thing about relief is that then one can begin to think more clearly about next steps. That's what happened for me at least. Prior to goggles, I was in a total daze (not that I'm completely lucid now... but I am less dazed!).

In addition, if swim goggles don't help at all, then you can avoid purchasing moisture chambers.

Oh, and BTW, if anyone wants to go straight to the spot where Korb discusses the "swim goggle test", the first mention is around minute 27:00 (http://dryeyephiladelphia.com/portfo...d-dysfunction/).

[spmcc]

Hi again NT,

You've mentioned "dry eye" but have your doctors been any more specific?

There is a list of questions to ask your doctor that Rebecca has posted before (and I keep reposting because they're so good). Here they are again:

1) How is my tear quantity?
2) Do you see any dry spots?
3) Can you check for staining?
4) Can you press on my meibomian (oil) glands? Are they releasing oil? Is the oil clear and flowing freely? If not, what does it look like?
5) Do you see any signs of allergies?
6) Do I have any lid closure problems (e.g., lagophthalmous)?

Rebecca also has a page of "causes of dry eye" (http://www.dryeyezone.com/encyclopedia/causes.html).

Perhaps these two lists can help in some way for you to get a diagnosis and proper treatment.

Good luck.

[MartyM1985]

Ive just realised I missed a post back there from MartyM!
I truly appreciate your 2c worth of opinion and I am hoping that you are correct as anxiety issues are familiar whereas anything neuro is really worrying.
The squinting is definitely worse when i am under stress and the more I worry, the worse it gets. I just hoped that there would be an improvement since I had to sell my business because the stress got too much but if anything its worse at the moment.
Anxiety seems such a benign word unless you suffer with it to the degree I have. I thought I was doing really well with the anxiety in general but obviously not.
Back to the drawingboard.....

Well I think you maybe just put two and two together...

[littlemermaid]

Marty, she just had a hysterectomy too.

NT, we were advised to access Moorfields by GP referral 'Choose and Book'. Our local GPs are non-starters on eyes though. So when we were 'in-between consultants', we turned up at 9am in Moorfields Emergency and got a good assessment, 2wk follow up in Cornea, and taken on that way.

If local 2ndry consultants don't know what it is or how to treat it, they are supposed to refer on. Ours wouldn't refer to 3ry hospital Cornea for 2nd opinion so I had to pay my way into where we are now NHS.

Often there's a good Ophthalmologist in the hospital we attend and, luck of the draw, we haven't seen them yet. Basically, the practice in medicine appears to be 'treat what's in front of you as best you can'.

Why not phone or turn up in Eye Emergency for a Consultant you like locally and get these plugs put in now? Anyone could do it. The trick is to find nice doctors and nurses and admin. PALS (patient liaison service) can support you. And Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, if they have one.

It's a very rare Ophthalmologist who would know what to do about the dry eye causes but once you are 'under a Consultant' they have to refer.

Have you tried Spmcc's suggestions to get the eyes comfortable?

[nutteetart]

i am trying to locate my sons goggles. Sending my husband up to the loft to find them!
i have managed to bring my appointment forward to 10th feb at which time i will ask the questions you mention. If i remain in this state, i will take the more direct approach. x

[littlemermaid]

Good work, NT. Glad to hear you've phoned up and got your appointment brought forward. There's often a cancellation or they can squeeze us in. Appointments Booking office very often has no relationship with Consultants' clinics and it's just a random computer system. Good to have the Consultant's Secretary's number or at least, the Eye Clinic admin.

You might like this - it's helping me just now - interestingly, it's from a favourite Ophthalmologist's Twitter feed, bless him he's reTweeted it to give us hope ~ 'A better life will come your way the second you get up and start walking towards it.'

[nutteetart]

insightful!
My bloods came back normal except low blood sugar (but im not surprised as i had fasted for 15 hours)! This is at least a start.
Also having watched a good chunk of the dr korb lecture, i have been trying to blink more. This has moistened my eyes but they remain sore as if the moisture just doesnt lubricate enough. I tried my systane again as well but it feels like i have cotton wool stuffed under my lids. Really horrible.
Finally i could only find full face goggles but tried them. They definitely had a positive effect on evaporation but i still had an urge to squint. Now i am concerned with hemifacial dystonia or maybe a tic particularly as i have an urge when sitting working or even laying to rest my head to the same side as my squinty eye.. almost like a one sided shrug........ im a bit broken :/