Dryness is returning...

[semari]

Dear Comrades,


I have been on this website many years ago and eventually left as my symptoms lessend over the years. My year of manufacture is 1981 and female.
Long story (Like many who have been on this Dry eye Odyssey) short:

Began 2005 after wearing contact lenses, EBV infection, too many antibiotics, extremely unhealthy lifestyle (No Drugs), Complex PTSD, different kinds of infections ect. I used to put Eye drops every 20mins and at one point wasn’t able to go out of the house due to the heavy dryness. Been to many Eye specialists, rheumatologists as I believed I have sjögrensen syndrome. Tests were negative. No meibom gland dysfunction/ blepharitis, it’s „Sicca-Syndrom“.
Tried Restasis, Punctum plugs and all kinds of Gels and drops in the market... nothing truly helped. At some point I thought of building up my gut flora as I have been taking Antibiotics for a while. I used gut flora building up drops for a few months and flaxseed, I also changed my diet completely, avoiding food with artificial additives and sugar (Not all sugars but industrial sugar).

Over time (This took more than a year, I went from almost 20mins/1/2 hr usage of eye drops to only a couple of times a Day and then only at night. In 2009 I stopped using all Eyedrops and gels. There were good years, where I didn’t think about my Eyes, and I think this was all due to a huge change in diet/yoga/excercise. Unfortunately, I am again experiencing the dryness, and this also due to the pollen allergy I have and me not being disciplined with my Diet. Now, I try to use less drops as I am one of those candidates with eyes that gets drier when more drops/gels are being used.

I hope I will get back to my „Not thinking about eyes 24/7“ years. It’s possible...I have been there, and I will get there again.

Thanks

[LindaDawn]

Hi. The fact that you have cured yourself before means that you will do so again.

[Fenix]

Hi semari , I think you can heal yourself again. Just stick to your healing routine and try to be more disciplined.
Regarding allergies, I know that antihistaminics can cause eye dryiness. Are you taking it?

Could you share with us in details what you did to heal yourself back in 2009?
What kind of probiotics did you take?
Were you following a specific diet or you just excluded additives and industrial sugar?
What exercises you did?

Hope you get better soon.

[semari]

• Thanks LindaDawn I'm trying my best...:-)
  
  
  Hi @fenix,
  
  yes I did take antihistaminics for a while (I shouldve known better..) Ah well...own stupidity I guess.
  thanks for your kind words. :-)
  
  I started with including more veggies and fruits...I was extremely malnourished at the time due to severe depression/OCD and PTSD symptoms. My diet was nothing really extraordinary, but more organic food, nuts, flaxseed and flaxseed oil(But also not overconsuming trying to avoid sideaffects) , minerals like zinc (High dosed), I focused primarily on Gut flora. I took pro symbioflor, symbioflor 1 and 2 for a very long time. And also lactobacteria powder to build up the flora levels. I also drank different kinds of smoothies and avoided thunafish or too much meat. Only clean whole foods (Mostly)... I remember on a day in 2009 where I suddenly thought to myself...strange I havent yet used eyedrops..and it was 2 pm..which was a big issue for me. After that things changed and my symptoms lessend very much. I was overall healthier and I began doing weight lifting and now also on yoga.
  
  so this sounds as if I am showing off and doing blah blaj (Maybe I was/am glad these really tough days are over) So the dryness is back again and Im now eating again flaxseed and doing flora work... will see
  
  what works for you Fenix so far?
  
  Thanks for asking..

[Fenix]

What seemed to help me in these two years:
Mast cell stabilizer allergy eye drops (Ketotifen fumarate or Nedocromil sodium)
Probiotics
Omega3 supplements (Fish oil and Flaxseed oil)


I use mast cell stabilizer drops (for a kind of allergic reaction in my conjunctive) and lubrificant drops 4-5 time for dryness. My schirmer is between 0 and 5mm. I can work 8 hour in front of a computer with a lot of pauses and resting my eyes during the remaining hours. I can't read books because the flare up my eyes rapidly.

3 months ago I also started an healty diet with the help of a dietist: I eat mostly whole bread and pasta, a lot of veggies and fruits, fish, chicken, walnuts and almonds, 2 litres of water, and sometimes lactose-free dairy (i'm lactose intolerant). I was expecting to feel better with this diet but nothing changed.
During the diet I wasn't taking probiotics and supplements. Now I want to try diet+probiotics+omega3 for at least 3 months and see what happens.

I also think that my dry eye symptoms have a psychosomatic (stress and anxiety related) component. I would like to practice mindfulness and follow a personal growth path.

[semari]

What seemed to help me in these two years:
Mast cell stabilizer allergy eye drops (Ketotifen fumarate or Nedocromil sodium)
Probiotics
Omega3 supplements (Fish oil and Flaxseed oil)


I use mast cell stabilizer drops (for a kind of allergic reaction in my conjunctive) and lubrificant drops 4-5 time for dryness. My schirmer is between 0 and 5mm. I can work 8 hour in front of a computer with a lot of pauses and resting my eyes during the remaining hours. I can't read books because the flare up my eyes rapidly.

3 months ago I also started an healty diet with the help of a dietist: I eat mostly whole bread and pasta, a lot of veggies and fruits, fish, chicken, walnuts and almonds, 2 litres of water, and sometimes lactose-free dairy (i'm lactose intolerant). I was expecting to feel better with this diet but nothing changed.
During the diet I wasn't taking probiotics and supplements. Now I want to try diet+probiotics+omega3 for at least 3 months and see what happens.

I also think that my dry eye symptoms have a psychosomatic (stress and anxiety related) component. I would like to practice mindfulness and follow a personal growth path.

Hi Fenix

interesting to read about different journey's, methods and results. Have never heard of Ketotifen or Nedocromil sodium... I'm gonna check them out.
Sorry to hear about the fact that you cannot (Not yet) Read due to eyes flaring up.. thats indeed tough. Glad you can function infron of the computer with resting your eyes ect.

Yes you might see a difference while taking probiotics and omega3 nutrtion. Do you take cold pressed flaxseed oil? For me personally, cold pressed worked better...but I guess thats individual.

I'm wishing you the strength and support for following a path of mindfulness. Yes, psychosomatic issues do play a huge role. High level of stress hormones, hypervigilance, our nervous system constantly on alert ect..

A well adapted diet, mindfulness, physical activity is always useful.

[Fenix]

Hi Fenix

interesting to read about different journey's, methods and results. Have never heard of Ketotifen or Nedocromil sodium... I'm gonna check them out.
Sorry to hear about the fact that you cannot (Not yet) Read due to eyes flaring up.. thats indeed tough. Glad you can function infron of the computer with resting your eyes ect.

Yes you might see a difference while taking probiotics and omega3 nutrtion. Do you take cold pressed flaxseed oil? For me personally, cold pressed worked better...but I guess thats individual.

I'm wishing you the strength and support for following a path of mindfulness. Yes, psychosomatic issues do play a huge role. High level of stress hormones, hypervigilance, our nervous system constantly on alert ect..

A well adapted diet, mindfulness, physical activity is always useful.

Ketotifen is known as Zaditor. Nedocromil sodium is known as Alocril. These drops was given to me by the eye doctor. They are considered allergy eye drops, but they act on mast cell (cells that release histamine) and not only on histamine. This is the most effective kind of eye drops for my symptoms. But they solve the problem only partially.

Yes, I take cold pressed flaxseed oil. It is the only kind I have ever tried.

Reading that you almost solved your problem in the past, it lets me think that you will heal again. And I think that there is hope for other people too.

[semari]

Hi Fenix

Zaditor and Alocril...okay...thanks. I am going to check on this.

Yes, I think we all Do the beat we can, considering our capacity/financial situation ect

Now on
symbioflor, flaxseed oil, kurkuma and Zinc, evakrin. Evakrin seems to producing more tears... will have to see. Consistency..

There is always hope yes.. you are right! I,m also thinking of Acupuncture..need to check.

take care.. :-)

[johnsonc22]

Thank you for these posts. Can you explain what Evakrin is? Thank you