Hello From Lovely, Dusty Iraq

[Erik]

Hey guys/gals, remember me? Probably not, in many cases, but a few of you will. Short version: I'm an Oncologist, in the US Army (for 886 more days and counting) and have post-lasix dry-eye, which has been ameliorated partially by cyclosporine drops (Restasis) and Panoptyx goggles.

I wanted to check in with you, and let you know that I am alive and well, and living in the dustiest place imaginable, on a marine base in the middle of Iraq. Though my eyes have taken a beating, assiduous attention to eye hygiene (lots of drops, constant face-washing, and goggles at the first sign of dust/sand flurries) has gotten me past my first two weeks here (of a six-month deployment).

As time permits, I will check in to let you know how things are going, as I think my experience here in the dust bowl may offer some insights for anyone who follows me over here or to a similarly dusty place. (Don't believe I am in the dustiest place on earth? Check out the cool photos at Snopes ). Pix like these strike fear in the hearts of dry eye sufferers.)

Also, please, if you have been here (or anywhere in the middle east) and have advice for me, I'll be grateful to hear it. I am amazed at how this place really is not nearly as sandy as advertised, and about a thousand times more dusty than I expected.

More to follow (it's midnight here), but I wanted to check in with you.

--Erik

P.S. I have documented my travels and experiences to-date on a weblog here, if anyone is interested: As The Sparks Fly Upward. As I get more settled in, I plan to dedicate a few entries to my dry eye syndrome and how it is faring in the combat zone.

[brd888]

onc

Is there much call for Oncololgy in the Army?

[Erik]

Yes, they keep me pretty busy, and there are nearly thirty oncologists altogether in the US Army. Military doctors in the US do not only take care of active duty patients; we also take care of their dependents, retirees, and some medicare/medicaid patients (government insurance). All told, about 10%of US health care is in military facilities.

However: I am not really practicing as an oncologist here in Iraq. I am an internal medicine doctor here (i.e., a generalist), and take care of whatever happens to come in that day.

[Eileen]

Hi Erik,
I am a civilian pediatrician working at Ft. Stewart, GA and I have dry eyes as well (probably ocular rosacea). Thanks for your service especially at great sacrifice to your eye health. My husband is AD but not deployed at this time. I know one nurse here who developed dry eye while in Iraq presumably from the dusty conditions so please keep them covered.

Brd888,
The military health care system in the states takes care of the active duty soldiers, their families and retired soldiers and their families as well. So there is definitely alot of work for all the medical specialists.

Eileen

[Lucy]

WooHoo - Erik's Back!!!!

Erik, I am very glad to see you again. Well, you know, not see you but...
I sort of wondered what happened to you, but now I know. I would have expected nothing less from someone such as yourself. Bless you and all the rest of the military for what you do. Bless your lovely wife and daughters too.

I will go to your website as will many others. Also looking forward to your posts. I am sending you a short P.M. The bb is very busy now and lots of people stopping in. For the most part, they do not stay as long as they did in the earlier days of the board. It's sickening how many are still due to lasik.
Lucy

[Rojzen]

Ahlan WaSahlan! Can we send to an APO?

Hi, and wonderful to hear from you again, Erik! Your service and good cheer are treasured by all of us. . .I have spent time in other parts of the Middle East, but not in Iraq. . .The dust issue, however, is not difficult to envisage, based on time spent in similar climes. EXCELLENT that you are being assiduous with the Panoptx wear. . .I am concerned, though, with the question of which drops you're using. . .After 10 years with severe dry eye (and wearing moisture chamber glasses 24/7) I'm someone who has tried every imaginable Rx and non-Rx topical. . .and I am here to say that for me and many, there is NOTHING that compares to the product line invented by Dr. Frank Holly. I was a civilian with DoD for 5 years, 'till recently, but I have yet to do any serious service during this war. . .In that spirit, can I at least send you some Dwelle drops to an APO, if this is permitted (assuming you have not tried these and ruled them out. . .Even if you've tried the drops briefly, could I convince you to try them again for an extended period? For the science behind them, please see Dr. Holly's posts here at DEZ). . .

[dianat]

Erik,

It's so great to hear from you! We are so lucky to have you back here at DEZ. So many of us here enjoyed your presence way back...has it been two years?

Odd though this may sound, I am thrilled for you that you have found your DES to be controlled enough to endure the dusty "pigpen" effect of Iraq. Years ago I understood your post-LASIK dry eye to be keeping a dedicated soldier and doctor from his duties. Your success story is so important here.

DEZ is more popular than ever with over 2,000 members. The sufferers come in all shapes and sizes, but too many are struggling with the early mental and physical trauma of refractive surgery.

Not sure I have any new ideas for you in dealing with all that dust. I just don't know how you are tolerating that. I had planned to give you the Dr. Holly drop "spiel", but I see that our "doggedly determined" Rojzen has beaten me to it.

Dr. Holly has had a presence on the board as of late. I would expect you to be especially interested in his scientific perspective with regard to tear film and the science behind his drops.

Rojzen, in particular, has seen some real improvement with therapeutic use of Dr. Holly's drops. I'm inspired myself to give this a go. Though I feel grateful to have unloaded the constant ocular burning I endured for years, I cannot say I ever experience true comfort. There's a whole lot of room for improvement.

I've attempted to single out some relevant Dr. Holly posts for you, but my recommendation would be just to read the whole darned forum.

http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/forumdisplay.php?f=116

I am curious if you were issued Wiley-X prior to deployment. A few years ago when my brother-in-law prepared for 12 months in Iraq I'd intended to buy him a pair of Panoptx until he assured me he would be equipped with Wiley-X. I was always curious how the two brands compared.

Well, I cannot imagine how you must miss your wife and daughters, but am certain of the tremendous example you are to them. They must be enormously proud. Thank you, thank you for your service, Erik. I'll be watching your blog, but do keep in touch here.

Diana

[calli66]

Erik,

Thanks for the update. Amazing dust storm images...wow!

I think I remember someone saying that the foam-lined shades by Wiley-X were originally designed for military personnel in the Middle East during the first Gulf War.

Keep those Panoptx on, and take care!

Calli

[mary kenny badami]

Hello, Erik -- greetings from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, three hours due west of New York City --

Not sure when you and I first "met," but I remember you well. I was "gloomsburg" over on SurgicalEyes; at D'Eyealogues I was mary@lasermy.eye.org (assisting Rebecca as moderator), and here I belong by my real name. Haven't posted online anywhere for about a year, but I could not resist your post.

I spent this morning reading your blog, which I have just carried near the top of my "favorite places" (. . . okay, okay, if you really have to know, there is the daily need to check on my bank balance, plus this website, and D'Eyealogues, and my local newspaper online, as well as two shopping sites which shall remain nameless, and I try to keep my brain functioning by solving the "SAT Question of the Day" . . . ).

I'm so glad that brd888 asked that question about your oncologist specialty, because I was puzzled about exactly the same thing when you first posted.

I have no tips for your dry eyes beyond what you already know (my personal salvation -- post-Lasik, post-menopausal female -- having been Dr. Holly's drops, especially NutraTear). So, my next best choice will be to deal with your tastebuds. I will be shopping for Easter candy tomorrow, and have added your clinic to my shopping list. The package will arrive late, of course, but I hope you-all will enjoy the treats whenever they make their way to your "can."

Thank you and your comrades for your service on behalf of us all.

[Erik]

Thanks for your kind words

Thanks to all of you for your kind words and advice. I know that this war is not that popular in the US and rather unpopular outside the US, and I am always grateful when people are able to separate the soldiers from the war.

Being here was not my choice, but I am glad to be able to help a few souls here and there by being here as a non-combatant, in a clinic in which I see people of all nations, including Iraqis, Lebanese, Ugandans, Turks, Australians, British, and others.

Lucy: I got your PM and will reply as soon as I have more than a few minutes to do so.

Eileen: I am stationed in Augusta (Ft Gordon), not too far from you.

Mary, Diana, Rojzen and others: thanks for your concerns. I did not bring any Dwelle with me (hadn't been using it lately), but with the increase in the fine-particle load, I will likely order some from Rebecca soon. May give me what I need on those really bad days. Right now, my strategy is to wear the Panoptyx (which are very good) and stay inside as much as possible.

The Army no longer issues wileys (drat!), but does issue ballistic Rx goggles, which cover both eyes at once like some ski goggles or a scuba mask. Not really attractive in the clinic. I also got some of the wrap-around type, not sure which brand, but they seem very high-quality. They don't make a moisture seal, but they do keep the dust away from my eyes when I walk outside. Also Rx.

The big thing here, I have found, is not to mess with my eyes (i.e. touch or rub them). This disturbs the dust particles that have fallen onto my eyelids, and makes me miserable for a few seconds. The lousy thing is that the sink water here is non-potable and not supposed to be used on your face, so I end up pouring bottled water (often, the Saudi version of Dasani) on my face. All bottled water is free here, courtesy of the US military, and is available on every street corner, so this admitted extravagance at least doesn't kill my budget.

I'll keep in touch here, and the more I think of it, I may have to get back on the Dwelle/Dakrina bandwagon. It sure saved me during that first miserable year post-op.

Would it be inappropriate to mention here how much I really love you women? Honestly, I can always count on you for encouraging words in spite of the battles that each of you face every day. I don't write, I don't call, but when I suddenly show up out of nowhere, you are there for me. Thanks.

166 days to go.

Erik

[shells]

Hi Eric!

It is nice to "see" you again. You probably don't remember me, but I've been on the site for a few years (post-lasik dryness), and I followed your BFS experience and your posts about Restasis with interest. I hope that you are able to overcome the dust and dryness over there, and are able to manage your eyes. Keep them covered as much as possible!

Thanks for your service, and I hope that the next 6 months goes quickly for you so that you can be back with your family. I'll be keeping you in my prayers.

-Shells

[mary kenny badami]

"Just" two more months and a few days until Erik returns stateside!

I'm popping this thread up to the top as a reminder that Dr. Erik is still serving in Iraq, and is on the more-than-halfway side of his countdown (hooray!).

If you've not been reading Erik's regular blog (referenced and linked in his initial post on this thread), you've been missing some wonderful, eloquent stories about his life and work as a physician on a military base in a war zone, as well as his thoughtful reflections about popular culture and current events . . . not to mention replies from his extended family and friends, who are an extraordinary bunch of folks.

Erik has been sharing with his co-workers on the military base valued goodies mailed in "care packages," such as candy and snacks and drink mixes. Our generous dianat actually shipped him a batch of her homemade biscotti (the term "Italian cookies" being a pale translation of what well-made biscotti really are!).

If you haven't time to peruse the entire blog, let me suggest looking at my two favorite days -- the serious post from May 10th, "The Altar of Freedom," and the semi-comic one from May 23rd, "What Happens in Iraq."

Especially for our USA readers: whatever your political opinions, I encourage you to please think of Erik and our other service members as we celebrate Independence Day next Friday on July 4th.

[Erik]

Checking in

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mary!

I am indeed surviving "the brown zone." My keys to dry-eye survival have included near-constant wear of my Panoptyx goggles (nice that spaceman wraparounds are universal here, so no one looks at me funny), the Restasis which continues to help me tremendously, and (believe it or not) the heat. The Arizona-like climate here (very very hot, very very dry) has kept those meibomian glands secreting some nice healthy oil--I have not used my rice baggies in the past couple of months! Also, dianat's biscotti (and occasional gifts of DEZ products) have had an undeniably positive effect on all aspects of my deployed life...

Mary is correct: my flight back home is scheduled for 23 August, so 57 days by my reckoning as of today. (The counter on my site is one week off.) On the bright side: I have made good friends with the optometrist, who is a great guy and the only other doctor in my clinic. He is not a fan of refractive surgery, as he has dealt with some serious and frequent fallout here (despite the official and wholly bogus Army position in this topic). During down-time, we have dome some trial-and-error with different goggles available to the military, and I now own about 10 different prescription shades, including models by Sawfly, Wiley-X, ESS (two different types) and a few others that don't spring to mind (because they are not as good). Those first three are all excellent, though, and I will be using them when I get home. Not sure if people at the DEZ know about all of those brands; if not maybe I'll snap pix of some of them. Some are traditional goggles and some are wraparounds, but each has been helpful to me.

[mary kenny badami]

Dr. Erik has summed up a world of feelings and experiences into one word: "Home."

http://rupard.org/