Lid-opening overnight: solution without gels?

[Lucy]

Chomp, chomp, chomp. That's me eating my words. Rojzen I definitely "overstated" my opinion while making this post. I won't try to weasel out of it by saying I meant something else. I did sort of, but apologize for my sharp words. It's sincere. I like your posts, but sometimes become lost in them because I can't read all of them and that's not your fault, but mine.

I thought the thread drifted way off topic, but that's just my bad judgment. Keeping it "short", sorry again. Lucy

[Redbirdi]

Why we are all here...

I am one that has very strong feelings about taking medicines that have any dry eye side effect or symptoms. I prefer most any other kind of pain, or disorder over this “life sentence” that my DES seems to be. My feelings come from my own experience that I have come to realize is not likely the norm.

My severe dry eye has developed over many years as a result of several different medications. Some used in high doses for too long a period and some used in combination with others also having the drying effect and therefore increasing the likelihood as well of the negative effects. The thing I am most dismayed about is the tendency for the medical practitioners to have ignored these side effects (and my emerging dry eye condition), even as I was exhibiting them many years ago. It is likely the permanence/severity of my DES condition even now when not taking any of these medications, is a result of the length and severity of the use of these medicines.

I have been very puzzled by various posts on these boards about using these kinds of medicines (w/ known drying side effects) to treat various problems resulting from living with DES. I have even made a few posts as my attempt to warn others. Not because my experience will likely be theirs, but because I was never warned or given a choice when I think I could have stopped the progression of my DES.

Even with all this being said, I have found this thread eye opening, (pun intended). I am more aware thanks to this discussion that we are all coming from different experiences and our emphasis will also be different as a result. Thankfully I will be more inclined to take some suggestions to heart while acknowledging others as “not for me”. Yet, I am still very new to much of the invaluable information and knowledge available here and will continue to seek all the advise and experience of those that have been actively fighting to make a positive improvement in their lives. What we all have in common and share here after all, is the desire to improve our experience of living with DES! Is this not in fact what this website is all about? Learning and trying everything we can to make an improvement in the management of this debilitating disorder. That is why I am here and am so thankful for the support and open thoughts and sharing of them!

[Redbirdi]

Can we get back to the remission?

...someone asked an essential question, which was what can one do if Dwelle, by itself, does not protect his/her eye surface sufficiently to enable smooth opening of lids during the night or in the a.m. For many, the answer to this problem has been to include a gel like Genteal for overnight care. I offered to come back and suggest some solution that might not entail using a gel, because of my strong sense that gels can set one back (based on Dr. Holly's writings regarding the effect of gels, matrix solutions, and ointments on wetting). . . .

I believe I did initially ask Rojzen to start a thread to elaborate on how she/he has gained a remission in the last 7 months. She had credited much of the improvement to working exclusively with Dr. Holly’s drops only. I want to explore this possibility as well. My initial difficulty has been to get through the night and morning w/out the use of genteal gel. I hope that this thread will not discourage a return to sharing the story of remission and how Rojzen has got there.

Please continue to share more….

Most thankful to all of you,
Rose

[clairvoyant]

Uh, I don't mean to put a damper on the party and this may be a little preemtive as I didn't read the whole thread but if you are taking sleep aids or anti depressants and trying to treat dry eye then good luck.

I am not trying to be rude or anything like that but you guys gotta think our eyes are already vulnerable so if it says dry mouth and you are taking the normal dose then your eyes are going to get even more dry. Then use the computer and everything else... I'm just saying it is going to make it alot tougher imo to treat the dry eye if you are taking those meds.

Now I could be completey wrong but that is how it looks to me.

I can also very much so sympathize with needing to take sleep meds, antidepressants, stimulants/coffee, pain pills or whatever else to keep you functioning as a sane human being as I am having to make the same decision myself.

I am going in the other direction though. I took lexapro for 2 months, started it just as my eyes felt WET cause if your eyes don't feel wet then they are dry and I am just now recovering from taking that sh!t nearly a month later.

[Rebecca Petris]

MGD... sorry but I really have to take you up on this....

Uh, I don't mean to put a damper on the party and this may be a little preemtive as I didn't read the whole thread but if you are taking sleep aids or anti depressants and trying to treat dry eye then good luck.

I'm going to refer to what I said earlier in this thread because I have a real problem with this kind of thinking if it discourages people who have serious needs in this area from seeking treatment that they may really need. For many people in an acute, prolonged period of severe dry eye pain, antidepressant therapy may be vital to their wellbeing.

Furthermore....

I am not trying to be rude or anything like that but you guys gotta think our eyes are already vulnerable so if it says dry mouth and you are taking the normal dose then your eyes are going to get even more dry. Then use the computer and everything else... I'm just saying it is going to make it alot tougher imo to treat the dry eye if you are taking those meds.

I don't know of any scientific evidence (if I'm wrong about this someone please set me straight) suggesting that increased dry eye symptoms are guaranteed or highly probable with any individual antidepressants (or other drugs discussed here) let alone classes of drugs. Your predictions make it sound like it's a given. But it's not. I would guess that if dry eye is a listed side effect for a med, then it's probably going to affect people with pre-existing dry eye more than those without (but I don't even know if that's supported scientifically?).

I guess what I'm saying is, yes, we all need to be aware that these things can exacerbate dry eye, but please don't scare people off with dire predictions

[stella]

I had to go on to antidepressants for two reasons dry eye and debilitating pain due to arthritis of my spine
I went on to a low dose of dosulepin 50mg at night and was really worried it would make my eyes worse but it did,nt
The psychiatrist i am under said in allhis years of practice - and he is in his 50,s i would say - he has never had a patient who complained that antidepressants dried their eyes - He said most of them complained of dry mouth and then went onto say that it was a different nerve supply to the eyes than to the mouth
Anyone following my progress will read of the great improvement in my eyes despite being on antidepressants

[gz9gjg]

Humidifier ?

Has anyone tried using a humidifier in your bedroom at night?