How long does probing last?

[Faith1989]

Thank you for the advice. I have gotten better in the last few years, but still have regular flares. I am trying to find time to increase my compresses to twice per day. I have a HOCL lid cleanser, but don't find it that helpful. It's hard being such a worrier like I am. I would be so happy to not have to use tears but I have to daily. It's funny how a disease like this can affect life SO much. It's a constant thought. I wonder what I would think about if I didn't have to constantly think about my eyes. I'm off today so I'm just venting here. I can see my oil in a 10x magnifying mirror when I press on the glands. Sometimes they are thin oil, sometimes "crisco", sometimes white, sometimes nothing comes out which hurts the most.

I am too excited about the procedure and trying not to get my hopes up.

[MGD1701]

Hi Faith

Glad to know you have gotten better. Any ideas what likely trigger the regular flares?
Would they likely be fan, heating or air conditioner at work?

compress: Glad you plan to increase. When oil is flowing, we dont need many drops.
Some doctors also support such views except my dr whom I believed but now I know it was a mistake!

Lid cleaner: Once dr gave me a normal cleaner as I did not have inflammation, then I got much discharges etc.
Then I figured out an effective/safe cleaner is important

[norabo]

Can you please tell which brand of HOCL lid cleanser you use? Thank you.

[MGD1701]

I use NatraSan First Aid Spray made in UK
(with pure HOCI) as I can not get American brands such as Avenova, Ocusoft etc.
Before using it, good to understand more from Avenova educational lectures for doctors - many of them in YouTube.

More info from my previous posting
http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/forum...va-alternative

[Hokucat]

Faith, I wanted to wish you good luck and a hug before your probing procedure this week! Fingers crossed that it will give you at least some relief.

[Faith1989]

Wow thank you so much. My flight got cancelled this morning due to bad weather. I am able to get out tonight and my procedure is tomorrow. I am only nervous it's not going to help or he won't do it but I think he will do it as I am paying for it. I will post after it is done fingers crossed

[deep_dry_eye]

Wow thank you so much. My flight got cancelled this morning due to bad weather. I am able to get out tonight and my procedure is tomorrow. I am only nervous it's not going to help or he won't do it but I think he will do it as I am paying for it. I will post after it is done fingers crossed

Good luck Faith!

Please do keep us posted, I am seriously considering probing as well. Please let us know about your experience, I'm very interested to know how far in the doctor probes as well.

[Faith1989]

Sooo after travelling a long way, the doctor would not preform the probing. He said my glands are open and probing them would cause damage. I'm very disappointed and he was not very nice. He said he will only preform probing on ppl who have the majority of the glands blocked. He said the problem is with my oil from rosacea than sternly said "NO ONE CAN CURE YOU STOP LOOKING" I was mortified. I do not recommended anyone seeing this guy. His staff were rude when preforming my tests and it was very hectic. Only good thing is I learned all my glands are functioning well. I'm going home right now. Anyway just thought I'd update you guys. Was a terrible experience. Going to write a review online on this clinic.

[MGD1701]

Hi Faith
Thanks for sharing. Sorry for such a bad experience. Dont listen to him, I am sure you can get better.

[deep_dry_eye]

Sooo after travelling a long way, the doctor would not preform the probing. He said my glands are open and probing them would cause damage. I'm very disappointed and he was not very nice. He said he will only preform probing on ppl who have the majority of the glands blocked. He said the problem is with my oil from rosacea than sternly said "NO ONE CAN CURE YOU STOP LOOKING" I was mortified. I do not recommended anyone seeing this guy. His staff were rude when preforming my tests and it was very hectic. Only good thing is I learned all my glands are functioning well. I'm going home right now. Anyway just thought I'd update you guys. Was a terrible experience. Going to write a review online on this clinic.

At least the good news is that your glands are open! It's a good thing he won't perform the procedure, as probing could have caused more damage.

Have you tried oral/topical antibiotics (doxy, azithromycin)? Sometimes the anti-inflammatory properties of the antibiotics can somehow make the glands produce more thin oil.

[Faith1989]

Azithromycin is not approved in Canada as a topical but I have used Fudisic Acid on the lids. I also take doxy. I do still seem to get flare ups but I guess it's all related to my rosacea. Oh well..
and yes I'm glad the glands still function. He told me to definitely continue Restasis and compresses. I need to make my compress treatment longer.

[deep_dry_eye]

Azithromycin is not approved in Canada as a topical but I have used Fudisic Acid on the lids. I also take doxy. I do still seem to get flare ups but I guess it's all related to my rosacea. Oh well..
and yes I'm glad the glands still function. He told me to definitely continue Restasis and compresses. I need to make my compress treatment longer.

topical Azithromycin is approved but not available. I'm Canadian as well (Toronto) -- I asked my MD for oral Azithromycin 250mg every 2 days -- I'm still debating whether to try it or not. I'm on doxy right now and I had topical Azithromycin before. I found when I was on topical Azithromycin, my eyes felt the best, however as you said we can't get topical Azithromycin in Canada, so I might give the oral Azithromycin a try.

[Faith1989]

How did you get the topical azythromycin?

[deep_dry_eye]

How did you get the topical azythromycin?

You can get it in the USA (Azasite) or EU and Asia (Azyter) -- Azyter is better as it is preservative free.

[deep_dry_eye]

How did you get the topical azythromycin?

You can also get topical Erythromycin in Canada. Erythromycin and azythromycin belong to the same class of antibiotics (macrolides) -- which is supposed to act differently than doxy. I'm debating topical Erythromycin as well.