Dry Eye Syndrome :: Deciding When To Get Glasses
Jan 21, 2014
I started having vision issues just before Christmas. I went for a visit to my Ophthalmologist today. Turns out my blurry vision issues are a result of the cold air and my Dry Eye Syndrome. I did leave with a prescription though for mild correction for distance.
The doctor told me I could fill the prescription or not, it is up to me. How do you decide when your vision is bad enough to start wearing glasses? I don't mind the glasses themselves, just wondering if it is worth the cost yet. Thanks for your input.
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I had my first bout of Optic Neuritis five years ago in my right eye and from memory I had no vision loss at the time only pain, my MRI was clear and the ON went away without any medication in about six weeks.
I had my second bout of Optic Neuritis that started in August 2012 (that's never gone away) it began very different with severe pain in both eyes then went to my right eye only for around a week then to my left eye (my right eye returned to normal) I completely lost the vision in my left eye and the opthamologist put me on oral steroids and referred me to a Neurologist due to a number of strange symptoms I was experiencing, she was no help as she said I was depressed and wanted to start me on antidepressants she really didn't want to listen so I didn't go back. I had a further two brain MRIs that were also clear and I regained cloudy vision that has only improved slightly now 12 months later I have days that are cloudier than others and have accepted that it will never get better,my opthamologist said I don't need to go back to him unless I feel I need to. My main question is I have recently been to three different optometrists (all from the same place) for new glasses and each time my new glasses came back I couldn't read through them, I don't know if they are getting my prescription wrong or if its my eyes, I contacted my ophthalmologist for advice and he said to try a different optom but Im embarrassed and scared that its just my eyes or Im going crazy, has anyone else had this problem?
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Who here has been on the NuvaRing?
After discussing my options with my doctor last week, I decided to give it a try. So far so good. I had some cramping in the first few days, but that's completely gone now and I haven't noticed any other side effects.
Part of why I chose NuvaRing is I don't have to think about it very much. Also, my doctor doesn't like the implant, and would rather save an IUD for last if I don't find something else I like. She did mention Depo, but I didn't want that because of what I've heard about bone density loss and weight gain, neither of which I want. Another reason is my doctor said she has lots of patients with success skipping their periods on the ring, and that's something that's important to me. If I could, I'd stop my period until I was ready to get pregnant.
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I don't know much about which brand of oral contraceptive I should use, partly due to nurses at planned parenthood not being very informative. Since there are many MANY different brands I figured I would just shout out my ultimate dream pill and see what suggestions you guys can give me. I want a pill that won't lower my libido and increases breast size. Some have taken me from a b to a d, some only half a cup. Would love that extra boob again lol thanks guys!**also I tend to get a little emotional so I'm not too sure where to go from here.
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I have a complicated history. February 2013 my retina detached right eye. I had a vitrectomy and a lot of laser in left eye. The following January (2013) I had cataract removed and a toric lens implanted. Having always been a high myope with a lot of astigmatism it was a miracle. Only real problem was the disparity between my eyes and need to always have contact in left eye if awake. WIthin 5 weeks I had developed posterior capsular opacification. After the YAG I could see for a couple of days clearly again and then vision started declining again. I developed an epiretinal membrane and macular hole so I got to experience another vitrectomy in September of 2013. Since then my vision has declined. Multiple attempts at contacts have been frustrating. My dry eye makes soft contacts very unstable throughout the day and at times the vision with the soft is worse than without it. Multiple RGP's have been attempted. I wear and RGP in my left eye. Glasses have been tried but I must wear contact in left eye because the difference between eyes is too great. Unfortunately glasses don't work great because even that subtle difference of one eye corrected in front and one on eye makes my brain wacky. So my options are according to doctor "live with suboptimal vision or be willing to take a risk." PRK was mentioned but favorite option is to remove lens and have plane lens put in front of capsule then have vision corrected with RGP's. I am nervous about this with my history of scarring and retinal damage. Has anyone experienced this. I can be corrected to 20/20 in the eye.
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After doing the best I can to ferret out the risks vs benefits of cardiac catheterization. 92% of my brain says, "No." That niggling 8% is a real pain.
I am female. I am over 60. I have not had a myocardial infarction, (that they're telling me about anyway). I have some stress wall hypertrophy, but that's pretty much it. If I could get the physicians/cardiologists, to give me better evidence of need for such an invasive procedure, I might consider it...however...
I know me. Just having the procedure would be psychologically, and, therefore, physically, ruinous. I think I understand - but who can understand this really - that choosing not to have the catheterization, and whatever may happen as a result, means I might sign out quite unexpected. But is this a better way to live? I think so.
I have not felt "well" for at 7 years. (I'll spare you the ailments). However, I don't get colds, flu (no vaccinations)...I don't have hypertension. I'm told I have angina, but I am convinced that the post-meal sensations I get are due to gastric/diaphragm...more on that order of things. I don't have frank chest "pain."
I'm figuring that it will be a complete crapshoot to refuse the catheterization, but I am 100% certain, that there is a better chance of me surviving an invasive procedure if I don't die before I have it, then lending myself to what looks like a never-ending routine of invasive procedures.
What I'm currently hoping for, but have been unable to get, is a cardiologist who will agree to fully monitor me; one who truly understands the various medications available and who would find one that is best suited for this particular body, and who considers cardiac catheterization, et al, a last resort, rather than a first. (Nice fantasy).
So far, I've had the general practitioner I see, attempt to scare the hell out of me without telling me on what evidence he was doing so. (I would change to another GP if there was another one around). That kind of tactic is not only useless, but demoralizing. When it comes to "heart," demoralization can, without a doubt, lead to "heart trouble."
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In 2009, I was diagnosed with Thoracic Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease, and Fibromyalgia - and in November 2015 diagnosed with Cervical Radiculopathy. As you see, I have dealt with chronic pain for a long time, and I am tired of it – it’s exhausting and limits my day to day activities.
Anyway based on my MRI results and my physical symptoms - the surgeon diagnosed me with Cervical Radiculopathy and *suggested* a Posterior Cervical Decompression (PCDF) as well as an Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, ( ACDF). No pressure … he told me to just think it over and referred me to Physical Therapy.
Since the diagnosis, I am doing a ton of research and educating myself about my condition and the surgery.
Last week I asked my physical therapist what she thought of the surgery and she said, “I had time to have the surgery later”. (I’m 63 and not clear about what “later” even means This week my primary care doctor said outright, that I do not want this surgery because it may not relieve the numbness and pain, and does nothing for the arthritis in my neck, and there will be issues with scar tissue and that my condition is not that bad – yet. He suggested I get a second opinion. I agreed to get a second opinion.
Cervical Radiculopathy Timeline
January 2015 I developed a pinch nerve in the left side of my neck along with the slow progression of excruciating numbness and/or pain in my arm, fingers and thigh. In June 2015, my primary care doctor diagnosed me with pinch nerve and referred me to PT along with the suggestion that I get a back massage. I had tried PT before for my osteoarthritis and hated it. So, I decided to try yoga instead.
Through yoga, I relieved most of the thigh and neck pain and increased my range of motion. However, the numbness and pain in my fingers and in my arm became worse - along with the loss of grip strength. I informed my primary care Dr. in Oct of 2015, he referred me to an orthopedic surgeon, who of course ordered an MRI.
As I said, based on the test results, the surgeon suggested surgery but wanted me to first try physical therapy, this time I went. I started twice weekly therapy sessions in November 2015 and so far it’s effective. After 6 weeks of passive exercises, my arm pain had diminished significantly and the numbness decreased to a ‘low buzz’.
Because I was progressing so well - the week of Christmas 2015 the therapist changed to more aggressive exercises (10 mins on the treadmill, resistance bands, etc) I felt ok while there. However, by the time I returned home after the session the pain in my neck and back was out of control. I had learned many PT pain intervention techniques and I tried them all but the pain escalated. Numbness increased significantly in my thumb. In addition to that I now not only have pain on the left side of my neck but also the right - along with a considerable decrease in my range of motion on both sides of my neck. My grip strength decreased almost immediately and I am dropping things again. Thought it best to cancel my next appointment, ha-ha! Although I feel better, today I am still in pain - most movements makes it worse. At this point, I’m confused and not sure what to do next. My next PT appointment is on Jan 5th and I see the surgeon on Jan 19 to inform him of my decision.
My questions.
1. Without ongoing physical therapy –(i.e. the rest of my life) will the symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy return? (Anyone have experience with this?)
2. With degenerative disc disease, overtime, will my disc continue to lose height and stack on top of one another causing even more pain? (So far because of this I’ve lost 2” in height.)
3. From the point of being diagnosed with Cervical Radiculopathy what is the longest time anyone has waited in deciding to have the surgery or not to have surgery?
4. Why would waiting for the symptoms to get worse be beneficial to obtaining a positive outcome or to justify the surgery?
5. Finally, why are some medical professionals against having this surgery? Has anyone experienced being discouraged from having the procedure and how did it influence your decision to have or not have the surgery?
I thoroughly understand this is a major surgery with a very rough and long recovery period. To be honest at age 63 – I am more worried about recovering from the anesthesia and if my body can withstand the actual length of the surgery, and those factors are certainly not going to get better as I age.
I also understand that I need to rely on the medical professionals’ opinions however, I have been ‘burnt’ in the past with so-called medical opinions. That is why I am seeking experiences related to this from ‘normal’ folks ---I need a different perspective from people who have dealt with this process.
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I have Primary Sjogren's Syndrome but was born Hypermobile. It was only after my present Rheumatologist diagnosed that I have scoliosis that I started to research. I found the Beighton Scale and the Brighton criteria which I match completely. I explained my research to my consultant and she agrees. However while she and another consultant both agree I do have POTS so far I don't have an appointment to see anyone to help me. I have had ECGS and a bubble ECG but they have been taken while lying down. Now the POTS I really noticed post the birth of my last son 29 years ago is getting much worse, can anyone advise me as it has taken decades to get this far, I don't feel time is on my side
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Having been officially diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome about a year ago, I think back on ALL the diagnoses I have had related to it: "nutcracker esophagus and severe GERD", "esophageal spasms", polyarthritis, fibrotic lymph nodes, fibromyalgia, Prinzmetal angina, benign parotid tumor excision (trabecular adenoma), dry skin, dry mucous membranes, etc. and now know they are all part of the same syndrome, which has been steadily worsening and becoming more malignant (and I am only sixty). There are many other more serious difficulties, but now I'm wondering if I, too, will get non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, since that is what some people progress into. It is NOT that this frightens me at all--but now there is something of which to be aware (and I'm not certain my M.D. knows of this). I also have glaucoma and cataracts--so I really have to protect my eyes (and I have had a vitreous bleed into one of them).
My ophthalmologist (a retinologist) placed upper and lower tear duct plugs in my eyes--which has helped, but I still have to use lubrication. Since I am a writer and use the computer extensively, I find it quite hard on the dry eyes. I am extremely careful to drink lots of water and often mix pure fruit juice with my water to avoid calories (sugar) and to make the water more interesting. This does, however, exacerbate my stress incontinence gained after fracturing my back--for which I stay close to a toilet (but my writing is done at home.)
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I am 14 nearly 15 years old and for as long as I can remember i have had this problem and my father also has the same problem but I seem to have it on a much larger scale.
My feet do not warm up naturally, even in bed at night they are freezing cold and if it is cold outside my feet are purple and I have very blotchy looking skin on them and my hands, when they are like this they look like the feet of a dead person.
Also, when it is cold, my hands go white, purple, and then bright red. They are numb during this and when they become bright red, my fingers swell slightly and it looks like they are about to burst. Also at this point, if I touch my hands or fingers together, they will sting and the pain is unbearable, it feels like stepping into a hot bath after being in the snow all day, but 10x worse.
I haven't yet been to see a doctor although I know I probably should. The problem with my hands doesn't affect me unless it is unusually cold, mostly during the winter and the problem with my feet is constant, during all weather and all seasons. I have had multiple friends and family members say it could be circulatory problems but I am yet to know for certain
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Here are my test results, should I seek treatment? My other thyroid labs look okay. Not sure what to think....
RT3 22.5 (9.2-24.1)
FT3 3.6 (2.2-4.4)
Ratio 16
Also any thoughts on these antibody tests?
TPO 15 (0-34)
Thyroglobulin antibodies < 1 (0-.9)
TSI 42 (0-139)
Also for reference, here are my thyroid labs and b-12 Vit D labs. I've started to supplement b-12 and vit d. But should I ask for anything else? Any other meds or tests?
TSH 1.32 (.45-4.5)
FT4 1.24 (.82-1.77)
FT3 3.4 (2.0-4.4)
B-12 267 (211-946)
D 37.4 (30-100)
Symptoms, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and stiffness, numbness in my hands, cold all the time, low temperature, low bp, no sex drive, losing my eyebrows, low metabolism, have trouble losing weight or gain weight for no reason, depressed mood, easily irritable, can't handle stress or I don't handle stress well, high cholesterol despite healthy diet...I'm sure there are others but these are the worst ones..
I'm just so confused... It appears that it's not my thyroid although, thyroid explains alot of my symptoms and I have a strong family history. Just not sure where to go from here. It's been suggested on another board that I have adrenal fatigue, but I'm not sure what to think about that either. Trying to get some ideas.
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I've felt something, fluid-like, under my right rib for some months. I had my gallbladder removed last September and had no problems for several months. Recently I have had irritation under my rib with soreness. It feels like a fluid sac that moves around. It's uncomfortable at time and I have to watch how I sleep on my right side.
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I was diagnosed with an extreme case of RLS and have been taking Requip along with Klonopin, I am up to 2 mg of Requip 3 times a day and it worked great for a while. It seems like it quit working, my legs hurt so bad I could cry, the weight of a blanket feels like a two ton weight on them, they feel like they on on fire, and and I haven't sleep for days. I just started taking gabapentin, I really don't like taking it because it makes me feel looney kind of like in a fog. Sometimes I break out into a cold sweat so bad that I am just dripping with sweat and feel like I need to lay down, and turn the fan on me. The sweats are beginning to be more often. I just don't know what else to do.....
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My dentist told me today that I need upper dentures due to Sjogren's Syndrome. Has anyone else had to get dentures and how did you deal with it?
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Does anyone have this should it be affecting my teeth and jaw they are agony on top of the burning.
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One day last November I awoke with a 'bitter' taste in my mouth.
Several visits to my GP later and I'm still not much further forward.
I'm a 43 year old female. In October 2013 I was diagnosed hypothyroid and began treatment of 50mg levothyroxine per day. Because the bitter taste started relatively soon after beginning the medication, I put 2 and 2 together and thought it was causing the taste. But, no, I took myself off the medication for 3/4 weeks over Christmas and still had the bitter taste.
I've drastically altered my diet as I thought certain foods made it worse but can't pinpoint one particular allergy or sensitivity.......
I've changed toothpaste, tried mouthwash, cut out tea, milk, all dairy, and mainly eat very healthily - fruit, veggies and chicken.
My GP suggested LPR (silent acid reflux) but it doesn't taste like 'acid' - it's just bitter/sour.
I've been on Gaviscon after every meal for over a month and Ranitidine for almost 2 weeks. The symptoms persist still
My mouth can get quite dry, and the bitter taste seems to be on my tongue and/or the roof of my mouth or around a wisdom tooth on one side.
I can't cope with this for much longer. It only eases up when either sleeping or eating.
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Has anyone ever had problems with lithium and restless leg syndrome? I can't keep them still. I have been back on lithium about 2 months
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Have had TMJ Dysfunction for many years which was controlled. Then 12 months ago symptoms returned and did not respond to usual methods of treatment. At the same time had some kinesio taping for back problem. 3 days later my whole body went into spasm . I have muscle spasm pain , tenderness and trigger points. Attended acupuncture , osteopathy and had exercises and foam roller. Work was getting worse and was struggling in with great difficulty in pain . Last October virtually collapsed and had to retire. Went to local Hospital Dental clinic who said I had MPS as well as TMJ. Gave me exercises for jaw. January 14 also in pain from damaged nerve from operation 30 yrs ago wisdom tooth extraction. Have pain and Tinnitus taking pain killers muscle relaxants also having massage. Feeling lost. You have to have this MPS to know what it is like. Can anyone advise on coping strategies?
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So yesterday I went to see the RA and it appeared as if he cared. He explained that I was severe with FIBRO and that there isn't too much that he could do. He upped my LYRICA to 200 mg (not sure why as it gives me more issues than taking pain away) . He also suggested that I go to a Fibro Clinic in UF , some where in the panhandle of Florida, I can not do it (Finances, Insurance, I don't drive because of LYRICA) . He also gave me a referral for SUBOXONE This is a medicine that they usually give for people who have had problems with pain pills.The RA explained how he just read an article in how this could help me. Has any one else experienced this? Did it work?
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Selenium deficiency is considered by some naturopathic doctors the key to Fibromyalgia and CFS.
Some even relate it with animal “Nutritional muscular dystrophy” AKA “White muscle disease”.
Should we go to the vet?
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Anybody tried it? I've just started. I'd been reading up on it on-line for some time. It's supposed to be the bee's knees for the whole sicca syndrome, and dry eyes in particular. As I was due to spend a few days in London last week, I debated getting some, but decided it was too expensive.
Then fate took a hand. As I haven't had dry eyes for months now, I didn't take my eye drops with me. That's the trouble with remissions - you forget you've got the wretched condition and get cocky! First night in the place where I stay it was a bit stuffy, so I turned on the air-conditioning for half an hour. One of those individual ones that blows air out fiercely however low you set it. I sat up in bed, facing it, watching the TV for just half an hour before going to sleep, but that was enough. I managed to get replacement eye drops the next morning, but now I'm in big trouble. Decided to invest in the sea buckthorn oil anyway, and have now been taking it for a week.
They say you're supposed to take four capsules a day for the first two weeks then cut down to two, but I'm being careful. Took one a day the first week, will start on two tomorrow and build up to four by the end of the month. I once had a terrifying experience on a low starter dose of Siberian ginseng. Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it won't harm you!
Sea buckthorn is also said to be good for RA. The main ingredient is Omega 7, btw, but it also has Omega 3, 6 and 9 - though a different type of Omega 3 than fish oil. I'll be interested to see how that works out. I'm actually having an RA flare-up at the moment, but it seems to have peaked since I started my usual homeopathic treatment a few weeks ago. As I'm taking the oil alongside the homeopathic remedies, that will muddy the waters, of course. But I'll stay on the homeopathy for six months because it always works.
I hear you have to wait three months for Omega 7 to kick in, so I may be in for the long haul with the dry eyes. My right eye is already starting to bleed from a crack at the outer corner. We're having high winds here at the moment, which isn't helping things, particularly as my hips and knees have now improved enough to stand a 45-minute walk most days. I finally caved in today, and put on my wrap-around industrial goggles (provided by an optician in the UK). But I feel a right berk wearing them when walking around city streets - especially as it's not considered rude to stare in this country!
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