I can't believe it....

[gja1000]

Well, it is definitely a chronic condition, rather than acute, I think. It is hard to understand why they can't get it cleared up - but I guess that may be because they can't readily identify what is causing it. This is really frustrating!

[Lindsey]

You're telling me! When I had the same problem through December and January, I think it's the same thing now. I don't think it was bacterial or viral pink eye then either, because that should be highly contagious and NOBODY caught it from me, even when it was untreated for the first week or two. Even sharing pillows with Scott!

I think seasonal allergies are out of the question because it was winter the first time and now summer... and I'm not even living in the same place so it's nothing at home... and I still had it when I went to BC so it's not the office or anything like that. I don't know if it's an allergy at all. But it's definitely annoying.

[Lindsey]

Well, I have used the steroid eye drops for a week, and have been off them for two days. They didn't get any better on them, but they didn't hurt. Now that I'm not using them, they seem to be more red and definitely more painful. My next appointment with the specialist is on Wednesday because that's the earliest I could get in. I am so frustrated with the specialist too because he basically said "I don't know what it could be" Well he is paid to figure that out! I think the guy I'm seeing this next time is someone different though.
I want my eyes back I'm just feeling down today but it seems that since April, I have not been well. Layla went down, and then I had surgery on my hand and foot (and my foot still hurts), and then my eyes got screwed up, and I just don't know how much more I can take.

[gja1000]

Oh Lindsay! It is hard for so many things to be wrong at the same time. I'm so sorry! I keep thinking that someone is going to be able to figure out what is wrong with your eyes!

[judy]

I am sending you a big hug!!!

[gja1000]

Lindsay, when is your next appointment?

[Lindsey]

My appointment is tomorrow, and I can't wait. My eyes have been hurting ALL DAY, and I wasn't even in front of my computer because I was in meetings for about 6 hours. Now I'm working late on my computer and my eyes are just killing me. I just checked in the mirror and they are so bloodshot it's scary to look at.

[gja1000]

I'd be getting VERY firm with the doc - this has gone on way too long. If you are seeing a new doc, even though he/she has your records, be sure to tell him/her how long this has been going on and all the things you have tried.

Ask him/her what could be causing it and then take each possibility and ask why he/she thinks it might/might not be that particular diagnosis. Make him/her talk to you about each possibility. Why might it be X, why not might it be X. What are the symptoms? What are the causes for EACH possibility. As they talk, you may think of something that might give them more ideas about what this is.

[Lindsey]

Thanks Gayle, I will. I hope this one has a little more thought than the last one. He basically threw up his hands and said he doesn't know what it could be. I can go online and find a million things it COULD be but I don't want to do that! I want to know for sure from a doctor exactly what it is and what will fix it. I will do anything at this point!

I'm pretty sure my eyes are dry, and not producing enough tears right now. Even when I want to cry, I can't really. I get some tears, but not much. When I am really tired and I have a big yawn, no tears. When I was that tired before, I'd usually have to wipe my eyes. I always cry at weddings, and on the weekend I felt my eyes heat up but there were no tears coming out. I am definitely going to bring that up. I also get very very itchy on the inside corners of my eyes and it doesn't go away unless I scratch the edge of my eyelid. I've also had some stuffy sinuses lately too, so I'll bring that up as well.

The most frustrating thing is that the symptoms keep changing! I didn't have sinus issues at the start of this, but I did have very red eyes with yellow discharge. There is no discharge anymore, but there is pain that wasn't there before. Before, I was wiping my eyes constantly, and now I barely tear at all.

[judy]

Please post as soon as you get this doctor's opinion! Poor Lindsey!!!

[DianaB]

Lindsey, I hope that you find out what's wrong soon.

[Lindsey]

I'm leaving for my appointment in a few minutes. Scott may also have caught it from me now... his eyes have been very red and veiny for the past week. He blames in on allergies, but he has had allergies since June and his eyes just started getting red last week, and they're getting worse like mine.

[Lindsey]

It turns out I saw the same doctor. And again, he has NO IDEA what it could be. I told him my eyes hurt and he said this has gone on way too long. He sent me back out to the waiting room and came back 20 minutes later, gave me a prescription for MORE steroid drops (apparently a little different from the first?) and said another specialist's office will be calling me for an appointment. This new guy is an internal eye specialist. Maybe he can figure it out.

I got my eyes frozen and prodded again today and it made me feel nauseous again. I wish I was normal.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

I got my eyes frozen and prodded again today and it made me feel nauseous again. I wish I was normal.

GRRRRR! They better find out what is wrong soon or I'm gonna come up there and whup someone!!! By the way, if you were normal, you wouldn't be as interesting! But really, I wish your eyes were extremely NORMAL! But I ask my students to define normal. Have you ever tried to define normal? What is normal? It's kinda hard!

[DianaB]

I can't believe that you STILL haven't found anything out yet!!! I'd be getting pretty upset with my doctor by now. I hope the specialist finds something out and soon!!!!!