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Posted 2/3/2013 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Sharp pain behind my left eye, eye waters, very sensitive to light, and even certain eye positions (looking a certain direction) been on and off (mostly on) for almost 2 weeks now. Allergies are really bad right now in this part of the country, as the farmers are cutting the sugar cane crop, then the fields are burned to get rid of the debris, plowed under and replanted. Air quality is blech.

Almost migraine-like, but not like migraines I've typically had before, and the migraine meds I have won't touch this. Extra Sudafed and decongestant nose spray seems to help though. But I always wake up with it.

Got a Dr's appt next week, this will be discussed and resolved, otherwise I leave his office and go to the ER. Lying down in a dark room is the extent of my abilities.

I know, I know, first world problems.
Posted 2/3/2013 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't call it a first world problem. It still sucks. Pain is pain, but at the same time, pain is relevant to the sufferer. I'm sure allergies aren't helping all the eye pain. Maybe it's some swelling from the allergies.

Hopefully you get some help from the doctor. Good luck.

-Rainy/DD
Posted 2/3/2013 8:54 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe you better take that trip to the ER before the one to the DR next week,with the pain on eye movement I would be inclined to maybe think you have some infection or inflammation going on in the optic nerves or ligaments that attach to the eye.

Sounds a little more then your normal sinus problems or allergies dear.


Vickie
Posted 2/3/2013 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck, hope those headaches fade away soon for you. Sounds miserable.

I doubt I even have 2-3 headaches in a year, and they are mostly so mild I don't need to take anything for it. So I can't imagine what you are feeling.

david
Posted 2/3/2013 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hey LC,

I'm in agreement.... headaches are more than #firstworldproblems (one of my favorite things to tell my kids when they are going on and on about something silly)...

Headaches/migraines are miserable. Hope you can get to the root of what's going on....

Take care --Tina
Posted 2/3/2013 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have had this type of headache from sinus problems and they are just wicked. Are you taking anything OTC for the sinus/allergy problems? I use this stuff year round.

Susie
Posted 2/3/2013 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Generic Zantac Zyrtec for allergies, benadryl and/or "real" sudafed (the kind you have to get behind the counter at the pharmacy) as needed if I really get jammed up. Tried the neti pot thing after I had sinus surgery in 2004, but i haven't had much luck with it.

Woke up about 3:30 this am and happened to look in the mirror while in the bathroom, and the sclera (the white part) of the eye was completely blood red. I've had conjunctivitis (pink eye) before, but this was looked like trauma almost. Nearest ER I could get to is 40 miles away, so I jumped on the internet and looked up what might be available OTC. Found a couple of options and went to the local 24 hour WalMart. In the dark I could handle that drive.

There is a fairly new OTC topical antihistamine for the eye made by a couple of manufacturers, so I found that. Seems to be working. If it gets worse, or reworsens, I will go to the ER, but that seems like such a waste of time and effort. I actually bought an eye patch while I was there, and keeping light out of it seems to help quite a bit, so I'm doing that too.

I'll put in a call to the doc tomorrow morning and see if he will call something in in the meantime, or if he wants me to take it to the ER.
Posted 2/6/2013 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
The OTC med I was trying to remember last night is Opcon A by Bausch & Lomb. Figured an antihistamine was batter than nothing.

So, today, I just got back from the ER (don't get me started - they were jammed solid. Dang flu is vicious around here). The opthamologist I can afford to see was off today, so I took it to the ER, as I was having symptoms in the other eye as well. The PA who finally examined me said it was one of the worst cases of conjunctivitis (pink, well more like red, eye) she had seen. Said that it hits adults a lot harder than kids, especially if the adult has eye problems to begin with, which I do. Norco for pain for a few days, some antibiotic eye drops, and follow up with my regular eye doctor. She explained that there can be numerous reasons for this pink eye thing, and she was swinging for the biggest target. Leave the fine diagnostics to the eye specialists. Fair enough.

Why it started in the back of the eye like a headache, she couldn't explain, other than, "sometimes it does in adults." The right eye is still perfectly clear and white, but it's starting to get itchy. She told me to put drops in both, just to make sure.

One positive effect of this though. I asked for one Norco and something for nausea since I had a long drive, and would have to wait at the pharmacy. 1 pill and 1 shot of Zofran later, I feel wonderful. My back is much relieved, I'm walking much better, my pain level is a 4, instead of a 7-10 (not counting the eye, that's still pretty bad) but it's what I keep telling them. I could walk 30 minutes right now. I won't because it's now dark, but that's all I need. Something to take the chains off the bike so I can walk and act like a normal person again. But that's for another rant. Just wanted to update everyone, and thank them for their suggestions and advice.
Posted 2/6/2013 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, and I also got a jaunty eye patch she said I could wear if blowing air (like wind) irritated it or anything like that.

My Halloween costume for next year is set.
Posted 2/6/2013 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Did they test you for strep? Usually reagular viral pink eye is not treated medically so it sounds like yours is bacterial as it is so bad.

The main thing is not spreading it to your mom or anyone else as it's very contagious.

Thankfully with antibiotics, bacterial pink eye usually gets better in just a few days:)

Obviously you will follow up with your eye Dr. if it doesn't get any better...Glad to hear you are on the mend!
Posted 2/6/2013 8:31 AM (GMT 0)
LC make sure you put those drops in both eyes!! Like SB said contagious and you don't want to clear one eye only to have the other one get bad. Wash hands anytime your medicating or wiping it.

And it a sad state when Norco can give you a little better quality of life and you can't get a Dr to write it they are all so fearful of the watchdogs.

Glad you went

Vickie
Posted 2/7/2013 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
LC,

Glad you got in to see someone and that you know what's going on.... is your eye and headache better today? I hope so.

It's amazing what a little pain control can do.... isn't it? I'm glad you got some relief... even if it was just for a little while.

Check in when you can and let us know how you are doing today.... --Tina
Posted 2/7/2013 5:06 AM (GMT 0)

LivingColor said...
Generic Zantac Zyrtec for allergies, benadryl and/or "real" sudafed (the kind you have to get behind the counter at the pharmacy) as needed if I really get jammed up. Tried the neti pot thing after I had sinus surgery in 2004, but i haven't had much luck with it.
.

I have had sinus surgery as well and could never get the neti pot to work correctly. However, I had great luck with the Nasal Rinse Bottle. Maybe because it took less coordination to get the correct angle, I dont know. I had my deviated septum repaired, turbinant reduction and a ton of polps removed so my nasal passages are now a pretty clear runway. Whenever I feel a slight sinus issue coming on, I get out the bottle and rinse 2 x a day. My daughter and 4 year old grandson do great with it as well.

Send me a message if you want more information about using the bottle. Good luck!
Posted 2/7/2013 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
I occasionally get what you describe having and have never had it dx'd as pink eye. The doctors also dx me as having a sinus injection or eye allergy/irritation. The determining factor seems to be where the pain is at. If it is just at the eye it is the latter, but if it includes a headache and tenderness/puffiness in the sinus cavities then it is the former.

When it gets to the sinus infection stage OTC treatments never work...for me at least.
Posted 2/7/2013 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
UPDATE: and fyi, my mom is typing this cause I'm rather blind at the moment

Ya know, it's never good when a doctor of any kind looks at you and says "Wow."

I followed up with an opthamologist yesterday, and he said it was definitely NOT pink eye, I did not catch the name of the disorder, but when he tried to dilate the pupil of that left eye, he said it was basically stuck. Something like Iritis or something similar. The Eye doc I see is attached to a WalMart vision center, so he's pretty basic, but could have handles something like an eye infection.

This went beyond him, and he said the eye was at risk because the pressures between the different parts of the eye could not regulate properly if there was inflammation of the iris, or the pupils could not work correctly. He could also not see to the back of my eye to tell if anything was going on there.

Apparently, there is still a part of the state hospital system that has advanced ophthalmology, it's just not part of the hospital itself. He called one of the doctors there and did a consult, ordered prednisone and atropine eyedrops for me to take until I see the expert today.

Not to sound over dramatic, but it sounds like they are trying to save the eye.

Prednisone drops have had to go in once an hour all night (so guess how much sleep I got) but they have made a difference. Still quite sensitive to light, and still very blurry, but the pain level has dropped a good bit. I've been up all night listening to books on tape in a dark room.

Just praying for no permanent or significant damage at this point. Boy, life can throw you curveballs.
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