How do you deal with dry eyes?

Posted by maryy @maryy, Jun 10, 2019

I have dry eyes due to sjogren's syndrome. Does anyone else deal with dry eyes?

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@loribmt

@lacy2, @cherriann I just happened to see these posts on dry eyes regarding finding an over the counter product.
My experience: One of the side effects of a bone marrow transplant seems to be dry eyes. Fortunately I’ve been able to manage mine with OTC products so far. The worst was at night when my eyelids would stick to my eyes. Trying to get them open was so painful! Daytime, my eyes were burning, gritty, making it difficult to read or be at the computer.
The best by far has been Systane Nighttime ointment! I use it religiously at night. Within the first week of not forgetting a night, my dry eyes improved dramatically. To the point I no longer need drops during the day. My eyes even look like they have a twinkle again. They are definitely healthy looking now.
I think the key is to use it faithfully on a nightly basis. It is goopy and once you apply it, your vision does get blurry so it’s best to just go to bed right away. To apply, I hold out my lower lid just a little and lay a line of the gel along my lower eye lid. The gel melts as you apply it and coats your eye. It doesn’t burn at all and feels really soothing. Just something to consider. Any drug store and usually grocery stores have it in the eye care section. Lori

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.....will have to check this out, thanks

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@jshdma

For anyone suffering from dry eye-- omega 3/6/9/ pills (over the counter) work significantly to reduce dryness.

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Hi jshdma, i had posted a while ago about the Thera Tears Eye Nutrition capsules with 3/6/9. You can get them in Target or Amazon. I don’t know if another brand is available or less expensive. Glad you have also found them helpful. 😁 Helen

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@helennicola

Hi jshdma, i had posted a while ago about the Thera Tears Eye Nutrition capsules with 3/6/9. You can get them in Target or Amazon. I don’t know if another brand is available or less expensive. Glad you have also found them helpful. 😁 Helen

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omega 3/6/9 is available i many drug stores, also on-line stores like Puritan Pride. Not expensive.

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@jshdma

omega 3/6/9 is available i many drug stores, also on-line stores like Puritan Pride. Not expensive.

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thanks, good to know! Helen

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@lioness

@lacy2 I keep it in the ref6 use to burn some but it doesn't now Glad you had a better day May I ask about what kind of pain you have ,is it your back.? Mine is 2 back fractures started it all Now it's all lower back stenosis herniated disc nerves in groin area fill on fire especially at night Yesterday I walked to much had a bad night 1Hr,sleep ug

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oh @lioness... how did your back get fractured.... sorry to hear it has morphed into such horrible pain.... one hour sleep is bad enough let alone with pain....; one reason I went back on Clonazepam even tho it may be frying my brain.
my p.n. since 2016 that was tingling from knees down and elbows down turned into numbness and then pain this year but my main issue is mental pain and suffering. On and off mixed with cancer; glaucoma; drug reactions; stress; bullying etc., but after c.diff it did me in...the dr. was horrible, no help and by November of that year just couldnt get out of bed, fatigue etc. and new dr had messed around with my medications and had a hell of a time on top of c.diff with heart pounding etc., it was a year to forget - 2018, also glaucoma diagnosis. Since then I have spent most of my time in bedroom in or on bed and then covid... have porbably been in 3 stores in 3 years.. thing is THIS IS NOT ME, or not who I was...working, raising 2 girls alone til remarried 40 yrs ago then husband had open heart surgery November and now he is back to helping me.. my world is upside down but i am not naive enough to know a lot more people are suffering a lot more than me! Then the guilt comes in. Family overseas passed away as well as the few friends I had.. as i have said before, not looking for sympathy just saying what happened to me. my 2 daughters live on the lake ten minutes away and i rarely go there... so sad after living from hand to mouth to feed the 3 of us when they were little... odd what life can throw at us isnt it. Now some caring dr discovered my very very low vit d, and low b12, maybe taking it will give me a boost, i hope so. I should have sent this as private message as am sure everyone has their laundry list of problems without reading mine! XX hugs

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@lacy2. AS a nurse I was doing p.d. when lady was getting out of tub her legs went I couldn't help her to much as my fracture occurred then Took 1year to get over it left nerves pinched to legs My worst is now lower back fracture lifted to heavy now have herniated disc nerve pain in groin but I use cbd gel and ice only thing I've found that helps. For neuropathy I finally found a neuropathy cream on Amazon really like it with it in my arms,hands I rub this in .WOW You have had a tough life so sotty now your having so many problems Old age is certa5 not for sissies Back in 1996 I had open heart surgery Had 3 closed arteries they put 3 in from my leg its been 25 yes no heart medications Did exercises Dr recommended and have been off red meat Dr instruction I just take resovustatin. I use holistic meds only on 6 by Dr dDo a centrum for women daily for my fibromyalgia I only use an extra magnesium Has the fecal ? Helped you May God be with you to endure all you have Glad your daughters are close 🙏 for you .Do you get to there homes some I found just getting in nature and meditating helps me a lot hugs 🤗 Linda

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@loribmt

@lioness That’s a great suggestion for cleaning the outer lids. Thank you! In my case, it wasn’t that my eyelids were crusted shut, the eyeball/inner lid were so dry that they’d stick together during sleep. I had to put drops on my closed lids and work under to finally get my lids free. I also used warm compresses several times a day to stimulate tear production. The Systane Lubricant for Nighttime really was a game changer for me. @jshdma, interesting tip about the omega 3/6/9. I’ll look into that! Thank you.

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@loribmt Glad you found the night time relief I use Genteal gel at night sure does make a difference

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@lacy2 - you have dealt with ALOT, I am glad you posted it so we all could see how much more others have to bear than us. I admit to having pity parties for myself. Last night my husband stayed home (his only release is going out with male friends once a week; I think that is healthy since a lot of guys in the neighborhood have no friends besides their wives) because I just couldn't take another minute of pain. Someone needed to watch our geriatric dog while i lie in bed and my sister came over to give me an upper back massage. Our fur baby has to be watched every minute or he will lick his hind legs raw, each has huge open sores we are trying to heal. Tried the collar of shame but the guy is VERY flexible and can pull his feet to his mouth!

I hope you find some relief and a doctor that cares. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

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@loribmt

@lioness That’s a great suggestion for cleaning the outer lids. Thank you! In my case, it wasn’t that my eyelids were crusted shut, the eyeball/inner lid were so dry that they’d stick together during sleep. I had to put drops on my closed lids and work under to finally get my lids free. I also used warm compresses several times a day to stimulate tear production. The Systane Lubricant for Nighttime really was a game changer for me. @jshdma, interesting tip about the omega 3/6/9. I’ll look into that! Thank you.

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@loribmt @lacy2 please post the results of using the omega 3/6/9 - I have spent so much money on supplements that didn't work.

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@lioness

@lacy2. AS a nurse I was doing p.d. when lady was getting out of tub her legs went I couldn't help her to much as my fracture occurred then Took 1year to get over it left nerves pinched to legs My worst is now lower back fracture lifted to heavy now have herniated disc nerve pain in groin but I use cbd gel and ice only thing I've found that helps. For neuropathy I finally found a neuropathy cream on Amazon really like it with it in my arms,hands I rub this in .WOW You have had a tough life so sotty now your having so many problems Old age is certa5 not for sissies Back in 1996 I had open heart surgery Had 3 closed arteries they put 3 in from my leg its been 25 yes no heart medications Did exercises Dr recommended and have been off red meat Dr instruction I just take resovustatin. I use holistic meds only on 6 by Dr dDo a centrum for women daily for my fibromyalgia I only use an extra magnesium Has the fecal ? Helped you May God be with you to endure all you have Glad your daughters are close 🙏 for you .Do you get to there homes some I found just getting in nature and meditating helps me a lot hugs 🤗 Linda

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@lioness... oh no another work related injury... i wonder how many millions of people a year get hurt on the job! thanks, but having so many issues it sounds like i am making them up....and i think i forgot a couple like ibs-d pain, etc..... no wonder a doctor doesnt want me as a new patient, but i could bring him in lots of income! Oh you had same surgery as Brian last November... 25 years ago that is amazing .. took 3 months for the wound on his leg to heal daily dressings... ah well he eatrs red meat, smokes and drinks a bit..... but is on 13 meds.... I dont know why so many!! Ah so holistic meds may be the answer. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia by fam. dr. in 2012 but honestly it fell by the wayside when got all these other things.... wonder if I still have it or does it disappear? Well it seems I wont help myself and just want to be like a plant in a pot and be watered but doubt i will ever bloom again. You are very brave and I see help a lot of people on here..... nice of you .... June

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