HI Everyone!

[Mars]

Just thought I would pop in and say hello to everyone! Hope all had a Merry Christmas! Now for a safe and happy New Year!

We've been busy working around the house, visiting with family and catching up on some much needed chores. We are on vacation until Wednesday morning and are not looking forward to going back.

Eyes are still a mess - the prednisone is not working this time like it did the last time. Still tons of itching, tearing and buring. I have to have my thyroid checked soon and just haven't made it to the lab to do so. My next options are an allergist (allergy induced is the diagnosis so far) or another specialist in Columbus. Guess if it is allergy induced, it might be smart to start there since they have other options for allergy meds.

At the last appointment with the eye specialist, he put plugs in my tear ducts to reduce the tearing but it hasn't seemed to help much. He also said I have floppy eye syndrom - a condition where I have little elasticity in my lower lids so when sleeping, my eyes tend to open a little and dry out. What else??? LOL

We are expecting the kids tomorrow - I will finally get to hold my newest grandson! Here's a couple more pics of my "little" santa!




I wanted to thank everyone for the lovely cards! They were very much appreciated and are on display in my living room! It's so nice to have such an extended family!

I'll be lurking the next few days since I'll be busy but probably won't post for a few days.

If I don't make it back on before New Years - I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday!

Love to all,
Mars

[JJ]

Hiya Mars...sorry you are still having problems with your eyes....darn it anyway! I'm glad you get to hold that new little santa bundle ...too cute!

TTFN....JJ

[MaggieRedwings]

Morning Mars,

So sorry to hear the eyes are still giving you the "fits" and do hope they get this resolved. Seems like a lot of us recently have some strange medical quirks and are having a hard time getting a pinpointed solution.

You grandbaby is just gorgeous - the tiniest Santa yet!

Take care and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours.

Love, Maggie

[Tessa]

Hi Mars

I am sorry to hear about your eyes problem, but so glad that you shared such a nice picture!

A lovely Santa, Mars!



Tessa

[grannyh]

Hi and Happy Holidays!
grannyh

[tex]

Hi Mars,

I thought of you on Christmas day, when I woke up sneezing, and my nose was running like a leaky faucet. My eyes were draining, too, and they were sort of itchy, and my right eye was all puffy and red as a beet, and both eyeballs were all bloodshot. At first I thought it was an allergy, but it got so bad later, that I decided it must be a cold. I took an extra 1000 IU vitamin D tablet, (I have been taking one per day, since about the middle of December), and in a couple of hours, I seemed to be a lot better. (I'm not suggesting, however, that the vitamin D did the trick).

The next morning, I didn't even need to blow my nose, but my right eye was still all red, puffy, itchy, and draining, and both eyeballs were still bloodshot. I don't think there's any such thing as a one-day cold, so it had to be an allergic reaction. The problem is, I don't have the slightest idea what could have caused it, since other than the family coming over to visit on Christmas Eve, nothing has changed in my diet, or in my surroundings.

Okay, to get to the point of my post - I suspect that you might have Grave's disease, (Thyroid Eye Disease), and if that should happen to be the case, you would probably be ahead to get your thyroid function checked ASAP. Surely, I'm wrong, because one would think that an eye specialist could figure out an issue such as that, but hormone problems seem to be tricky to diagnose for many doctors, so it might be worth checking out.

I'm just making a guess here, and I could be all wet, but this problem has been so persistent for you that it kinda suggests to me that a hormone imbalance could be behind it, (the fact that prednisone is not working, also points to a hormone problem). Also, MC and thyroid issues seem to be rather closely linked, as we all know.

http://www.uic.edu/com/eye/LearningAbou ... ease.shtml

Love,
Tex

[Pat]

My brother has trouble like you with his eyes. He has had the plugs put in and then taken out. Finally he is getting some relief from taking Flax Seed oil. Do you take any Flax or Fish oil?

Pat

[Mars]

Tex, I'm thinking that the eye specialist is thinking something is going on with my thyroid since he ordered the test. I have yet to get the test done but really need to do so. Guess I better plan on having it done soon.

I am so tired of them being like this. It's been going on now since spring and the doc has done everything he knows how to do. I have had numerous things happen with my eyes over this time too besides the "normal" running, itching, burning, etc. I have had blocked pores, styes, etc. It's driving me nuts and now I think it has affected my vision.

Love,
Mars

[tex]

If he's the one who ordered the test, then apparently he's on top of the situation. Yep, decreased vision is another one of the symptoms of Grave's.

Good luck - I hope you can get it resolved soon.

Love,
Tex

[Liz]

Hi Margie,

Sorry to hear about your continued eye problems. I think it sort of goes with the territory a bit. My optometrist suggested punctal plugs for me too but I just keep on with the drops etc. I don't think that mine are as bad as yours though. Mine are very dry & gritty all of the time. Hope they can work something out for you soon.

The virus I have had for the last few days has not helped either. Nearly finished the course of Rulide but I think it has gone on my chest now & feeling pretty gaspy with the asthma. Nose is still running like a tap as well. Maybe it's the weather.

Little Santa is georgeous. Next pic should be of you cuddling him. I bet you can't wait.

Love

Liz