Hi All,
Am so grateful to have found this site.
I am newly diagnosed 51 yr. female with Sjogren's, Fibromyalgia, and possible Lupus. Have been sick for years. Finally quit work in 2006. I was the insurance provider. My husband is self-employed. Although not diagnosed still was unable to get insurance because of Lupus like symptoms.
My Rheumatologist and her staff is a Godsend. My first visit with her was for 1 1/2 hrs. and she only charged me $65.00. She started me on Prednisone and Plaquenil. My Primary Care Doc. has me on Tramadol, Naproxen, and Lexapro. Due to the cost, haven't taken the Naproxen and Lexapro for awhile.
Here's my first question of many to come.
I've noticed lately that after showering my eyes hurt more that normal, does anyone else experience this?
Thanks again for this site.
Harmony
Hi Harmony,
I'm new here as well. I too notice my eyes hurt more after showering. I try my best to keep water, etc, out of them, but inevitably they do get wet in spite of my attempts to keep them dry. I think it's the water that causes them to burn though. I guess I could start showering with swim goggles on, but I haven't tried it yet.
I've always been sensitive to water in my eyes. Like many people here, I think that SJS was affecting my life for many years before I was diagnosed (back to childhood, I believe). I cope by keeping a towel in reach when I shower. When water gets on my face, I wipe it right off. I also put eye drops in right before I get in and right after I get out.
I actually think the hot steam of the shower helps keep our meibomian glands flowing. I usually stand with my back to the shower head and use a clean washcloth with hot water and wring it out and clean around my eyes. no soap at this time. Just the hot steamy cloth.
If this is too much, you may have to take a shower from the neck down.lol. Handwash your face and maybe use some eye cleaning cloths.
Lucy
Hi Harmony :)
Welcome to Sjogren's world. I favour showers but I always try not to get my face wet. I've always done that. I was my hair in the shower but I position the showerhead and myself so that all the water goes 'backwards'. I've never liked water in my eyes.
Take care - Scottie :)
I thought it was just me who couldn't stand water in my eyes! That's why I love this site. I find out something new that makes me feel a little better about myself every day!!
I, too, have always hated water in my eyes. I keep a towel within reach and the shower is strategically set so that when I was my hair everything flows backwards. Water in my eyes, even if there is no shampoo or soap in it, just burns.
I have found that eye drops right after help.
Hi Harmony - welcome to your new Sjoggie family. ;D There is a wealth of information here on this site and a lot of great members who are on this Sjogren's Road too.
Ok, I'm the odd one out . . . I LIKE having water on my eyes. The colder, the better! Although, I like warm compresses too. ;D
Bucky
I like the hot compresses on the eyes, but do not appreciate cold splashes in the them..
I pefer lying in the bath, and letting the steam waft around . That is good for the eyes and the airways.
The central heating really wacks my eyes , and this long dreary Winter we are having here (UK) is a nightmare,
I have to have the heating on as I feel so cold ,
the heating aggravates the eyes & nose, and the humidifier is just causing a lot of mould,
One just cannot win! Dolly
By the way Harmony, sorry to highjack your thread, and a warm welcome to the forum. Dolly
I cant stand beingin the shower and water hitting my eyes,, Mine burn worse also,,, used to love the water pouring down my face,, not any more,,
Yep, me too. I always love my shower but now I jut cant stand when the water get's in my eyes, makes them burn, I thought maybe the water was too hard coming out of the shower head but even running down my head over my eyes it still burns. I put drops in my eyes right after, doesnt seem to help much.
Hi Harmony,
Welcome to Sjogrens World!
So glad to hear that your rheumy has been so helpful to you...she sounds like a keeper...good for you!
Hi Harmony,
Let me also welcome you to the SJS World and family! Like the others mentioned, please do look around as there are tons of topics and scads of information available through the search engine here.
I too love my showers, and I love water on my face - hot or cold doesn't seem to matter either (yeah, I too use hot wash cloths to help with the MGD). Now, let's not even talk about the pain of crying, y'all know what I talking about!
I too am so glad to hear that you have a great rheumy, lucky you!!!
Again, welcome, and I hope to chat with you soon....
Take care of yourself now -
Patze
I once asked the same question some time ago, I thought it might be the chlorine in the water, so I try to avoid getting water in my face.