I think I'm starting to get dry eyes.

[alwaysimproving]

Hello everyone,

So it's been about seven months since my first set of symptoms. I had a severe dry mouth for ten days and then jaw pain for three weeks back in December. Then all the symptoms disappeared.

Well then I had symptoms again start in march. Had dry mouth for the longest time. I thought that after taking some of Chris's collagen cocktail suggestions (what happened to his blog btw?), drinking tons of green tea, and taking supplements and probiotics that my mouth symptoms had gotten better. Definitely more manageable.


However as of a week.... I've been waking up with irritated eyes. I notice a burning sensation at night and I've been putting in eye drops daily. It's not always noticeable... But it hasn't really gotten better over the past few days.

I guess I just want to vent.

[Wal]

So sorry to hear this. My eyes were the least bothersome in the beginning when all my stuff started in January. My mouth was worse than my eyes. Now my eyes are more irritated and my mouth is still the same. They are super dry in the middle of the night when I wake up along with my mouth and I'm using eye drops on most days. . I know your pain. Hang in there. Experiment with different eye drops. Are you taking omega 3?

[eija]

Dry eyes are a true pain...

When my eyes flare, I don't put drops in daily - I apply them several times a day. And my drops aren't "watery" but gel-like, that means thicker so they should theoretically work longer. But yeah, when I go to bed I put in drops. If I wake up in the night, my eyes are like sandpaper, not a hunch of moisture anywhere! Then there are times when I actually forget to apply the drops because my eyes aren't bothering much at all.

Make sure your eye drops are preservative free. Preservatives are bad for our eyes, so preferably use drops that are packed in those small droppers (I forget what's that in English, sorry). Even if it says they're for one time use only, you can use one dropper until it's empty - just store it in a dark place.

Gel-like drops are, as I mentioned, "stronger". Then there is even thicker stuff available. But the best would be to consult your eye doctor.

Hopin you find relief.

[Navigator]

It is a mistake to just vent.  Get thyself to an opthamologist.  Prolonged dry eyes can cause corneal abrasions. (which you do not want).  Have an expert look at it and advise you.  Of all my senses I hope the last to go will be my eyesight.  For that reason I take good care of my eyes.  This disease has already hurt my hearing. That I can live with . Not the eyesight.   Opthamologists can prescribe Restasis which is an anti-inflamatory for the eyes. You take drops in the am and before bed. I have found them to be liberating.   Or you can go the punctual plug route which retains what you produce on your eyes.  There are options.