Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group eye help needed STAT

Hi Guys,
Well I feel bad Mig that you didn't sleep last night all because of me. I knock myself out with Tylenol #3's. I wil just be up for a few minutes, becuase I feel completely whipped. The eyes are aching ,but less so, tomorrow I hope to know more when I go back. Thanks again,
Janet

Please don't feel bad... I wasn't expecting to hear anything but thought just in case I should keep checking in. It's the KA way! I know how scary it is when things don't seem to be getting under control. Sometimes it would just feel safer to camp out in the doc's office until you hear them say those magic words,.. "don't worry, everything's going to be just fine." Notice how they never say what we'd like to hear?

Tomorrow may be an excellent opportunity to ask them for a personal number to call in case of an emergency in future. Ask them what you are suppose to do in the middle of the night if you suspect things are getting worse. The need may not seem as great now, however you might as well take advantage of their current enthusiasm to treat you well! My Mom has a signed note from her doc that she keeps in her purse. If she ever arrives in emerg in the middle of the night, the note gives emerg physicians permission to phone her eye doc day or night. Now that is service!

You may want to consider if you feel T 3's may diminish your ability to sense any further warning signs. I know they can't touch the worst of this pain, but in my case they make me so tired I tend to think I can wait things out. Just a thought.

Hope you manage to get some nice comfortable rest and continue to feel better tomorrow!
Take good care Janet!

mig

Hi Everybody,
Well this has certainly been a learning experience for me.Some of my severe pain was do to IOPressure in the right eye which can cause pain in both eyes. It is hard to believe how fast that can happen, but it did. I am much more comfortable now with a glaucoma drop twice a day, Pred forte 4 X a day in the right( IOP) and 6 X in the left and ointment at bedtime in the left only. No dilating drops as the danger time as passed. I do feel much better with less steroids , my hands are no longer shaking(LOL)I will be having visual field testing in a few weeks to see if I have permanent damge , which he doesn't think I will, becuase they caught it so quickly. ( I mean the IOP) I am writing a long list of questions which I will hand to him on Monday and I'm not leaving until I have the answers.I think also I can think better and listen much better when my head isn't about to blow off. I hope everybody else is doing Ok and all the best.

Luv,
Janet

Hey Janet! It is a relief to hear you are feeling a bit more comfortable now.

I was also surprised to hear how fast your situation changed from inflamation to pressure. In all my years of iritis attacks, this has never happened to me. I think we'd all benefit in learning more about this potential, and hearing the answers they give to your list of questions.

They really know you're serious when you show up with a notepad and pen! When I did that in my iritis specialist's office he seemed surprised and asked me why. I told him I have trouble remembering details and that I like to share whatever info I learn with my brother (who also suffers repeated iritis attacks). So with a big smile the doc asks if this means he's allowed to bill me twice! What a great sense of humour that doc had! (probably not funny if you don't have socialized healthcare)

I hope everything proves to be okay as you continue recovering, I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and wishing for you the very best outcome!
Hugs,

mig

My iritis used to linger on and on for months on end. The eye drops just kept it at bay, but never truly got rid of it. ... as soon as I thought it had gone for good, I would get another attack.

Not a problem at all now as the NSD works great for me :-) (by the way NSD means no starch diet). No iritis in ages. I think it has been over a year since my last attack.

oh, and by the way... don't use echinacea as that made my iritis worse !

all the best
z

"So long and thanks for all the fish" - Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy