STUPID QUESTION...BUT GOT TO ASK

[Kes1561]

Will crying cause a flare up of uveitis? I need to sit down and have a good cry but I'm afraid to. Holding it in is not helping.

Sorry to ask but I don't know if it will cause a problem. Does anyone have the answer????

Thanks
Kes

[Anne]

Crying has never caused my Iritis to flare up. Anne

[Mike Bartolatz]

if you are under ALLOT of stress, it can cause a flare of uveitis. Depression often appears in individuals with autoimmune disease processes. Both effect the immune system. If either apply to you, please contact your primary care physician for help.

Wish you the best,
Mike

[Kes1561]

Hello to Anne and Mike,

Thanks Anne for the support. Sometimes we've just got to let it out!!!

Mike:
I'm already being treated for depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTS or PTSD for short). I've been under a HUGE amount of stress since last May. So now I'm thinking that since the depression and anxiety do affect my immune system this might be the reason for either the flare up or the cause all together.

I'm working my recovery program. I was hospitalized over 10 years ago and have worked hard at recovery. Some of the depression/anxiety is chemical imbalance and genetic. Some is from life issues and some is PTSD. I think I'm having a recurrence of PTSD from the wreck I was in in May. I was clobbered by a kid driving at least 30 mph. I was sitting still. Wham-o!!! She hit me very hard. Knocked me about 20-30 feet. Fortunately no broken bones, just muscle issues, whiplash and tendonitis along with plantar fasciitis in my foot, achilles tendon.

Now we have a category 4 hurricane out there that might be coming our way and it's interupting the vacation I was going to take, so that's not helping my stress level at all. I don't want my house to blow down! So, in short, stress level is at least a 12 on a 1-10 scale.

Sorry to type so much, brevity is not one of my assets!

Thanks to you both!
Kes

[Mike Bartolatz]

Please write all you want! interaction with people that who understand your disease processes helps eleviate stress and anxiety. Stress doesn't CAUSE uveitis but it can cause flare up of the inflammatory process.

If you are near North Carolina, suggest you see DR Jaffe at Duke as he is an expert on uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease processes.

sorry to learn of the PTSD. Lots of people have this and aren't diagnosed. It is not just related to wartime experiences and is being recognized by the medical community as such.
for example women who have been battered develop this etc.

Hope your house remains intact too!

Wish you the best,
Mike

[Kes1561]

HI Mike,

Thanks for everything. Just being able to discuss this weird syndrome helps a lot.

Today it seems to be bothering me a bit. My eyes are more tired than usual. I'm glad I'm home out of the sunlight and flourescent lights from work. And I'm on vacation......even if I wind up just staying here.

I went looking at a PDA today and decided I can't stand the small screen! Bummer.

I'm in Florida, so no where near N. Carolina. If this doesn't let up I'll check out a specialist here. I'm waiting until I go off the Pred Forte drops in about 2 weeks to see what happens. I have a follow up appt. with my optometrist and I can get in to see an opthamologist fairly easily. In the meantime I'm checking out things that might make it worse. I drink tea with Gensing in it and I'm wondering if that could be aggravating it. With me and my history it's possible. I have the strangest reactions to things, even meds. If one person in 1 million had a certain reaction to a medication, I guarantee it's either me or my sister!!! LOL.

PTSD can be from anything traumatic, even my wreck. It flares up from time to time. Mostly it's under control. I recognize it for what it is and try to know the triggers.

I'm going to check on the results of the other blood work and chest x-ray tomorrow. Usually if everything is ok the doctor's office doesn't call.

Thanks again
Kes

[Mike Bartolatz]

Kes,
routine Xray may not show lung involvement in early stage disease process associated with things like Sarcoidosis. often Close Section Gallium scan is required to see the infliltrates. the same holds true with other disease processes associated with uveitis. Ankylosing spondylitis might require an MRI to see early changes. for other neurological disease processes contrast MRI might be required. Only a specialist will know how to interpret what is going on with your eyes and potential disease processes. Ethnicity can also predispose to certain autoimmune disease proceses. EXPERTS are aware of this. Dr Janet Davis at Bascom Palmer would be an excellent choice should you continue to have recurrent uveitis.

Wish you the best,
Mike

[Lea]

Hi Mike.

Thanks for the info. I have a good pulmonary doc....when the hurricane is over and things are hopefully back to order I'll go see him.

This hurricane is coming right at us. I've been packing for two days. We're evacuating tomorrow. Going to the wastewater plant where my husband works, it's an emergency center and just big enough for us and my mom and aunt, plus 2 cats.

I'm caucasian.....don't think my race would be in the picture.

I took my mom to the eye doc yesterday for checkup, while we were there he pulled me in for a look-see.....he said it looks good. I'm down to 2 drops per day and trying to keep my stress level to a minimum. Relying on anxiety meds. scared to death of this storm.

I won't have email access after tomorrow. If you pray, please pray for our safety and for our home to be undamaged and not broken into. I'm terrified!!!

Thanks
Kes-my real name is Lisa but I like Kes better.

[Mike Bartolatz]

Kess,
yes I do pray and I will do so for you and all of those in Florida!

Glad you will be in a SAFE place during the Storm.

wish you the best,
Mike