Suffering in Nebraska
Moderators: Mike Bartolatz, kwork
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Karen33_22
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:18 am
Suffering in Nebraska
HI, My name is Karen and I am from Nebraska. I am not sure i this is the right place I should be. I suffer from episcleritis. I have had it for a few years and thought it was pink eye. I could never figure out why noone esle in my family would get it. I never went to the doctor at first but used drops that were used for pink eye. It seem to work but I ran out. I was then forced to go to the eye doctor. Right away they said it was episcleritis but I also suffer from dry eyes that i have to use restatis twice a day and other drops when needed. My regular doctor is has been trying to rule out what underlying condition may be involved because my SED(sp) is elevated. I gone to a rhematologiest and he wasn't any help. He suggested that I get a colonoscopy (what fun). That come up normal, but I am having terrible back pains and they think the two might be linked. I was wondering if anyone knew what it would be. I have looked for information on the internet but haven't been to sucessful. It did bring me to this site so I thought I would give it a try.
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Mike Bartolatz
- Posts: 6595
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:58 pm
Re: Suffering in Nebraska
welcome to the group!
you might ask to be tested genetically for the HLA B27 gene, the IL23R gene and the ERAP1 genes and the IL1R2 genes often seen along with Ankylosing spondylitis, posriasis/psoriatic arthritis, autoimmune thyroid disease, breast cancer and Systemic Lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune conditions.
connective tissue diseases are linked to keratoconjunctivitis Sicca caused by severe dry eyes, the cornea becomes inflammed from abrasion to it from inadequate lubrication as does the conjunctiva. other tests to look for Sjogren's syndrome and SLE called SSA (anti Ro) and SSB (anti LA) might be looked into.
I have plugs implanted into the drains for my eyes to help keep the fluid from going down the drains called Punctal plugs.
you might put in a liquidgel eyedrop at bedtime, REFRESH PM is a good one, then another like Theratears lubricating eyedrop periodically throughout the day.
pain inside the eye is not normal nor is pain on the outside of the eye. if not treated properly you can easily get an infection in the cornea or conunctiva which can be painful. most doctors underappreciate the pain and damage to the eye that can occur with this type of condition. getting to the root cause is of paramount importance as your treatment may require allot more than what you are doing now. another condition is called Sarcoidosis that is strongly associated with severe dry eyes from lacrimal gland inflammation. Methotrexate would be required VS the Restais if Sarcoidosis is the cause. all of the above conditons can have arthritis so determining whether it is related to ankylosing spondlyitis or Rheumatoid arthritis is critical to drug selection.
a very bloody looing white part of the eye is Scleritis and it has pain associated with it. episcleritis pain is discomfort not Pain. Pain inside the eye could be from uveitis, optic neuritis or even glaucoma (rare).
DR Joseph Tauber has offices in St Louis and Nebraska if I recall correctly, get in touch with him. his contact information is at http://www.uveitis.org on the SPECIALIST list in the PATIENT information section of the site.
Wishing you the very best,
Mike Bartolatz
you might ask to be tested genetically for the HLA B27 gene, the IL23R gene and the ERAP1 genes and the IL1R2 genes often seen along with Ankylosing spondylitis, posriasis/psoriatic arthritis, autoimmune thyroid disease, breast cancer and Systemic Lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune conditions.
connective tissue diseases are linked to keratoconjunctivitis Sicca caused by severe dry eyes, the cornea becomes inflammed from abrasion to it from inadequate lubrication as does the conjunctiva. other tests to look for Sjogren's syndrome and SLE called SSA (anti Ro) and SSB (anti LA) might be looked into.
I have plugs implanted into the drains for my eyes to help keep the fluid from going down the drains called Punctal plugs.
you might put in a liquidgel eyedrop at bedtime, REFRESH PM is a good one, then another like Theratears lubricating eyedrop periodically throughout the day.
pain inside the eye is not normal nor is pain on the outside of the eye. if not treated properly you can easily get an infection in the cornea or conunctiva which can be painful. most doctors underappreciate the pain and damage to the eye that can occur with this type of condition. getting to the root cause is of paramount importance as your treatment may require allot more than what you are doing now. another condition is called Sarcoidosis that is strongly associated with severe dry eyes from lacrimal gland inflammation. Methotrexate would be required VS the Restais if Sarcoidosis is the cause. all of the above conditons can have arthritis so determining whether it is related to ankylosing spondlyitis or Rheumatoid arthritis is critical to drug selection.
a very bloody looing white part of the eye is Scleritis and it has pain associated with it. episcleritis pain is discomfort not Pain. Pain inside the eye could be from uveitis, optic neuritis or even glaucoma (rare).
DR Joseph Tauber has offices in St Louis and Nebraska if I recall correctly, get in touch with him. his contact information is at http://www.uveitis.org on the SPECIALIST list in the PATIENT information section of the site.
Wishing you the very best,
Mike Bartolatz
Mike Bartolatz
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