While aspirin seems to have been working for the past 10 days with regard to my pain and, for the most part, redness, my eyes have started getting painfully dry before bed. Has anyone else experienced this? I’m also having headaches (I wake up with one, then I’m fine during the day, and then it reappears at night). Oh, and right before I started the aspirin, I started seeing unexplained little bruises on my hands, feet and legs. Unfortunately, my first appointment with my neurologist is not until May 20. The weirdness just keeps on coming with this… Any words of wisdoms would be much appreciated.
I have dry eyes sometimes, but I think it's related to rosacea, which may be related to EM in turn.
Dear Nolasue,
The dry eyes you experience with headaches may be actual flares. I flare in both eyes- its excrutiating to the point i can not actually open my eyes during flaring( or blink very well). Eye lids get sort of stuck to eyeball, dried out , red and it feels like broken glass under my eye lids. Headaches sound as if they are similar to migraine - over one side more- mine is right side. You could try using 'false tears' eyedrops or cream to lubricate your eyes. Blinking as fast as you can also lubricates. Either way where eyes are concerned go see optician and get then checked out- they will also check blood pressure behind your eyes. If migraines - best medication is a prescription triptan of some kind
The little bruises sound related to circulation. Aspirin thins the blood which does help to vasodilate - and can ease flaring in some sufferers.It could be overly thinning the blood thus you are bruising far too easily - small strange little bruises are usually sign. I have those bruises myself. Saying that 10 mg is not an overly high dose. I take 75 twice daily for dilation.Depends what else you take- even down to what diet you eat. Too much vit K can thin blood causing that bruising thing(e.g. green leafy veg, sprouts, spinach,spring onions, chilli, cayene, asaparagus, dried herbs, prunes.......)
Do you take your blood pressure /pulse regularly? That might point to something. I agree with Tizzy on increased blood pressure and headaches
I dont know if you have any underlying disorders that could be confounding these symptoms. EM is a syndrome - many strange symptoms we experience are actually part of it
Please- I would advise you go see your Dr - get check out.
God bless
mads
Interesting info - my son has recently started complaining of dry eyes. I never imagined it might be a flare up, but it makes sense because he is also a "migraine" sufferer. Thanks for the insight Mads!
I have dry eye as well as erythromelalgia. There is a possible connection with sjogren's disease. (I do not have that). I had a Schirmer's test with Ophthalmology. But you should be evaluated sooner then later for your headaches- could be something else.
I too have dry eyes. I didn’t relate to any of my other weird symptoms.
Hi Guys,
EM attacks in eye are real nasty. Can manifest as dry eyes, swollen lids, bloody/milky eyes, feelings as if glass under lids - typical flaring - ie: burning , hot, stuck lids - ie: you find it hard to open your eyes. Jens right Dr's will probably test you for Sjorgens , but usually its not.
Thought i had put you some research up on this . I will upload for you.
God bless
mads
Dry eyes is considered one of those awful autonomic dysfunction (ANS) symptoms we get. No wonder its called a 'syndrome' Article on fibro and vision very informative. It applies pretty much to us EM'ers but add on the 'flaring' and burning pain. Hope this helps understanding. EM sure is an enigma.
Good night all
God bless
mads
mads said:
356-ANSunderstandingEM.pdf (163 KB) 357-SmallfiberneuropathyAburningproblem..pdf (325 KB) 358-Fibromyalgiaandyourvision.htm (21.3 KB)Hi Guys,
EM attacks in eye are real nasty. Can manifest as dry eyes, swollen lids, bloody/milky eyes, feelings as if glass under lids - typical flaring - ie: burning , hot, stuck lids - ie: you find it hard to open your eyes. Jens right Dr's will probably test you for Sjorgens , but usually its not.
Thought i had put you some research up on this . I will upload for you.
God bless
mads
I am commenting on this older post and bringing it forth because I have been having eye issues. Dry eyes, swollen lids at times.. and a new one which I need now to get to the ophthalmologist-- new floaters in my field of vision-- small black lines. I have had migraines in my eye before, diagnosed by ophthalmologist, which were like wavy vision. Because I also have AS, I have a chance to experience iritis, which is inflammation of the iris of the eye, so with any eye thing I see the doctor. Does anyone else experience changes in vision, new floaters, eye migraines? If so what has exacerbated it or helped it? Has anyone's vision degraded over time because of these types of issues?
Unsure if this is related but I will tell the story anyway--In childhood I was a severe allergy suffer in spring and summertime with outdoor related allergies even with meds. During allergy issues the whites of my eyes would swell so much they obscured the iris, happened frequently for years -- my family doc at the time was an older man who was an old-fashioned doctor who doctored out of an office in his house, he used a lot of what we would now call holistic remedies and he gave me rosewater eye drops. They worked for me and stopped the swellings.
I get not only dry but crazy red eyes too. If you look at my photos I believe I have posted some there. It is in my opinion when this happens to me it is like all of my other EM in response to warmth and in myself anyway is an ocular flare. Strange!
Hi,
FYI Dry eyes and blurred vision can be a side effect of neurontin and gabapentin. Years ago when I was on Neurontin, my eyes got so dry I experienced frightening stabbing sensations in my eyeballs. Lubricating eyedrops cured the problem. I am now on 3600 mg gabapentin and use lubricating eyedrops several times a day. I still have very blurred vision but no dryness or stabbing sensations in my eyes.
Smiles, Beth L.
Hi Everyone, I also have very dry and red eyes. My doctor told me to use eye drops as often as I need to, even if it is every ten minutes.
K-ren thanks so much for the info on Rosewater eye drops.
Hi I sometimes suffer from dry eyes and had a period last year for about 2 months when I woke in the morning I could not put the light on and I was showering in the dark. Eventually stopped and I often have a headache on the right side when I wake I the morning. Have had eye tests and nothing was found.
I have had dry eyes for years, wondering the relationship of EM and Sjogren (sp)
If you’re on Lyrica or gabapentin, dry eyes can be a side effect. I use an over-the-counter eye gel several times a day to alleviate my dry eyes. A gel works better than drops.
Also, older folks often get dry eyes, so I’ve heard.
Beth