My Foot

[Bobbie]

Going to reduce exposure to "friend" as much as possible.

Who needs enemies with friends like these?

[ResearchGrandma]

I also have severe dry eyes even with Restasis. Starting in March, I found a dry eye specialist who is making eye drops (3 month supply) from my own blood serum. The cost of the 12 bottles is not covered by insurance. The extra bottles have to be stored in a freezer. The one bottle that you use per week has to be kept refrigerated. I think these drops are helping some, so I paid for a second batch about 2 weeks ago. What I think helps me the most are the punctal plugs in lower lids. My right eye did not like the silicone plug - puncta kept getting red, inflamed, and infected looking until the plug would fall out. This happened twice, starting last summer. New eye doctor put in temporary collagen plugs - I have had no bad reactions, but the plugs dissolve in a few months and have to be replaced.

So if you feel like adding another doctor to your schedule after your foot has totally recovered, you can search around for a dry eye specialist in your area.

[Bobbie]

Research Grandma,

I had eye plugs - did not work for me. Restatsis helps a lot and so does Gentel Plus. Before Retstasis I had constant eye infections and came close to going blind in one eye - lived on antibiotic eye drops.

Will look into dry eye specialist. Thx for info. How did you find one?

[AllisS]

I was misdiagnosed with dry eyes for years -- used Restasis, etc. -- but later the problem was identified as a tear-duct blockage. (Though blockage and dry eyes can occur simultaneously.) The blockage can cause tearing, infection, etc. Dr who specializes should be able to differentiate.

[ResearchGrandma]

I now have a definite diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome, which accounts for my very dry eyes and nose. In 2015 I found a dry eye specialist by using the Internet to look up opthalmology departments of nearby medical schools, and reading through the credentials and interests of the doctors. But I had a very disappointing exam by a lady who is the head of the dry eye program at Penn. Maybe she was having an off day, but she gave me a cursory exam (2 minutes?), quickly checked off a bunch of diagnoses on a sheet, and sent me home with instructions to put hot compresses on my eyes to unblock the oil-producing glands, and some antibiotic cream I was supposed to use for 2 weeks. When I mentioned that I might have Sjogren's, she replied that my eyes did not look like "Sjogren eyes". Of course what she prescribed was insufficient since I really do have Sjogren's. And she is do busy that you have to wait 6 months to see her again. I actually found my current dry eye specialist in an indirect manner. I had read that sometimes eye surgeons would cauterize the puncta, and I was trying to find a doctor to do this. I asked my local eye doctors to recommend an eye surgeon. It turns out that the surgeon they recommended only does surgery to unblock tear ducts, not to cauterize puncta. So I thought I had wasted my $40 copay, but then he recommended this dry eye specialist to me. Both docs are about the same age - my guess is that they knew each other in medical school and have kept up with each other's careers.
You could also check for any medical schools/hospitals who have "Sjogren's Centers/Departments".

[roy]

How did this thread go from foot to eyes?
:-))))) ☆☆

[code3rn]

Bobbie you crack me up! "killing her is not an option". I spit out my water when I read that I started laughing so hard. Take whatever time off you need to take care of YOU. You know this site will be here when you get back.

[Bobbie]

Follow up on "the foot, the eyes, etc." AllisS asked me about it last night but my PM to her disappeared.

Am off the knee scooter and on a cane but can walk without it. Can hardly see stitches in foot. See Dr. McDreamy in a week. I can now drive but haven't yet. Walking shoe is so big I can hardly wedge it in driver's side of my car. Don has been taking me places and is tired of it. Do not blame him. Upstairs of new house almost finished but downstairs a mess - difficult for me to get down there.

My mom brook her hip - twice - and was terrified she would fall again. I can now identify altho this was not due to a fall but to a bone block - never heard of it before. Evidently very common. Is sometimes caused by arthritis. Fairly common with athletes. Have arthritis in other foot but am going to leave it alone.

It is so nice to take a shower again!!! Plan to start aerobics Sept. 1. Have gone back after 8 bouts of pneumonia and 3 of c diff. Difficult at first but gets easier.

Research Grandma - don't you have to have a biopsy of your mouth to determine S. Disease? Think this is reason I did not follow up. Seeing cataract doc in six month. Maybe when I limp across a road, a truck will hit me - thus negating the need for surgery.

End of doc appointments. Dentist said Imhad beginning of two cavities - never had a cavity in my life. Periodontist did not see any evidence of cavities. Taking easy way out.

Have never seen the site this busy this time of year - five new members yesterday.

Roy, what are you doing in Cyprus? Enjoy. My UK kids are still touring Europe. We are meeting them in Orlando after Xmas - hopefully. Wish I had a daughter but heard the new young women of today re not as nurturing as people in and near my generation.

Good luck and good health to everyone.

[Ril]

Bobbie, not true about young women of today not being nurturing. Both my daughter and daughter-in-law are incredibly kind and nurturing women, although I'm not sure what ages qualify as "young women". And maybe I am just really fortunate.

Maybe the extreme heat is leading to an increase in c diff or driving people indoors so they have time to find the site????

I live driving distance from Orlando. Somehow I doubt that meeting me will be your priority when your son is in the US :-)

Rita

[Lisa33]

Bobbie - Glad things are improving for you day by day. That Sept 1st date for Jazzercise is getting close!

[Bobbie]

Hope so. First have to get walking boot off - have to sleep with it on. Can take it off one hour twice a day. Have not driven yet because it is so difficult to wedge boot in car but am going to try tomorrow - been a month since surgery.

[Bobbie]

Saw surgeon today. He said foot has healed and I can start decreasing use of walking boot a little at a time. Have to buy firm, solid sandals - think he meant Birkenstocks. He said bone spurs are caused by arthritis - have beginning of one on other foot. Also Ingrown tonail on one foot - Recommended podiatrist - not one I Used previously. Warned me against going to commercial mani/pedi place - never know if tools are clean. I already knew that.

Nurse took my BP - sky high -'upper and lower numbers. Should have asked her to take it again - usually high at first - have "white coat" syndrome. Too many details.

Having GI problems - been about five weeks since two rounds of z pak and IV vanco during surgery.

Wonder what will go wrong next? Going back to Jazz Sept. 1 and maybe UK in late Sept.

Surgeon still gorgeous.

Sheesh! Health problems suck! So does getting older. Am driving again - thank God.

[georgina]

Glad to hear that the foot has healed , now you can go back to jazzercising!
Sorry to hear about the GI problems though. Hope it doesn't feel Cdiffy! Are you going to get tested or wait and see if thing get better?

[Nancy1]

Good luck with all your challenges, Bobbie. I wear Birkenstocks and have ever since I got plantar fasciitis a few years ago. I really like them and hope you do too. I'm glad that you are healing.

[ResearchGrandma]

I like the closed toe, fisherman type sandals. I have some from Lands End that are a few years old, and some newer ones from Khombu. (http://www.sears.com/khombu-women-s-roo ... lsrc=aw.ds). I think Keene was the first to come out with these about 10 or more years ago, but now I like the Khombu best.