Will this EVER get better?

[Kelly1977]

I was diagnosed with blepharitis about two years ago. Was told to just use lid scrubs.

Then, I noticed my lashes were growing crooked and more and more veins appeared in my eyes. The optometrist didn't seem concerned even though I was freaking out.

THEN I was in severe pain and it took weeks and multiple visits to be told I had dry eye. Finally went to a corneal specialist who more specifically said posterior blepharitis/MGD. Now that I have redness on my nose and cheeks, I can say I have ocular rosacea.

I've tried lid scrubs, which obviously didn't keep this at bay. Then restasis and Lotemax. Added Azasite. Now stopped Azasite and have been on 200 mg of doxy per day for about 3 weeks.

And I'm still in pain. Eyelids are puffy. Still bloodshot. The eye doc said the lid scrubs don't help with posterior bleph, and he said I could do warm compresses once a day, but he didn't really push the issue. I'm scared to do them now because of the facial rosacea.

I'm using finacea for my face, and I guess it's helping. It doesn't seem to be any worse, though last night my face kept getting hot, almost felt feverish during the night.

My main question is . . . what can I do to my DIET to help this? I weigh less than 90 lbs and have always been severely underweight. I'm petite, too. I can NOT lose weight. I don't eat all that much to begin with (just not that hungry), but I do eat junk food like pop tarts and cereals and cookies.

How can I cut out the bad things and still maintain my weight, being a picky eater as well? Who doesn't cook? I CAN cook, I suppose. I just don't. Don't like to, since it's just me. Looking at diets for rosacea, it's like, cut out vegetables and bread and pasta and sugars. There's nothing left but lettuce! I can't live off that. I don't consume enough calories as it is.

I know I'm being dramatic, but I don't know enough about food or cooking to be creative. I like very very simples meals. PB&J sandwiches. Rice or potatoes with chicken. I try to eat high calorie things when I can.

I'm just at a loss. I want to eat healthy, but i need to gain/maintain weight AND would still like to enjoy food.

[Auburn]

Supramom2000 took the time to reply to the first thread you started about this very same subject eight days ago with a very detailed and helpful post.

The fact that your nose and cheeks look red does not mean that you have rosacea. It could very well be seb derm, caused by the same fungus that causes blepharitis.

Re: food, there are a number of current threads on the subject. Take the time to search the forum.

And it can get better but it is entirely up to you.

[Kelly1977]

My apologies, I must have missed the response to my first post. I try to check the forums regularly.

I'll keep searching and hope I can find the answer to my food dilemma.

[Mary Lou]

I used warm compresses, occusoft lid scrubs, baby shampoo, antibiotic ointments, drops and other ointments. I also had crusts removed under my eyelids exhaustively to no avail!

I finally tried a boric acid eye wash one day- skipped a day and repeated the process! It's gone!!!! Now i use olay foaming face wash for sensitive skin and I curl my eye lashes every day.I also use Alaway drops 2x a day. It's that simple!

Mary Lou

[Mum3]

I used warm compresses, occusoft lid scrubs, baby shampoo, antibiotic ointments, drops and other ointments. I also had crusts removed under my eyelids exhaustively to no avail!

I finally tried a boric acid eye wash one day- skipped a day and repeated the process! It's gone!!!! Now i use olay foaming face wash for sensitive skin and I curl my eye lashes every day.I also use Alaway drops 2x a day. It's that simple!

Mary Lou

Sounds great. I just wish I knew what boric acid water is...

[Brady Barrows]

Sounds great. I just wish I knew what boric acid water is...

Boric acid has been used for medicinal use for some time now, i.e., eyewash.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boric_acid#Medicinal

[better_dayz_to_come]

I used warm compresses, occusoft lid scrubs, baby shampoo, antibiotic ointments, drops and other ointments. I also had crusts removed under my eyelids exhaustively to no avail!

I finally tried a boric acid eye wash one day- skipped a day and repeated the process! It's gone!!!! Now i use olay foaming face wash for sensitive skin and I curl my eye lashes every day.I also use Alaway drops 2x a day. It's that simple!

Mary Lou

I'm definitely going to try the boric acid eye wash...

Does any know of any issues using the Alaway drops 2x day over the long term though? my understanding is that they are for temporary allergy relief.

[Mum3]

Hi
I have made an order from ebay for Boric acid, how is it mixed? I am not sure it will come instructions along with the powder.
I really have high hopes about this boric acid.
I also wonder does anyone of you know if its ok to use pure coconut oil insted of virgin coconut oil when massaging the eyes? I only found the pure coconut oil here in a store.
I also bought a wheat eye mask from the UK they keep the heat longer than other eye compresses so I thought I would give it a try.
kind regards

[Brady Barrows]

Hi
I have made an order from ebay for Boric acid, how is it mixed? I am not sure it will come instructions along with the powder.
I really have high hopes about this boric acid.
I also wonder does anyone of you know if its ok to use pure coconut oil insted of virgin coconut oil when massaging the eyes? I only found the pure coconut oil here in a store.
I also bought a wheat eye mask from the UK they keep the heat longer than other eye compresses so I thought I would give it a try.
kind regards

It is probably a lot easier to simply use a commercial type eye drop which contains boric acid. For example, there is Visine Advanced Redness Reliever Eye Drops which lists the following ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride (0.05%)

Inactive Ingredients: Benzalkonium Chloride Solution, Boric Acid, Edetate Disodium, Sodium Borate, Sodium Chloride, Water (Purified)

There are other similar products like Murine Plus Lubricant Redness Relief Eye Drops. Walmart makes a similar product under the Equate brand which a lot cheaper.

[Ghost]

It is probably a lot easier to simply use a commercial type eye drop which contains boric acid. For example, there is Visine Advanced Redness Reliever Eye Drops which lists the following ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride (0.05%)

Inactive Ingredients: Benzalkonium Chloride Solution, Boric Acid, Edetate Disodium, Sodium Borate, Sodium Chloride, Water (Purified)

There are other similar products like Murine Plus Lubricant Redness Relief Eye Drops. Walmart makes a similar product under the Equate brand which a lot cheaper.

Except you have to be careful of the rebound effect of redness relief eyedrops. I wish there was just a plain boric acid solution, individually packaged for single use. Never saw anything like this, even though I have searched.