Uveitis update

[Papapickle]

Hello

So I had uveitis in my left eye and have been taking my steroid drops (although I did miss a day). It has now started getting worse in that eye and also it has moved accross to my right eye too.

With body flaring - at what point do I stop and go sick from work.

What would you do and if different what would your advice be?

Thanks

C

[LindsG59]

Only you can gauge when you should take time off. I definitely can't do my job if I have escalating uveitis. It's ok once the drops start to work. If I'm in a flare I'm so fatigued and in such pain it's not really an option. That said I know the condition is different for everyone... Not much help sorry!

[jzeis]

Can you talk with your ophthalmologist about getting on systemic meds to control your uveitis instead of steroid eyedrops? If you're already taking systemic meds, maybe you need a switch to something else? I had awful uveitis for about 5 years before I finally got proper treatment that worked, but in the meantime the steroid drops caused cataracts in both eyes, and my retinas got pretty damaged. (docs tried high-dose oral pred, drops, steroid eye injections for a year, cryotherapy to freeze the inflamed parts of my retina, cyclosporine...it wasn't until I was put on azathioprine that I got some relief. This was back before a lot of the newer meds were available.)

Hope you get some relief...eye problems are scary.

Joanne Z.

[Juliauk10]

Really sorry to hear you're having a difficult time. I think only you can make the decision as to whether to continue to be at work or to take time off. I was diagnosed in the mid 90's and suffered awful uveitis for several years after my initial diagnosis. Of course, all symptoms are different for everyone but I always found that the uveitis was triggered by severe stress - once I left my very stressful relationship the uveitis also stopped and touch wood has never re-appeared. Lots of patients has serious problems with their sight so personally I wouldn't risk being at work if you feel so poorly. Your sight is worth so much more than any job and I found out over the years that me struggling to go into work when I felt really ill was really bad for my health. Good luck.

[Papapickle in reply to Juliauk10]

I have today stopped. I can’t read the laptop screen so not much I can do.

If steroid drops don’t kick in by the morning I am off to emergency eye clinic.

Thank god for the NHS!!

Thanks

C

[Juliauk10 in reply to Papapickle]

I think you've done the right thing. After my initial bouts of uveitis the local hospital advised me to go directly to the emergency eye clinic for any future uveitis symptoms due to the severe complications if it is not treated immediately. Good luck and hope you soon feel better.