I have a nasty eye infection and the doctor has given me antibiotic eye drops and pills, which I have been on for a few days now but they haven’t worked yet. I also have a streaming cold. I was on 4 mg of Pred but following SDR I have been on 10 mg for a few days now. But I am just wondering, if I do that then I am suppressing my immune system so am I stopping it from fighting the infection? My eyes are so sore I can’t sleep - am desperate to stop the itching and get better. We are due to go up to London for the Panto with friends on Tuesday and I so want to go - been looking forward to it for such a long time, plus the tickets are not cheap and I have already had to cancel several other things because of this infection. Any advice gratefully received.
Eye infection & cold - Sick Day Rules? - PMRGCAuk
Eye infection & cold - Sick Day Rules?
Hello, SusyTe. Methinks you should let your doctor know that your eye infection isn't clearing up. With regard to going to the panto, can you honestly see yourself sitting with sore eyes and a cold in what will very likely be a packed theatre. Of course, your symptoms may improve between now and Tuesday but I wouldn't think they will completely disappear within the time frame. Ask yourself, will I enjoy the evening and will others appreciate being in close proximity to me, parents of children included. If I were seated anywhere near someone who is unwell I would not be happy. Life is full of disappointments and many of us have experienced a bucketload during the past few years. Sorry to be brutal and sounding judgemental but I have to be honest.
Look after yourself and get well soon. 💐
PS. Others will be along to answer your actual question.
Thank you for your honesty. I have had the eye infection for over a week but have only been on the antibiotic drops and pills since Friday so was hoping they would really kick in soon. The cold has been with me for a few days. Am taking Lemsip for that. I will not go to Panto unless things have dramatically improved by then as I would not want to make anyone else ill.
I would like to understand about the Sick Day Rules issue - hope someone can explain to me - as I want to give my immune system and the antibiotics the best chance to work.
If there is no improvement after 4 days - I'd be asking the GP although Friday to now is a bit soon to expect a lot.
The SDRs are to support the body in fighting off the infection - normally the adrenals would produce a spike of cortisol to do that but in adrenal insufficiency are unable to.
As to the panto - will you enjoy it as you are now? But there are another 2 days to go - a lot can change in that time,
Thank you for your reply. I will contact the GP again once 4 days have elapsed if I am not a lot better.
Thanks for explaining about SDR - so I guess I should stick on 10 mg for a bit longer then drop back to 4 mg.
I am not going to go to the Panto. Now having sat up in bed and come to terms with my state, I have told my friend who booked it and she is going to try to exchange the tickets for a date in January when hopefully we will all be well and there will be no train strikes.
Thank you again - I always appreciate the sage advice I receive from the Forum.
Hope the change of date works - though whether that will avoid train strikes is another matter!!! My daughter is supposed to be in London for her 40th birthday on 22nd December which she hopes SHOULD work with trains. I was miffed she'd not invited me - we could have made up for my rather poor 70th back in the summer! - I said I'd have made it to London(which I hate) for that. On second thoughts ...
True - lots of strikes going on and who knows if/when they will end. It is my 60th in January and have a few understated celebrations booked - but always take out the insurance these days. Hope to goodness I feel better than this then. Feel wretched. I hope your daughter’s 40th goes well.
Disappointing as it may be -the correct decision…
There will be other pantos to go to, other chances…
Oh yes there will!
Hope you soon feel better 😊
Yes - you are right. This is the one we go to every year at the Palladium - we book in February. It is hilarious and so good to have a real laugh. Lord knows we need it.
Yes we all need a good laugh -but Palladium isn’t going anywhere -you will get there again.
You are right, as always. 🦉
Don’t say that -makes me sound boring !😳
Never! Wise doesn’t mean boring. ❤️
Made me smile
Hi again. Have just read your reply to PMRpro and pleased to read that your mind is now made up re the London trip. I'm guessing you are relieved now that the decision is made and can now concentrate on getting better. Great to have your friend's support, too. 😀
I do so know that feeling of having to have an apology note always at the ready with the engine running. It can feel like life is full of hopes and then out it has to come, the apology note, and another nice thing cancelled.
As others have said, going is not advisable not least because you’re in the period of it being a bit too soon to know if the treatment is working. Did the doctor take a swab? If the infection of the eye or around it?
Yes. I had Covid earlier this year and missed my nephew’s wedding, then more recently had a labral tear in my hip and had to cancel several things, and have had to cancel niece coming for lunch today and now the Panto. But I know I am not the only one and others have things worse, obviously.
The doctor hasn’t even seen me - can never get an appt any earlier than 2 weeks away. Had to hold on for 1.5 hrs just to get an answer from the receptionist who said the doc would call back, which she did and asked for a full description of the problem then prescribed. I will call them again if no improvement on Tuesday.
The infection started as what I thought was a stye inside the upper eyelid but then turned into bright red sticky and itchy eyes. Was up all night last night - wanting to scratch them out.
Does your surgery have eConsult or an email (check their website ) - easier to write request than phone.
No, unfortunately not. And they are totally overwhelmed. I do feel for them.
would you say they are getting worse or have they just plateaued? Has the irritation got worse with the use of the drops? This can happen where eye drops don’t suit the person.
I also think we shouldn’t underestimate the energy used in having a good time! Ok when feeling okish but not so good when trying to fight an infection as well ❤️
Just had a wave of nausea after taking the antibiotics (felt a bit sick after taking them yesterday too) and then threw up (very unlike me). Sunday is Alendronic Acid day so took that first thing with lots of water, then after the stated 30 mins sitting upright took my Pred and the antibiotics. Feel like an idiot now - should have spaced them out to save my stomach. Now not sure what I have thrown up and what I need to retake. 🙄
Well give it half an hour or so, and see how you feel -and just take Pred initially -that’s probably most important. If you keep that down, maybe abx later in day -don’t bother with AA .
The AA I hope will have gone into my system as I took that first. Will do as you say and wait, then take Pred, then abx later. Thanks again. 👸🏼
I definitely wouldn't bother with the AA!
Would rather not be taking it at all - rheumy insists because of the results of my last Dexascan.
Maybe - was it that bad? But you won't crumble leaving it for one week!!!!
It was all a bit gobbledygook to me but hubby (science man) took it all in and said he was worried too. I felt pushed into it. Will ask for another scan next year and see how things look. Would rather not take it.
Perhaps you’d like to share results with us anyway -and we can comment…
I am not sure I have a copy - will ask him for them next week and let you know, thank you.
Just tell us the t-scores for a start - and had you had one before? If so, tell us them to
Found this latest one. Can’t find one from previously.
That is a strange combo of readings - and I would wonder how reliable they are. The angle of the beam can be quite critical amongst other things.
Yes, that NOF reading (that's the neck of femur, the bit that so often breaks in the elderly when they fall) is a bit near the arbitrary mark of osteoporosis (-2,5 is the borderline) but I wouldn't panic, just avoid walking on icy pavements/roads and up the security in the house like improving lighting in dark corners and stairs, removing/securing loose rugs and trailing cables that create trip hazards. Wear shoes in the house - not sloppy slippers - and make sure any pets don't cause you to trip. Be particularly careful of ceramic tiles, especially if wet - you don't have to have osteoporosis to slip and break all sorts of things as my neighbour here will tell you! She has replaced her kitchen floor with a non-slip version.
Review medications - and get any that might be a risk adjusted, You don't want really low BP for example or anything causing dizzy spells. Keeping vit D up is beneficial for some reason as is being well hydrated. If you need to get up in the night - PUT THE LIGHT ON! Personal experience of that with OH - spinal fracture, not hip though.
As PMRpro says slightly odd readings - but just within osteopenia range -which is quite common - but osteopenia doesn’t automatically turn into osteoporosis…
But do follow PMRpro’s advice.
Thank you. My impression of this relatively new (to me) rheumy is that he is somewhat over-zealous. I will follow PMRpro’s advice. And I will ask for another Dexascan next year to compare.
Thank you all SO much for being there for me - you are so kind and wise - I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.
I will contact the doc again on Tuesday if no improvement in the eye infection.
And my friend has just managed to change the Panto tickets to the 12th Jan! 🥳
Thank you again. You are all stars. ❤️⭐️ xx
Excellent. Now get a few FFP2 masks and use them all the time to reduce the likelihood of catching something else! And at the panto of course ...
Hello, regarding your eye infection, do you have an eye hospital anywhere near you? They will always see people with any issues, although you may have to wait quite a long time...the one we have in Bristol is brilliant, and our GPs usually just tell patients with eye problems to go there...Really hope your eyes improve soon!
I had exactly the same issues. It took a couple of weeks to clear up with steroid eye drops The eye specialist also said I had dirty eyes ( told her I showered every day) never heard of it but cream cleared it up but like I said it took a couple of weeks. It’s not nice hopefully you it sorted.
Glad yours cleared up. I am stopping the eye drops because they seem to making it worse - more sore, red and incredibly itchy. My head is also hot and itchy now which normally means I am having an allergic reaction so I think I am allergic to the eye drops. Going to call the doctor again today - and hopefully won’t have to hold on for 1.5 hrs again to get through to the receptionist. 🤞
Hi, just to add … my husband had same symptoms last week including a nasty pus head spot on inside of lower lid. Antibiotic drops did nothing, but onnlooking at Moorfield Eye Hospital sight, decided to just try plain Viscotears for dry eye. They worked!
So no idea what it was all about , but he is happy again!
I’m just writing to say thank you! You changed your plans & that has saved other people from being sick! I had bad chest infections that lasted 6 weeks for 3 christmasses in a row…all caught from people shopping when sick! Once I was in a card shop & a mother was wheeling continuous coughing child in push chair…said he was too sick to go to day care…but not too sick to go in shops & pass his bugs around!! I hope you will be better soon, S x
I was at aquafit on Wednesday and just as I was finishing a woman arrived with half a dozen small children to swim - one was barking like a dog. Needless to say they took over the section where my locker was! I was not amused!
I would not have gone if I was still sick - I just wanted to know how to get better more quickly - hence asking the question about Sick Day Rules. I normally still wear a mask when out in shops etc. I do feel a bit better today - but am still staying indoors and away from people.
You say you threw up after taking your Pred and antibiotics. I wonder if your antibiotic is Penicillin based? I can't take any antibiotics that are Penicillin based as they make me very ill after a couple of days. So check with the person who prescribed your antibiotics to make sure they don't have anything like Penicillin in them.
For instance, I was recently prescribed Amoxicillin, but as it's Penicillin based I can't take it. Trouble was, I knew nothing about Amoxycillin until I got the box home from the chemist and read all the small print, so it's worth checking these things beforehand if possible.
Thank you for replying. The pills are Doxycycline which apparently is not penicillin. I think it was the combination of drugs that made me throw up - I should have spaced them out but had been up all night and was not thinking straight. Am holding for the surgery at the moment - couldn’t get through at all yesterday. Once I have spoken to the receptionist I should then get a call back from the doctor at some point. I no longer have the runny nose but my eyes are still swollen and red. 🙄
Doxy does have something of a reputation for upsetting stomachs!
nhs.uk/medicines/doxycyclin...
Sorry my phone rang just as l was starting to reply. Doxycycline are not used regularly but we’re given to anyone with bad chests & Covid Infections last winter - l took them too but felt queasy. It’s hard when your poorly & have to add in ‘extras’ on top of the usual cocktail..
Thank you for replying. When I last spoke to the doc I had the cold and chest issues so maybe that is why she went for Doxy. Now it is “just” the eyes will see what she says now. It feels like one thing after another with me - should think the doc is sick of me! 🙄
l know - sometimes it seems never ending!
I always try to slip my AntiB’s in away from my other Meds & use my phone to remind me when to take them. I had to have Anti Fungals & l had to wake at 6am to take them away from everything else but it was worth it in the end as they cleared up a long standing infection caused by Chemo which would respond to all the usual things!
Hope you feel better soon & can get some answers.
It does rather. I will be 60 in January and I remember at my 50th feeling so good and so optimistic about the future, and then PMR came 3 years later and I have not been the same since - one issue after another. I feel 20 years older not 10.
I am glad to hear that the Anti-fungals cleared up your long-standing infection - good news.
Thank you - much appreciated. Feeling very low. X
Hang in there!
Just got back from the surgery - hadn’t realised the doc gave me an appt with the nurse not a doc - she was very good. She has referred me to the eye hospital in Ashford as an urgent case because she is worried about the infection and my eyesight. She tested my sight and I hadn’t realised how bad the left eye has gone compared to the right eye since having this infection. Only had my eyes tested a month ago so that is not right. 🙄 Waiting for the text from Ashford to confirm date/time - will most likely be tomorrow. She said if my eyesight gets worse between now and then to go to A&E.
Now THAT sounds like a result. Shame the doc hadn't the courage to admit it might be beyond him ...
That’s an excellent response Suzy, the Nurse Practitioners are excellent on the whole - my husband was referred to Urgent Dermatology for a Biopsy & Treatment for a BCC
Keep us in the loop - we’re all thinking about you 🙏🏼 what did you do about your Pred Dose in the end? You may have said but l missed it being on Nana Duty!…..
Yes - she is very on the ball. She also took a swab from my eye for testing. I increased my Pred to 10 mg for a few days but dropped back to 4 mg today.
Thank you for being so caring - I know you all have busy lives. ❤️ xx
How did you get on Susy?
Just got back. My pupils are very dilated so hard to see to type. Ruled out nasties apart from scleritis - will test for that next week. Got different eye drops and have to take ibuprofen. Very thorough eye examination by nice specialist. Feel reassured and hopeful of improvement.
Thank you for being so caring. ❤️
If you’re taking ibruprofen and Pred just make sure stomach is protected
Thank you - I definitely will.
…and good luck..
Thank you. ❤️
That is a big positive - reassurance is key.
Eat plenty of yogurt when you take your Meds & try to tweak when to take your Meds keeping Pred away from Ibuprofen.
I take an Anti Inflammatory but it’s one a day & l take it at night but also take Lansoprazole to protect my stomach.
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