Dry eye and dry nasal passages

[Kimkat]

Here’s a new one for me. I have been troubled with my eyes since before Christmas so I went to the opticians and asked them to have a look at my peepers. I was experiencing really dry gritty eyes upon waking first thing in the morning, so bad that I could barely open my eyes. Anyway they prescribed me two lots of eye drops, one for daytime and another for nights. I didn’t feel any instant relief but I started to get styes, all six of them, alternating from eye to eye! I contacted the optician again and again had another eye test was given. I was then given (well purchased) wipes for my eyes, which is for blepharitis an eye condition and nighttime gel, which once applied means you cannot see at all. So I carried on but because there was no improvement I decided to contact my surgery and I had a telephone appointment with my GP who had requested photographs prior to the call. He said it looked like a bacterial infection and prescribed me antibiotic gel, which gave me instant relief within the first day. However during all of this time I have been looking up what causes ‘dry eye’ and now ‘dry nose’. To my surprise it can be a side effect of Sjögrens (pronounced shergrens) disease, which leads back to an underactive thyroid. Has anyone else suffered from this?

[pennyannie]

Hello Kimkat

Sjogren's is another auto immune disease and I read, that some people suggest some AI conditions " hunt in packs " :

There are blood tests that can be and I understand the definitive test is a lip biopsy.

Can I please suggest that in the first instance you check that all your lotions, potions ointments and drops are " preservative free " and if not - stop using using them :

Bathe your eyes a a damp warm, clean flannel and try and massage around the bottom of the eye lash base where the tiny glands may have become blocked.

Dry eyes are common in thyroid related disease and not necessarily a new AI condition to contend with.

Further information on the BSSA website :- British Sjogren's Syndrome Association :

Just seen you had RAI in 2018 and now remember that I've posted to you before :

If diagnosed with Graves this is an AI Disease and for life - if your diagnosis was Hashimoto's this disease is meant to " die with the thyroid gland " - which presumably having had RAI some 2 years ago means your gland is now rendered disabled and burnt out in situ and non productive ?????

i experienced similar around 8 years post RAI - eyes, nose and finally mouth - negative for SS - no answers from any medical person and I presume it's all RAI related.

[Kimkat in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you for your reply. I have been using warm flannels/pads and massaging my eyes, I do that at least once a day, normally twice, as advised by the optician and my GP. In all honesty they aren’t too bad during the day, now that the styes have (hopefully) cleared up, it’s that first thing in the morning feeling , which has now come back since I have stopped using my antibiotic gel. As far as I can tell my drops are preservative free.

[pennyannie in reply to Kimkat]

Hey there - it should be printed " preservative free " on the product - or if with no PIL look up the product on the internet to check.

Forgot to say :-

It was my dentist who pushed me forward for a diagnosis of Sjogren's and when I was found negetive after the lip biopsy I thought maybe that Graves I had, had come back ???

I purchased Elaine Moore's very first book Graves Disease A Practical Guide - and I read that Graves is an auto immune disease and as such it is for life.

I also read that symptoms similar to Sjogren's Syndrome can be seen in some Graves patients after RAI thyroid ablation and this was the start of my taking back some control and not relying solely on the medical profession, to answer my questions.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

I think you are on the right track. I found drops & eye wipes very useful and now I use a wheat bag which can be microwaved and so a little more convenient than a damp cloth. I got two hand warmers, which I could tie together to make the perfect shape.

I also get dry nose too as I have allergic Rhinitis (& sinusitis). The doctor originally prescribed drops and a sprays but there are lots of similar sprays available over the counter. A simple saline version or other drug free type sprays would help with dryness, discuss with pharmacist.

[Kimkat in reply to PurpleNails]

Yes, I have a great little eye mask that you put in the microwave but because that is quite drying in itself I put a cotton wool pad soaked in boiled water to keep my eyes as moist as I can. Once that comes off I massage the area. I also suffer with post nasal drip and I have a steroid nasal spray for that, that I use once a day and during the day I use a saline spray or a nasal/sinus rinse. I have to say at the moment my sinuses are really ‘tight’ and I’m sneezing a lot, if it’s not one thing it’s the other at the moment 😩

[cwill]

I find a heated damp eye mask perfect for really bad days, used a.m. before I’m up and last thing at night before bed. Mine came from a selection available on large web based stores, although may be a bit more difficult to get now. Water is sprinkled on the eye section containing a small USB charged heat pad with different options for the required temp.I use a vaseline based product overnight vastly improved with a silk-like eye mask that moulds around the nose. It took a year of issues like yours for the GP to refer to check Sjogrens and despite continuing issues another 18 months to get to eye clinic and be properly assessed. Then I got the good eye drops for day and the gooey one for night.

I have however not taken up the rheumatologist very very strong recommendation for buying and wearing goggles that contain water (apparently they are a thing).

[Kimkat in reply to cwill]

Yes thank you for the advice, it seems we have an identical regime 🙂