Killer Conjunctivitis Strikes Again!

C'mon man.
The year has just begun and already we have my mom in a medical crisis, my best friend has lock jaw and me with another eye infection. Really? Is this how we're gonna play 2026?

Yup. I noticed I was getting a stye on Saturday. By Sunday it was full blown puffy. I did a Teledoc visit so I could get eye drops first thing Monday. Tuesday my ophthalmologist sent in some ointment too. Today is Wednesday and I think it's finally turned a corner. 

Right eye this time. Three sweet months since my last infection. Here's what it looked like yesterday morning.

I can feel it in my ear too!

Sick with no Taco Bell. AAAAAAAAAAA!

You can see that yesterday it started spreading to my left eye. Despite me changing my pillow case and blanket daily and using the tea tree wipes on it that my ophthalmologist's recommended. My immune system just suuuuuuuucks.

I think this would be no big deal in anyone else. But in me my whole body shuts down. And it's very hard to get it under control. I didn't ask for oral antibiotics this time because I feel confident that I CAN fight it off myself. It will just take a little bit.

Meanwhile I'm doing Ofloxacin Ophthalmic Solution 0.3%, two drops four times a day in both eyes and Erythromycin Ointment 0.5% in the morning and at night. I guess that is an antibiotic ointment. Hot compress, cold washrag and rest. Afrin nose spray for my ear.

I will say though, this is bullshit.

My ophthalmologist (who I JUST SAW) is now referring me to a different one. I'll see him at the end of March. Progress at a snail's pace. 

I wonder if swimming in a chlorinated pool regularly would help? Hmmm. Something to consider. 

But if it means not sleeping with my dogs forget it. I'd rather be on antibiotics the rest of their lives.

Exercise that doesn't hurt

I've been wanting to learn Tai Chi for years. Unfortunately I've been unable to find a class that works with my body. I'd attend a "for beginners" class and just leave frustrated and hurting. The videos I tried from my library were the same. But then I tried this "Tai Chi for Arthritis" video that I found on YouTube.

Ok. I still can't do the whole thing. Just the warm up. But I noticed that my muscles do feel better today. It could be a coincidence, but I'll take anything that might help. 

They always have a very long introduction.
This was where the movement actually started (in case you're curious.)
The intro is good to watch if you know absolutely nothing about Tai Chi.

I love that they have someone seated in the video.
That's my idea of "for everyone!"

Dr. Paul Lam has a nice soothing voice and he really does move slow and easy. He's very comforting. Very Mr. Rogers in how he talks to me (I like that.) Some other Tai Chi I've tried was crazy fast and actually hurt. Not this one.

My only complaint is that I wish the people in the video were more age diverse. Once again we get into "because it's for people with arthritis or movement issues we must only show seniors." How about a cute punk girl with blue hair seated in a wheelchair? Now we're talking!

I'm going to try sticking with this little video for a while and seeing how things go. I'm hoping for a little less muscle weakness and some increased energy and stamina.

Yesterday I read this article on Muscle Weakness and RA (it's a bit academic, but super informative.) At the end it stressed the importance of exercise with RA and how most people just don't/can't stick with it. Speaking for myself I know that it is supposed to help, but it also takes a lot of spoons and can make me feel sore (worse) for days. Here's a little excerpt and why I'm trying to find something I can do regularly.

Exercise as Therapy

Regular physical exercise, both aerobic and strength exercise, are recognized as an important component of the management of RA. In patients with RA, exercise-induced beneficial effects include increased force production and muscle mass, increased aerobic capacity, lower amount of fat mass, decreased inflammation and pain, and an overall sense of well-being (Häkkinen, 2004, Häkkinen et al., 2001, Lemmey et al., 2009, Sharif et al., 2011, Sokka et al., 2008, Stenström and Minor, 2003). Thus, exercise per se appears as an effective overall therapy for patients with RA. However, this requires that the patients are active several days per week, which is not the case for many patients with RA. In fact, Sokka et al., reported that out of 5235 patients from 58 sites in 21 countries, only ~ 14% were physically active ≥ 3 times per week (Sokka et al., 2008). Furthermore, Lemmey et al., 2012 reported that in their 3-year follow-up study of patients with RA that had performed a 24 week high-intensity strength training program, no one in the exercise group was still exercising. Thus, a challenge with physical exercise as therapy is to achieve sustainability and to engage the patients in regular physical activity for the rest of their life.

Current Symptoms

Before each doctors appointment I make a list of my current symptoms. For a new specialist I also include a basic timeline and break the symptoms up into "chronic or occasional." I have an appointment with my primary care doctor and just finished a list for him. This time I'm including something new. A list of things that I've tried to help ease the pain and calm inflammation on my own. I'm doing this because sometimes I feel like doctors think patients aren't proactive or are just looking for a quick fix. I want to really hammer home how long I've had this, how severely it affects me and that I'm not just waiting for someone else to "fix" it for me. Also so we don't waste time talking about/suggesting things I've already tried.

Tried: (for pain & inflammation)

Plaquenil (400mg – stopped taking from side effects)

Gabapentin (stopped taking from side effects)

800mg Ibuprofen 2x a day

1,300 mg Acetaminophen 2x a day

Salonpas (topical pain patch):

            Camphor 3.1% (Topical analgesic)

            Menthol 6.0% (Topical analgesic)

            Methyl salicylate 10.0% (Topical analgesic)

CBD topical stick

Charlotte’s Webb CBD supplement (no THC)

TENS machine

Acupuncture

Supplements (Borage, magnesium B-12, E, fish oil)

Ben Gay and all the other topical ointments for arthritis & joint pain.

Light exercise/stretching

Diet changes

            (cut out gluten, sugar, dairy, etc.
            *Improvement with no gluten since 12/2017)

Current Symptoms:

·      Joint pain in feet (especially right foot, ankle and 4 smaller toes. Right ankle & toe swelling.)

·      Joint pain in both hands (especially right hand & fingers. Hands feel hot)

·      Joint pain in lower back

·      Joint pain in upper neck

·      Right shoulder pain

·      Pain in back, shoulder, hands and neck that wakes me up in the night

·      Dizziness (especially in the morning)

·      Feeling of fullness, pressure in right ear

·      Body joint gelling in the morning and after sitting

·      Frequent urination, especially at night.

·      Dry mouth, especially at night.

·      Sore throat off and on (like I feel like I’m getting sick, but I don’t)

·      Fatigue (feel exhausted most of the time, especially after activity)

·      Easy muscle fatigue in arms, legs and bottoms of feet (the front pads) from minor activity (like bathing or walking across a parking lot.)

·      Peripheral neuropathy symptoms (especially in legs, arms and lips)

·      Both hands swollen in the morning. Sleeping in compression gloves helps.

·      Pain in both knees, especially after activity (knees feel hot)

·      Cracking of joints (neck, right hand, right foot, both knees)

Have you ever had that conversation with someone? Even your doctor? "Have you tried..." "YES!!! I've tried everything!!!" That's what I'm trying to avoid.

I don't think any of my symptoms are unique. In fact I think the majority would fall into either "neuropathy" or "rheumatoid arthritis" (or as my doctor says, "rheumatoid disease.") I'm not a special snowflake in the land of symptoms. So why each neurologist and rheumatologist stammers that I'm so "A-Typical" is a big mystery to me.

I'm hoping that my appointment Thursday will bring a fresh referral to a NEW rheumatologist and suggestion for addressing the chronic inflammation (because the 800mg Ibuprofen is doing zilch.)