| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Carolyn |
Posted - 02/03/2007 : 16:19:53
I seem to keep forgetting that TMS is probably a life-long condition and something that you do have to keep on top of- i.e be aware of your emotions. Everytime I just start going on with my life, something new pops us to sideline me.
Two weeks ago I woke up out of the blue with bone dry eyes- stuck to my eye lids dry. It got progressively worse over a few days until I couldn't sleep at all my eyes were so dry and I was putting in tears every 5 minutes and my eyes were just sucking them up. Very Painful. I went to the opthamoloigst who said my corneas are all irritated, gave me some steroids, put me on Restasis and informed me this was going to be a life-long condition. I had my ovaries removed almost 5 years ago and struggle with trying to get my hormones right (I know I have no androgens) and that seems to be a frequent cause of dry eyes so I bought it.
At first it didn't even occur to me that this could be a TMS symptom. My TMS has been mildly acting up lately- being chased in various mild forms around my body in all the familiar locations and I had been having some lower back pain for a few weeks which was getting on my nerves but I was feeling too busy to really address it. When the eye pain started, first of all I recognized that I was getting obsessed by it. Oh my God, my eyes- throwing myself a little pitty party every night. And, I also noticed that my back pain suddenly went away- poof. The changing symptoms and emotional reaction to the pain made me start thinking of TMS. Now for the past few days my eyelid has been twitching non-stop which is definitely something I associate with TMS. And I have that uneasy feeling that I also get when I am having a TMS flare.
I searched the forum (THANK GOD for this forum!!) and found that others have had this symptom. I could really use hearing your stories to help to really convince myself that this is TMS and therefore I can control it.
Carolyn |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| alexis |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 19:19:45
quote:
I don't mean to belittle your serious problem, Holly, but want to remind people that increasing age does not mean increasing ill health.
Oh, I think we're going to have to disagree there. I'd love to drop of dead one night after running a marathon, though.
Anyway, I've no idea on this and agree with Kilton that it's going to be hard to determine. I had one eye (just one) a few years ago go dry suddenly, and it lasted about a week or two. It was winter and I had to wear an eye patch when I went out in the cold dry air! Cleared up on its own...just sort of weird.
Hmmm...no point there, just a weird eye story. Well, I guess that's my point. Eyes are weird.
Also (with regard to the back pain disappearing) when I get "real" pains, my TMS pains seem to subside. Doesn't make the real pains (you know, things with great big bruises and gaping gashes and all) any less real. For me they just play back and forth, and I've had to learn to treat both the TMS and my reaction to the non-TMS stuff. |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 15:15:17
"This is a common disorder that gets worse as you age in a nutshell"
Which is what i'd read about it on the internet which is why it took me so long to link it with TMS. Other "age related" problems which it turned out i didn't have are muscle weakness, short-sightedness, joint stiffness and on and on.
I don't mean to belittle your serious problem, Holly, but want to remind people that increasing age does not mean increasing ill health. |
| holly |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 14:00:30
YES WITH AGE ASIDE FROM WISDOM COMES DRY EYES. |
| johnnyg |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 10:06:11
"This is a common disorder that gets worse as you age in a nutshell."
Try not to age in a nutshell as this is most likely the cause of your dry eyes. |
| holly |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 08:00:09
First nobody has eyes dryer than me! ( Drier?) hope I spelt that right (having a mental spelling block) The Restasis seemed to really take care of the main problem but I have to tell you that every morning before even opening my eyes I insert the Bion tears slowley into my eyes from the inner corners and let that bleed into my eye and then I can open them. Otherwise I can rip my eyeball as they will stick. then before makeup I put in the Restasis. |
| sonora sky |
Posted - 02/05/2007 : 17:07:12
quote:
Originally posted by Carolyn
I am not convinced that something has to be strictly either TMS or not TMS. I think structural problems can set the stage and then TMS can take advantage of that and either intensify the symptoms themself (or at least your emotional reaction to them) or make the condition lasts long past when it might have cleared up on its own.
I was just going to mention this...that our reaction to the pain (thoughts, emotions) can exacerbate/intensify the symptoms, even if the problem is structural/physical in origin.
I have had dry eye on and off for the past year, but not to the extent that you describe. In my case, I'm sure it's TMS, because it takes its turn with other symptoms, and because it's been a particularly big year for me in terms of stress and life changes.
ss |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 02/05/2007 : 13:01:15
I have had dry eyes for years but not as extreme as some of you have described. Drops were required during the evening and at night.
However, a few months ago after reading a post on here I wondered if they could be TMS and got rid of them by deliberately relaxing my eye muscles with my eyes closed, breathing deeply and gently flapping my eyelids a few times.
It does occur occasionally still - usually due to some stress I am under at the time.
|
| Carolyn |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 16:05:16
Thank you all so much for your replies. They were all helpful in different ways. I am taking this seriously because I do know that, TMS or not, having your eyes be this dry can damage them and I thank Holly for pointing that out. I'm not such a fanatic that I would just stop taking the drops or ignore my doctors other advice in this case but I do notice that today, after typing my question last night, they are not bothering me nearly as much.
I am not convinced that something has to be strictly either TMS or not TMS. I think structural problems can set the stage and then TMS can take advantage of that and either intensify the symptoms themself (or at least your emotional reaction to them) or make the condition lasts long past when it might have cleared up on its own. I know that my "this is so terrible, what am I going to do? I can't stand it" thinking is a hallmark of TMS to me in that it keeps me obsessed with the symptom and it certainly isn't doing me any good. So I plan to at least treat my obsession with the symptom as TMS and see what happens.
Pianoshrnk- I do find it really interesting that it is listed as a physical manifestation of anxiety. I will check that site out. I will definitely pray for you- you have so much on your plate right now, I can't imagine. I hope your husband is OK. Stories like that make me feel like I should be able to snap myself out of my anxiety because right now I am fortunate to have no major calamaties to deal with.
Paul- Nope- no pelvic pain- that only occassionally rears its head and I take care of it quickly. You are definitely going to beat yours too. I'm funny about protecting my e-mail address on the internet but I'll set up a Yahoo account and send you an e-mail that way. No one can understand pelvic/ rectal pain like someone who has been through it.
Holly- Do you have any advice for treating my eyes at night? I am using GenTeal gel which helps me get more sleep but I wake up in the morning with my eyes so dry and the gel all dehydrated and crusty in my eyes. |
| HilaryN |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 14:02:15
Hi Carolyn,
Your description does make it sound like TMS. I think the fact that you've recognised it as such means you'll have it beat pretty soon and I wish you all the best.
Do keep a watch out for any other sneaky symptoms which may appear. I'm totally familiar with things popping up all over the place.
Hilary N |
| pianoshrnk |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 10:13:30
Hi Carolyn - I have had problems with dry eyes/eye pain for about 7 months (with a few breaks here and there) and more than any other TMS symptom - this one gets to me the most! I agree with everyone who says to make sure you get checked out by a competent doctor to make sure nothing else is going on - but if everything checks out - feel confident in treating it with TMS techniques. For me - I notice that my eyes are much worse as my anxiety and stress levels increase. I am in a huge "anxiety cycle" right now. I'm dealing with "empty nest syndrome", my husband's colon canceer has metastasized into his liver and he is going in for surgery next week, and I am in one of those "states of mind" of "I have to stay healthy and strong for my daughter and my husband." Of course, the more I focus on feeling emotionally healthy and physically healthy, the more anxious I become. So I've pulled out my Sarno books again - I'm exercising regularly, breathing (!) and staying busy. I KNOW how powerful our minds can be. Having determination, and hope and connection with your spiritual self goes a long way towards healing. It does take time - I tell myself over and over "this is temporary." Watch the movie "What the Bleep" and check out the Liinden Method for anxiety. That website lists dry eyes and eye symptoms as physical symptoms of anxiety. So - bottom line - make sure you take care of yourself medically - but you have a lot of power to heal yourself. I'm pulliing and praying for you! Will you do the same for me? Thanks!! |
| pianoshrnk |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 09:57:15
quote:
Originally posted by Carolyn
I seem to keep forgetting that TMS is probably a life-long condition and something that you do have to keep on top of- i.e be aware of your emotions. Everytime I just start going on with my life, something new pops us to sideline me.
Two weeks ago I woke up out of the blue with bone dry eyes- stuck to my eye lids dry. It got progressively worse over a few days until I couldn't sleep at all my eyes were so dry and I was putting in tears every 5 minutes and my eyes were just sucking them up. Very Painful. I went to the opthamoloigst who said my corneas are all irritated, gave me some steroids, put me on Restasis and informed me this was going to be a life-long condition. I had my ovaries removed almost 5 years ago and struggle with trying to get my hormones right (I know I have no androgens) and that seems to be a frequent cause of dry eyes so I bought it.
At first it didn't even occur to me that this could be a TMS symptom. My TMS has been mildly acting up lately- being chased in various mild forms around my body in all the familiar locations and I had been having some lower back pain for a few weeks which was getting on my nerves but I was feeling too busy to really address it. When the eye pain started, first of all I recognized that I was getting obsessed by it. Oh my God, my eyes- throwing myself a little pitty party every night. And, I also noticed that my back pain suddenly went away- poof. The changing symptoms and emotional reaction to the pain made me start thinking of TMS. Now for the past few days my eyelid has been twitching non-stop which is definitely something I associate with TMS. And I have that uneasy feeling that I also get when I am having a TMS flare.
I searched the forum (THANK GOD for this forum!!) and found that others have had this symptom. I could really use hearing your stories to help to really convince myself that this is TMS and therefore I can control it.
Carolyn
|
| Paul |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 08:36:35
Carolyn,
Are you having any bouts of pelvic pain as well with the dry eyes? I remember that used to be your main problem. I would love to email you directly if possible to discuss beating pelvic pain...if you aren't comfortable with that, that is ok too. I do understand. You can PM me here to send an email.
I always look forward to reading your posts and I hope your dry eyes is only a short term problem.
Thanks! |
| kilton |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 08:05:38
No one can say definitively whether it's TMS or not. Maybe sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. Beware of anyone who claims to know for sure.
I do find it very suspicious that your dry eyes came out of nowhere though. It seems hard to imagine that non-TMS dry eyes would just appear out of nowhere one morning when they were fine the night before. This would lean me more towards TMS.
|
| holly |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 08:00:56
First I want to say that I have been struggling with Dry eyes since I was around 19, maybe younger. I am now 49. I have "extreme" dry eyes. This is not TMS!!!!!! This is a common disorder that gets worse as you age in a nutshell. When they stick at night like that you gotta take it seriously and not just think it is TMS because you rip your eyeball and it can become infected if not treated with antibiotic ointment! Restasis really helps this condition and a condition is exactly what it is!! It is not dangerous but you do have to matian the moisture in your eyes or you can head for some trouble. I admire and believe in TMS but worry that people start attributing every single human condition to it and that is not always the case!! This is what has worked for me and my eyes that just don't produce tears enough at all: Restasis and Bion tears in- between as needed. Oh and you can't really wear contacts or get lazer vision surgery if your eyes are extreamly dry! hope I helped some. |
