Oh boy, I really sounded bossy. Must be the Mom or Grandma in me. LOL

i wouldnt wait if its related to eyes....................see the eye doc asap.

RCRoss, i remember you mentioning about your shoulder issues. i have neck and shoulder issues too. i spoke to my hubby's uncle who is a neurologist about my issues and he said that if the inflammation is too bad that might affect the tendons, ligaments, bones to cause bone spurs and cysts. bone spur is nothing but bone protruding which again causes the nerve compression. to protect the nerves, docs perform surgery and cut the bone that is protruded (spur). i just wanna share this bcoz i thought this info might be helpful for you in taking a decision whether to go for surgery or not. nerve compression is something very bad. so think about it and take a right decision. good luck to you.

hope you feel better. gentle hugs to you dear.

Karen, I don't think you came across as "bossy" at all, lol. Concerned and caring, yes. : )

My eye was twitchy and weird-feeling before I got Bells-palsy (but I have shingles), but I am telling you this because shingles affects the nerves, so it sounds like your issue may be nerve related. I hope it's just allergies or something minor! Let us know.

RCross - I am ever faithful about getting my eyes checked yearly due to an incredible family history of glaucoma. However, at my last visit which was 2 months ago, my doc noticed my eyes seemed dry and said that's common with RA. Asked if I had that "sand paper" feeling that bluedogs2 was mentioning or any tearing, I've had both. He suggested using Systane Balance eye drops daily. They are over the counter and have made such a difference for me.

MaryPop - You are my hero - will get some tomorrow -

Visine just gets my face wet - (Would you believe - at my age and can't hit my eye with a dropper - jezz - You should hear Mamabluedogs2 hoot ------ and it lasts a while - I'm so blessed that I can entertain her so dang easy)

Peace and Be well all in this group

The Blues

Saw my eye doctor today...she called the neurologist. Not sure what's going on but neuro recommended steroids. (imagine that...haha) But, I'm happy to report that after the steroids, just today, my eye is better. Yay! Hopefully I'll see it completely gone is another day or two.

Thanks for all the wonderful advice!

Great News RCross - wonderful.

Now If I could just hear - oooops

Be well and sleep well

The Blues

Oh no...what's wrong with your ears????

Ears - Probably too big ... ENT dude several years back said I couldn't hear. I said, "Huh" ... he leaned in and said "You can't hear". Again, (this time I leaned in as well) "Huh". He said "When were you born?" I told him and he said "Too much loud rock-n-roll music". "I can't fix that" "Pay on your way out". I told them to send me a bill. 2 week later I got the bill and I promptly got an old 45 record from the 50's , wrapped it, stuck the bill in the cover with "PAID IN FULL" on it and mailed it. Never "heard" another word.

Still can't hear

Peace

Bluedogs2

I am just catching up on this thread. RCross glad you got your eyes checked and got the problem solved. I have eye exams every 6 months now due to Plaquenil. Also my mom had high pressures in her eyes leaning towards glaucoma and has now lost sight completely in her right eye. I take her with me for exams when I go. We used to go every 4 months. My opthomology MD is on top of everything, Been with her for years.

Now we have to get Bluedogs2 to hear better. Glad things worked out well for you RCross.

RA can affect the eyes all by itself. There are links to other conditions such a sjogrens and the milder blepharitis which I have. The latter is fairly easily controlled, the former less so. There is also scleritis which a couple on here have. I dont know about the condition you have mentioned.

Always worth checking up on. Eye issues come up on here from time to time so if you have the patience it might be worth checking back but easier to just get an eye doctor to check it out.

I went to one for which I had to pay - a pocket painful experience for me cushioned and cosseted by free state care! (I paid NZ$138 for ten minutes of his gold standard time....) Blepharitis which caused a bit of strife for about a year but now just appears once in a while. Not serious.

Things I have heard about eyes.

The rheumy did tell me that dry eyes are very possibly from RA. Dry eyes can cause more problems on their own without treatment.

I have been diagnosed with blepharitis. When it really flares I need drops that contain an antibiotic and steroid for inflammation. Otherwise. My treatment is systane drops at least 2 x's a day. More is better with that. It is expensive though if you use a lot. Also hot compresses. With blepharitis that is... At least 2 x's a day for about 10-15 mins. When hot compress is finished rinse with cold water.

Rheumy also said the blepharitis is probably caused by RA.

Now, my mouth is dry. Not a little dry. Completely dry. It affects my swallowing, my voice and a feeling of inflammation in my throat area and esophagus .. I do take some meds that cause dry mouth but it is really bad now. I try biotene products when I can make myself. Haven't noticed a big difference. My dentist said suck on sugar free hard candy.

The eye specialist had me coming every 6 months when I ws taking plaquenil. He said can do some nasty damage to eyes and you need to stay ahead of it. I am off that now.

That's all I know about eyes right now... ;)

I am worried about that eye/mouth dry autoimmune condition. But I have a lot of appt coming up and will be checking on some of these things.

Be well
Cindy

Just want to jump in quickly. First, I appreciate all of the info and ideas in this thread. Secondly, Cindy - you mentioned that Systane can be expensive (I know it is as I use it several times a day), but both Walgreen's and Rite Aid have their own versions of it. Same formulal; usually shelved right with the Systane and considerably cheaper.

bluedogs2, I don't want to take away Mamabluedog's entertainment but thought I should share with you a trick for getting drops in the eyes of those people who have issues........I used to be an optician and had to do this for people....
So, one method is to aim for the top/center part of your nose....that's right. and kind of move your head a bit after, and it will roll right on in your eye.......you could even put drops on the closed eyelid and then open your eye and blink. Lots of folks have an aversion to letting drops go in their eyes and subconciously blink at the wrong time, so my tricks can help.
I am not in the mood to care about spelling today.
Not that anyone else probably has my particular problem but I have a strange eyelash condition, which causes my lashes to grow in crazy directions and it makes my eyes feel like a foreign substance is in there. I also get the blephartis (inflammed eyelid) and many many styes. I am a walking eye problem. It does not seem like an important thing but it is quite annoying.
my rhuemie says the Plaquenil eye problems really don't happen that often, it is possible but not frequent. He said in 30 years he's seen the problem 2 times.... for what that is worth!