Sjogren's Syndrome Support Group

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva. It also associated with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, and it is rheumatoid factor positive in 90 percent of cases.

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jltraw 10/15/2008

I woul like to know if anyone has had their tear ducts plugged and what results have you had? I was scheduled to have this done and rescheduled because I wasn't sure about it. Now the new appointment is coming up and I really need to make a decision! Any experience would be helpful. Thanks, Jackie

deleted_user 10/16/2008

Jackie,
Having my tear ducts plugged is the very next step for me. I have been using Smooth xp drops. There is another web site called Sjogrens World that you can join and it has a whole area dedicated to differnt areas of this syndrome.
Good Luck and let me know how it goes.
Take Care
Stephani

deleted_user 10/19/2008

I had it done a few years ago. Been much better since still use viscotears but not every 5mins like I used to maybe once a day.

Hey Jackie, the best thing was I didn't feel a thing when they did it. I got myself so worked up about it. Go have it done you wont regret it. If for any reason you do they just take them out . I rub my eyes like normal forgot they were there till read this post by you.

Let me know how you go on. I promise its nothing at all.

Mark.xx

jltraw 10/28/2008

So I had the punctal plugs put in last week and after all the anxiety it wasn't bad, felt a little pressure and that was it. My eyes were swollen a little but that subsided quickly. The problem is that I have zero moisture and so it doesn't help if there is nothing to retain, although I don't have to use eye drops as often and because my eyes have moisture staying in them I can see better, a little less blur! Doc is going to plug top ones in 6 weeks if these are ok. I probably will have it done.

deleted_user 10/29/2008

Hi Jackie, Glad its worked out for you. What they say no pain no gain. Been away to Spain for a week, got eaten alive by mosquitos. One thing after another, stay strong.

Mark.xx

deleted_user 10/31/2008

My Ophthmologist inserted the "temporary" ones into my lower tear ducts.So I could see what I thought, and how well it worked for me.
Oh my!!It worked so well, I was calling him for an appointment before they had dissolved.
For me,punctal plugs are a good thing.
Now, if I am in a place where it is windy, I have to use the eye drops to soothe my eyes. The wind, or even the heat blowing from a hairdryer at the hair salon, really make my eyes dry.
I keep a bottle of eye drops in the refrigerator, in the door where it isn't as cold. Sometimes this COLD eye drop on my itchy,painful eye helps soooo much.
Before you stick some eye drops in your 'fridge.....ask the pharmacist if those particular drops can be kept cold. Some drops state that the temperature must be "such and such." So that rules out the "fridge.
Hope that by putting plugs into your upper ducts will give you help.
hugs to you....kudzu

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