A little help from the doctors please?

[Rick Lee]

I have a pretty bad case of Conjunctivitis. My right eye felt a little tender on Sat. By that night my lady told me to look in the mirror and it looked bad. I went to the urgent care place yesterday and the doc. prescribed Vigamox. Today my eye was almost swollen shut. It looks BAD. Went to an opthamologist this morning and he seemed to just not believe that I had not had a cold recently. I never ever get sick. He said it's in my left eye now too, but is showing no symptoms. He prescribed Tobradex, which I just applied about an hour ago.

Trouble is that I'm getting married next Saturday and don't want to make this a pirate wedding with an eye patch. I'm so hideous now, I could star in a remake of Mask. How long does this stuff take to go away? Any chance I'll look normal by the weekend? I have a follow-up with the optham. on Thursday morning. But by then there will be little time to do anything by the weekend.

[nostatic]

one word: sunglasses

sorry man, don't know how fast it passes. Seems to go quick whenever my son gets eye infections.

[Rikao4]

Rick, it should be okay by then..wash your hands, and wash them again. It's just very contagious. Careful you don't give it to her.
you clear..her .well you get the idea.
While resting..warm (not hot) moist wash cloth..
Pirate wedding..you walk the plank.
Rika

[charlesbahn]

Viral conjunctivitis can last up to three weeks, usually less, but chances for normal by the weekend are probably slim. The steroid in the tobradex might help. If it's blepharitis, not viral conjunctivitis, it may clear up in a day or two. If it is viral, odds are you won't be the only one with it, very contagious. Remember the steroid in the tobradex can cause cataracts and glaucoma if used over long periods of time, I usually have patients use it 4X/day for a week and then stop. It it hasn't helped by then it probably won't.

Good Luck.

Charles

[KFC911]

It's a sign from above...don't go through with it! Just kidding of course, I sure hope you heal up, and have the greatest day (err...night) ever!

[Rick Lee]

Thanks. Should my fiancee be taking anything as a preventative precaution? I'm washing pillow cases and towels right now. I think I must have caught this at the gym. I wash my hands all the time anyway and never get sick. The gym is probably the most germ-ridden environment I ever get near.

[gassy]

I had it for a month a while ago--get on the strongest steroid ASAP. Good luck with the wedding!

[charlesbahn]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Thanks. Should my fiancee be taking anything as a preventative precaution? I'm washing pillow cases and towels right now. I think I must have caught this at the gym. I wash my hands all the time anyway and never get sick. The gym is probably the most germ-ridden environment I ever get near.

No antibiotics or steroids will prevent your fiancee from getting it if she's predisposed, so no need to start her on medications unless she develops symptoms. Or unless it conveys some peace of mind. Erythromycin ointment to the lashes at bedtime is sometimes helpful for that. Cleanliness is the best prevention, but you were contagious as soon as the symptoms began so she may well get it. Like a cold though, one person gets a really bad case, and the next person may have little or no symptoms.

I wouldn't blame the gym. Viral conjunctivitis is sooooo contagious.
I used to tell students that if they had a patient with conjunctivitis and when asked about exposure to others, the patient remembers seeing someone on a train station with conjunctivitis, even though the train didn't stop, they have the viral contagious form.

Although antibiotics have generally not proven helpful in viral illness, many of us find that Azythromycin (Zpack) does seem to help (this is controversial). This is now available as an eye drop called AzaSite. Might be worth a try. I'd consider using it in conjunction with a reduced amount of tobradex to keep the steroid on board. Check with your ophthalmologist.

Charles

[Rick Lee]

Is there really any danger of getting glaucoma from Tobradex if I just use this for 5-7 days? My vision test today was 20/20. I can live with the discomfort and don't mind looking bad for a few days. I just really need this to look better by the weekend. Anything else I can get OTC to help?

[Nathans_Dad]

No, short term steroids should pose no danger. Sometimes we worry about increased intraocular pressure with steroids for longer than 6 weeks or so, but a 7 day course will make no difference.

Sorry to hear about the conjunctivitis, the antibiotics are really there to prevent a superinfection with bacteria, they won't do a thing to the viral infection, it just has to run its course.

[JeremyD]

Agggghhhh! We all walk the plank at weddings = you'll just look the part - Agghhhhhh!

jk - hope it clears up quickly for you Rick

[livi]

What they said.

Let me just be the parrot here. The bug starting the process of most infections are either a virus or a bacteria. Either of which there are innumerous species. Attacking our body, these little critters initiate a more or less severe immune/defense response by the host (you). In this case, the bugs seem to have chosen your eyes as breeding ground. Thus, here is where the body will make a stand. Dilating the blood vessels in the eye, drawing a complex battle machinery with white blood cells, antibodies and defense proteins to the site. Once there, they leak out in the tissue starting to kill off the bugs.

The result is what you see in the mirror. Red, swollen and often with more or less discharge.

Now, there is no handy treatment against the virus, but even when a virus started the battle there are always plenty of resident bacteria that love to muck in and having a go on the smörgåsbord.

To make a unnecessary long story a bit shorter, for a full scale counter attack I would go with both antibiotics (preferably both systemic - tabletts - and local) together with systemic corticosteroids like betamethason or prednisolon.

This would normally be overkill and nothing a wise doctor would prescribe for any simple conjunctivitis, but seeing (no p. int.) as you are getting married an´all - and there is no harm done, I would not hesitate one minute.

[Rick Lee]

I still have an unfilled prescription for Augmentin laying around somewhere. Would that work? I don't know if the opthamologist will prescribe me anything else. I'd have to call and ask about that and I don't really want to say, "Hey, some of my car chat board buddies (doctors or not) say you should.....". I'm using a cold compress to reduce the swelling and just took my second dose of the Tobradex. Anyone think I should double up with the Vigamox too? Or is that bad?

[rammstein]

Make a last minute change to a pirate-themed wedding. You wear a patch and a pirate suit, and so does everyone else.

Do you take this woman to be your wife? "YAAAARRRR"

Might be fun, certainly a wedding to remember.

[Nathans_Dad]

The Tobradex is fine and I wouldn't take the Augmentin, since the infection you are trying to prevent would be a topical one, a topical antibiotic will work well against it.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by rammstein

Make a last minute change to a pirate-themed wedding. You wear a patch and a pirate suit, and so does everyone else.

Do you take this woman to be your wife? "YAAAARRRR"

Might be fun, certainly a wedding to remember.

Ha ha. When life hands you lemons.....

[frogger]

Buy puffy shirts for the groom's party. Aaarrh!

[nostatic]

Looks like flagons of rum instead of champagne for the toast. This will be one manly wedding...

Maybe you could get Captain Morgan to sponsor it.

[bigchillcar]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Looks like flagons of rum instead of champagne for the toast. This will be one manly wedding...

Maybe you could get Captain Morgan to sponsor it.

best wishes on everything, rick..sure hope that it does clear for you, but more importantly, take care of that eye no matter what else is coming up. willkeep my fingers crossed for you, yarrr...

sorry, could only find an emoticon with a 'double patch'..yarrr..

[nostatic]

Pirate Wedding Vows

Groom: I, Mad Dog _______________ take ye, Saucy ______________________ as me Heart, me Soul, me Good Wench with a stout right hook, the bright dawn of each new day and the soft bed of each day's night. I promise to love ye and honor ye; to make ye laugh when yer feelin' out of sorts and pretend to listen to ye when ye babble on and on about nothin' in particular. I will protect you from the elements and the elephants should we ever encounter them as it is my understanding that they can be very large and unpredictable. I will love thee through scurvy and through fire, in wealth or poverty whether ye be near or far. And when I speak of treasure, as I am wont to do, everyone within the sound of me voice will know that what I am really speaking about is you. All of this will I undertake until there are no horizons left to chase and the rum is gone.

Bride: I, Saucy _________________ take ye, Mad Dog __________________ as me Heart, me Soul, me Salty Jack with a crooked smile, the foggy haze of each new day and the lumpy (but familiar) mattress of each day's night. I promise to love ye and honor ye; to make ye laugh so hard the rum comes out yer nose and pretend to listen to ye when ye babble on about nothin' in particular. I will protect you from my wrath and from giraffes which I understand are very tall and will sometimes step on people because they are not looking where they are stepping. I will love thee through scurvy and through fire, in wealth or poverty whether ye be near or far. And when I speak of treasure, as I am wont to do, everyone within the sound of me voice will know that I am day dreaming again. All of this will I undertake until there are no horizons left to chase and the rum is gone.