Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)?

[jyl]

I'm in NYC with my wife on a combined vacation-biz trip. Alas, I seem to have developed what I think is conjunctivitis aka pink-eye.

Started yesterday noontime in right eye, now in both. Eyes are red, with sticky white discharge (not green, not yellow). Also more tearing (clear fluid) than normal. Vision is normal. Eyelids feel and look a little swollen. No pain.

I've had a slight cold since last Sunday. After arriving in NYC on Thursday night my allergies kicked in (I occasionally have seasonal allergies, this spring/summer has been worse than usual back in PacNW). On Friday the eye issues started.

What should I do?
- I gather conjunctivitis, if that's what it is, is contagious. I had planned to visit a friend for dinner and another for brunch. I am thinking of canceling both or just send the wife (I'd not mind the excuse in one case).
- My biz here is two conferences with various meeting. I can't really skip them, but will be rigorous about not shaking hands, touching eyes, washing hands, etc.
- I've banished wife to the other bed in the hotel room, and we're not sharing towels. Maybe we should stop holding hands.
- There is an urgent care clinic near the hotel. Should I visit this morning? I understand some cases of conjunctivitis are treatable and others are not, that treatment is often of limited value, and that the condition naturally clears up in a week. Of course, I may have misdiagnosed myself.

[mreid]

Don't fool around with your eyes! Go to the clinic immediately and they can properly diagnose your condition and provide a topical antibiotic if required.

[mikesride]

Get an eye patch......and maybe a parrot!

[Rick Lee]

I started a thread on this a week before my wedding. You must go to a doc and get a script for antibiotics. I almost had to make it a pirate wedding. Arrrrrgggghhh.

[pavulon]

I'd visit the walk-in lest it ruin your entire visit when a relatively simple drop or ointment may answer the issue. Until then, some light reading...
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/522242

Good luck!

[Ayles]

Just had this happen two weeks ago on a trip, seems I always get it with a sinus infection. Antibiotics ASAP and you will in good shape pretty fast.

[jyl]

Headed to urgent care place now. I've never had this condition before. It is irritating.

[love911]

Mine starts Monday, never in my life I had such a thing,and I ignored it till Wednesday but then my throat starts to swell and I had hard time swallowing food.Went to doctor and after some antibiotics and ophthalmic solution,I am feeling much better.
Hopefully by now you got your prescription ready.

[mikester]

Just go to an eye doctor, I had it happen to me once while traveling and that's what I did.

Keep your hands out of your butt and this won't happen.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by mikester

Keep your hands out of your butt and this won't happen.

What a fool I used to be.

[livi]

Sorry about your Eyes.

I thought you guys could buy both antihistamines and antibiotics over the counter?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by livi

Sorry about your Eyes.

I thought you guys could buy both antihistamines and antibiotics over the counter?

No, just antihistamines. Even with scripts, people (here at least) take antibiotics far more than they should and you can guess the results.

[jyl]

15 min wait, 5 min w/ doc, leave w/ Rx for eye drops filled three doors away. $75 copay and $8 drops. I'm not sure how long the condition will last, and I'm still contagious (wife is taking the drops as prophylaxis). I liked the Urgent Care experience.

[Ayles]

You will be new man by tomorrow.

[jyl]

I am happy to report that the magic eyedrops did the trick, though it took a couple days.

Does one develop immunity to whatever bacteria causes conjunctivitis? Or can it recur? Maybe I should stash the remaining drops in my travel case.

[carambola]

ok, dude, first things first, take the drops for the entire prescribed time. after that dispose of the bottle in the proper manner. don't hold it, while it may be stable it will still degrade.

oh yeah, in that hotel someone used your pillowcase as TP before you got there.

[GH85Carrera]

I had pink eye about two years ago. I did the drops and they went away with no problems. I just wonder how people survived just 70 years ago with no magic eye drops. It must have been horrible. Medical science is a wonderful thing.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I just wonder how people survived just 70 years ago with no magic eye drops.

The number and magnitude or diseases that are now cured or managed is remarkable. Lots and lots of issues are addressed quickly and effectively today. Many remain a mystery.

Working in surgery every day, I frequently think how people not long ago would often suicide rather than face the knife (pre-anesthesia) or die from what started as an appendicitis or go blind from cataracts... . Amazing really.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by pavulon

The number and magnitude or diseases that are now cured or managed is remarkable. Lots and lots of issues are addressed quickly and effectively today. Many remain a mystery.

Working in surgery every day, I frequently think how people not long ago would often suicide rather than face the knife (pre-anesthesia) or die from what started as an appendicitis or go blind from cataracts... . Amazing really.

Yea, I remember watching Star Trek in the 60s and seeing the sick bay Bones had. Many of the things that were pure science fiction then are real now.

My wife recently had outpatient cataract surgery by a local opthamologist. Two separate surgeries and now she has 20-20 vision for the first time in her life.

Back in the 60s my grandmother had cataract surgery and they had her in the hospital for several days and had her head strapped down so she could not move.

[jyl]

Like that joke in A Million Ways To Die In a The West where the town doctor says "we couldn't save her. She had a splinter".