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From: [email protected]
Date: 22 Feb 2005
Time: 21:09:41
Remote Name: 24.66.131.128
Hello. I am really hoping that someone will take the time to read this and offer any suggestions or help. Almost 2 years ago, for no apparent reason at all, my lachrymal glands became swollen. They were not sore but were obviously enlarged. About a month later, my eye-lids became swollen to about 6 times their normal size, were EXTREMELY red and my eyes were pus-filled. It wasn't so much painful as very discomforting. After seeking help from all kinds of physicians, eye doctors, and allergists, I found out that I was allergic to pine but, obviously, this would not explain the situation as I had not been around any pine and the reaction would have been very mild even if I had rubbed up against a pine tree. We were told to get rid of all our animals in case they were the culprits (a painfully unnecessary step), I lived in a hotel for a week until my family comepletely cleaned and disinfected our home (my husband even got rid of all the carpets and put in laminate flooring) which we could ill-afford as I was attending school and we have 3 children. With medication (eye-drops and oral antibiotics) my eyes slowly healed but my glands are still swollen to this day. They have been biopsied and it came back normal. I have had extensive blood work and, other than hypo-thyroidism, I am a healthy 35 year-old female. I even went to a thyroid specialist in case this was related. The allergist has said that I probably have angio-edema but, after much research on both mine and my eye doctor's behalf, this doesn't explain away the fact that the swelling has not gone down once in all this time. My eyes are irritated much of the time (it feels as though I have been crying for hours and they have that sleepy feeling). My right eye (the worst one) has even developed a bit of an eye lid twitch that is not too noticeable outwardly but bothers me nonetheless. I am constantly worried that, as we have no idea what this is, it could come back even worse than last time and do some permanent damage. Can anyone help?? I would so appreciate it!! Thank you for taking the time to read this. Sorry it is so long! Michelle