My EYES are driving me CRAZY!

settle4more
settle4more Member Posts: 7
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
So, last chemo was in July, then radiation, still getting Herceptin. About 3 weeks ago, my eyes (both) started getting itchy - sort of like allergies except I've never had allergies. It would stop, then start again, then stop again usually with anywhere from 24 to 72 hours between 'bouts'. Warm compresses would soothe them enough to give me the confidence I needed to soldier through without ripping them out. Have also tried some kind of allergy drops that neither hurt nor really help. I come from a rather hairy lot so I never completely lost my eyelashes (or brows) but they definitely thinned quite a bit and neither have regained their former glory.

So here's my theory/question. First, has anyone else had this itchy and godawful-irritating-bordering-on-painful feeling? (Honestly, it feels as though my eyes have eyelashes in them but there is nothing there.) If so, what do you think the chances are that this itching/pain is the result of my eyelashes trying to grow back out? Under normal circumstances, a single hair follicle trying to emerge could go unnoticed - but en masse?

As for an infection, I, perhaps incorrectly, ruled that out as the irritation has been too inconsistent - my eyes are just fine for long periods of time - and this just does not seem consistent with infection. If I am wrong about that, someone, please let me know.

Comments

  • LadyParvati
    LadyParvati Member Posts: 328
    #2
    Have you seen an opthamologist?
    I haven't had the same problem that you're having, so I can't be a lot of help, I'm afraid. Maybe it is your eyelashes growing back, but when mine grew back (all of mine fell out), I didn't have any itching or pain associated with their growth. It must be driving you crazy!

    I think if I were having the problems that you're experiencing, I'd go to my optometrist or even an ophthalmologist to find out what is happening. Have you already tried that? If you have, please just ignore my thoughts . . . . but I don't know what else to suggest!

    So that's my two bits!

    Hang in there! Things will get better!

    Sandy
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #3
    First of all....
    First of all, welcome!

    My eyes were terribly dry while I was undergoing chemo. Eye doctor prescribed drops because I couldn't stand the dryness. They also changed enough that I had to get different lenses for my glasses.
    I also lost all of my eye lashes.

    But I didn't have the itching like you are having. And my eye problems were during chemo and not months later.

    I hope someone here has suggestions for you to try. Otherwise, I think I would just go and have them checked.

    CR
  • PinkPearl
    PinkPearl Member Posts: 280
    #4
    Might help.
    I doubt my 2 cents worth will help you but back in the summer after 3 months of my eyes driving me crazy, my dermatologist diagnosed occular eczema. I have eczema occasionally-just itchy places on my legs or hands but never had it on my face or eyes at all. I had a rash on my eyelid that began with just one single small red dot that spread but sometimes wasn't there. My eyes also reacted to strong sunlight by sort of hurting. I had to take an antibiotic for it for 2 months! Thought I would throw that out there just in case it could help you or someone else.
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #5
    PinkPearl said:

    Might help.
    I doubt my 2 cents worth will help you but back in the summer after 3 months of my eyes driving me crazy, my dermatologist diagnosed occular eczema. I have eczema occasionally-just itchy places on my legs or hands but never had it on my face or eyes at all. I had a rash on my eyelid that began with just one single small red dot that spread but sometimes wasn't there. My eyes also reacted to strong sunlight by sort of hurting. I had to take an antibiotic for it for 2 months! Thought I would throw that out there just in case it could help you or someone else.

    Me, too
    I've had styes, pain, itching, watering, you name it. My last chemo was end of September. I thought it was all over, but currently my lower lid on one eye and upper and lower lids on the other are painful and both eyes are watering again. I'm getting a little tired of it. I see my oncologist next week and intend to talk to her about it.

    I know this doesn't help any, but you're not alone.

    Suzanne
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #6
    Double Whammy said:

    Me, too
    I've had styes, pain, itching, watering, you name it. My last chemo was end of September. I thought it was all over, but currently my lower lid on one eye and upper and lower lids on the other are painful and both eyes are watering again. I'm getting a little tired of it. I see my oncologist next week and intend to talk to her about it.

    I know this doesn't help any, but you're not alone.

    Suzanne

    I have had it
    started during my 5th Chemo. It became styes or chalazion. My ophthalmologist explained channels was plugged and had surgery to open them.
    Please continue with warm compresses and see a specialist
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #7
    New Flower said:

    I have had it
    started during my 5th Chemo. It became styes or chalazion. My ophthalmologist explained channels was plugged and had surgery to open them.
    Please continue with warm compresses and see a specialist

    I am going to make a
    I am going to make a suggestion but be sure and run it by your doctors first. I have trouble with styes, and with roseacea that affects my eyes. To help I do warm compressions but I also use baby shampoo diluted 50/50 with water and gently clean my eyes, lashes etc. It doesn't sting and it clears the flakiness and plugged lashes very well. My opthamologist is the one that suggested this and it really helps to ease the itchiness. Like I said be sure and ask your doctor about this and do see an eye doctor. Eye problems can get serious very quickly so don't hesitate to ask about your problem.
    Stef
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #8
    fauxma said:

    I am going to make a
    I am going to make a suggestion but be sure and run it by your doctors first. I have trouble with styes, and with roseacea that affects my eyes. To help I do warm compressions but I also use baby shampoo diluted 50/50 with water and gently clean my eyes, lashes etc. It doesn't sting and it clears the flakiness and plugged lashes very well. My opthamologist is the one that suggested this and it really helps to ease the itchiness. Like I said be sure and ask your doctor about this and do see an eye doctor. Eye problems can get serious very quickly so don't hesitate to ask about your problem.
    Stef

    yes baby shampoo or OcuSoft eyelid cleanser
    my ophthalmologist suggested it. I have been using OCUSoft eyelid cleanser every morning for more than a year now
  • PinkPearl
    PinkPearl Member Posts: 280
    #9
    PinkPearl said:

    Might help.
    I doubt my 2 cents worth will help you but back in the summer after 3 months of my eyes driving me crazy, my dermatologist diagnosed occular eczema. I have eczema occasionally-just itchy places on my legs or hands but never had it on my face or eyes at all. I had a rash on my eyelid that began with just one single small red dot that spread but sometimes wasn't there. My eyes also reacted to strong sunlight by sort of hurting. I had to take an antibiotic for it for 2 months! Thought I would throw that out there just in case it could help you or someone else.

    Oh my goodness. I meant occular roseacea above--not eczema!
    Sorry! Too much going on right now to keep it all straight. Post below mine -- woke me up!
  • Ann2800103
    Ann2800103 Member Posts: 31
    #10
    My eyes got itchy and swollen
    I went to my eye Dr , he put me on daily contacts...I was wearing the contacts and the soft lens was retaining the toxins...becareful out there if you have contats....

    Hugs
    Annie
  • settle4more
    settle4more Member Posts: 7
    #11
    Thanks all...
    Thanks to you all for responding. After a particularly unpredictible and difficult weekend and all of your feedback, I'm going to see an eye doctor - tomorrow if I can get in. Despite the fact i will feel stupid for having waited, hoping to find out that there is a simple explanation and a quick fix.

    Thanks again!
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #12
    settle4more said:

    Thanks all...
    Thanks to you all for responding. After a particularly unpredictible and difficult weekend and all of your feedback, I'm going to see an eye doctor - tomorrow if I can get in. Despite the fact i will feel stupid for having waited, hoping to find out that there is a simple explanation and a quick fix.

    Thanks again!

    ...
    I also had really dry eyes during and after chemo, in fact I still do. The oncology staff refused to do anything at all besides telling me that most patients have just the opposite problem.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #13
    jendrey said:

    ...
    I also had really dry eyes during and after chemo, in fact I still do. The oncology staff refused to do anything at all besides telling me that most patients have just the opposite problem.

    same here as well .. and it's been a year since I've finished
    TCH, while continuing on Herceptin until late August 2010-- my Onco suggest that it may take up to 2 years to clear up. ughhhhhh


    Vicki Sam

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