Swollen eyes--any ideas?

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
This started about a month ago. Could be I'm developing late in life allergies, although my eyes aren't really bothering me (they are red, they are puffy, but they don't really itch). What's bothering me is 1) they make me look ugly & 2) they're so swollen they're pushing my eyelids together, basically forcing them closed, which makes my eyes FEEL tired even though the rest of me isn't.

So far I've tried warm compresses, cold compresses (you know those plastic god-knows-what-chemical filled eye-thingies?) and Preparation H. None have worked. I have saddlebags under my eyes that are so big I could pack for a weekend trip in them. I'm bearing a shocking resemblance to Droopy Dog's sister right about now.

Someone told me when some women get older they develop fatty deposits around the eyes & the fat needs to be sucked out. Yikes! Not even 40 & already needing serious surgery? Don't know if I'm willing to go there.....

Hopefully one (or more) of you ladies will have some sage advice that can help! TIA...........
 
Have you tried eye drops? How about slices of cucumber (they contain something that can help reduce swelling: just slice some up, put them on your closed eyes, and lie back for about 20 minutes).

Another tip I got from "You: the Owner's Manual": get a Q-tip, make sure the end is twisted tight, pull down on your lower lid, so the rim is like a 'shelf,' and wipe the rim without touching the eye itself.

You could also pick up some 'no years' baby shampoo and wash the eye area well with warm water and the shampoo.

Did anything change when this started? Like you getting new sheets or pillow cases or blankets on the bed? Or using a new laundry detergent? New eye makeup?

Is it worse at any particular time of day?
 
My eyes do that when my allergies are acting up. Sometimes I don't even know it until I look in the mirror. It also happens to me when my sinuses are not happy. Have you noticed any congestion at all?
 
No changes, no congestion, it just happened. I had that cold a few weeks ago which is when it started. The cold & all symptoms are gone, all that's left are the swollen eyes. x(

I have tried Visine, no effect. I'll give the cukes a shot. I'd heard that before too but I figured if the Prep H didn't work the cukes wouldn't either. I'm a little leery about the Qtip thing--I wear contacts & the smallest piece of lint can really ruin my day. Ever had a microscopic bit of cotton stuck betw. a lens & your eyeball? It is NOT a fun experience.

It's making me crazy b/c spring is here & my skin is actually looking pretty good these days, except for my new goggles. :p
 
Oh man I am such a dummy--I was just doing some online research & it turns out hypothyroid can cause swollen eyes. I stopped taking my synthroid about a month ago b/c my scrip ran out & I haven't had time to get to the dr. Also I've always been just a bit skeptical re. the whole thyroid thing (every single symptom attributed to either hypo- or hyperthyroid can be attributed to another illness).

Mystery solved. Dammit, guess I'd better call the dr. :(
 
Horrible! They are so puffy today, & this morning when I woke up I had trouble opening them, they were so swollen & crusty. I'm starting to thing it really is allergies. Now they're tearing a lot & they're pretty itchy.

I don't wanna go to the dr! It's too much of a hassle & I don't have the time. If it comes to skipping a workout or skipping the dr, the dr will lose every time.
 
OR I could do what everyone else does & suffer thru it until allergy season is over. I'm kind of leaning in that direction, in case it wasn't obvious...........;-)

Actually at 39 I'm still not quite sure what normal is LOL..........I think that might be one of life's little mysteries that's kept secret until your 40th bday at the earliest........

Thanks for your concern Janie, you are such a sweetheart! :)
 
Try Optivar. It is an over the counter allergy/red eye drop. It works WONDERFULLY for me. Another good one is Naphcon A.

They sting just a moment when you put it in then the relief sets in...AHHHHH! :)

Good luck!
Terri
 
Laura,

If you seriously think the puffiness is from not taking your thyroid meds, then definitely go to the doc to get another prescription. I too suffer from hypothyroidism due to having my thyroid removed due to cancer 7 years ago. For the first 4 years I had to under go testing which required me to totally go off my synthroid for up to 6 weeks. Let me tell you, it was the worst feeling ever. The first week or 2 wasnt bad but then I noticed the swelling around and under my eyes, my voice became very hoarse. WEIGHT GAIN!!!! even though I was still working out (Firm,not Cathe)I barely had the energy to finish and had to make myself do it the next time, Dry skin and hair. I could go on and on. Your body slows down so much. It took me 6 months to get to where I felt almost normal once I started my meds again.
My insurance finally approved an injection that I take before my body scans so I don't have to go off my meds anymore. Thank God for that!:p

Anyway, this is just my 2 cents as I have been there and done that. Just remember once your start your meds again it may be 4-8 weeks before the swelling goes away. Everything with the thyroid is slow to return to normal..

Good luck,
Carolyn
 
You know, my insurance co. has made it so darned difficult to get my refills. My dr. requires bloodwork before he'll write the scrip, meaning I have to go to a separate lab. I was going to this great place that literally had me in & out w/in 10 minutes. A few weeks ago I got a letter from my ins. co. that said the only lab I'm allowed to go to from here on out is Labcorp, meaning I have to sit for a minimum of 45 minutes before they even take me out of a waiting room. Then another 10-15 minutes in the post-waiting waiting room. Then they'll draw my blood.

Obviously my ins. co. has some kind of a deal w/Labcorp that is making it impossible for me to get blood drawn in a reasonable amount of time. x( The result has been my blowing off all kinds of medical stuff b/c I simply don't have the time.
 
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