Don't Take Me For Granted

[guest14]

About a year ago I started having problems with my eyes, it turned out to be bacterial conjunctivitis and it's caused me to have to stop writing for weeks at a time. It can also become a real hazard when not treated. I treated it and it went away, then came back. It went away, then came back AGAIN!

To date I do not know what the cause/origin of this is, but I have my suspicions that it's either my cat that I'm allergic to (it's a semi-wild stray) or that my eyes are reacting to a sinus allergy that I suffer from. The third possibility is reaction to the laptop screen from long hours at the computer.

I can still work, but it's uncomfortable and I think my eyes are warning me not to take them for granted. Eeeeeh! Getting old ain't as much fun as it used to be.... pfft!

So, is your body telling you not to take it for granted?

[Robin]

Sorry to hear about your bacterial conjunctivitis, it really is horrible. I get the viral type whenever I have a cold, but luckily that tends to clear up by itself.


As for body parts telling me not to take them for granted, for me it's my lower back, it's starting to ache which is something that's never happened before. I've never given it a second thought so it's probably my body's way of telling me to pay attention to how I sit and to exercise more!

[She-la-te-da]

Growing old ain't for sissies! Dr. Seuss was a wise man.

I have various health and physical issues, and advancing age isn't helping them any. I worked really hard when I was younger, work most women didn't do, and I'm paying for it now. I also have a childhood back injury, and a family history of early arthritis. Sometimes the genetic wheel gets you. On the bright side, people never guess I'm past the big 6-0, so that's nice.

[RCoots]

I've already had surgery on each arm for radial tunnel. Let me tell you. NO FUN. So I have to be really careful of my hands now. I did NaNo last year for the first time and nearly crippled myself (also, Chiropractors, they can help!). Otherwise, it's my neck and shoulders, which are apparently one knotted up ball of OW that just doesn't go away. Stress makes it worse, but I tense up doing almost anything. It's requiring an adjustment of how I approach my word count, because the pomodoro way gets me words, but it also causes shoulder pain and migraines as I try to race the clock.

[A. N. Onymous]

Chronic coughing for the last three months here. Had a CT scan and got the all clear for big C today...whew!!! Smoker for 30 years and was definitely expecting bad news. Gave up the coffin nails 18 years ago, booze two years ago, excess sugar last year. Getting old is everything its cracked up to be.

[WasAnn]

For me it's almost 30 years in the Navy catching up with me. I have lateral herniations in my C1/C2 and C5/C6, plus a bunch in the lower back. Totally no fun. It's altered every single aspect of my life in every way. I was always very strong, like raise-your-eyebrows type of strong. I enjoyed that ability a great deal, but man, doing that and spending too many years on a ship rocking over a winter in the north sea will mess up a spine like nothing else.

[Randall]

For me it's almost 30 years in the Navy catching up with me. I have lateral herniations in my C1/C2 and C5/C6, plus a bunch in the lower back. Totally no fun. It's altered every single aspect of my life in every way. I was always very strong, like raise-your-eyebrows type of strong. I enjoyed that ability a great deal, but man, doing that and spending too many years on a ship rocking over a winter in the north sea will mess up a spine like nothing else.

Isn't the military great!

For me it was a few years of jumping out of airplanes and going everywhere with fifty pounds on my back. Then I spent even more years lifting people into and out of ambulances/planes/helicopters. Writing is the most low-impact job I've ever had.
For those reading this thread and nodding along with everyone's ailments, research T4 syndrome. Its what we writers are all aspiring to have and its preventable. Well worth the few minutes of your time.

Tip from your uncle Randall,

[LilyBLily]

Yesterday morning I stubbed my toe.
Okay, stop laughing. As the day wore on, my toe hurt more and more. I kept pulling my sock off and wiggling the toe and looking for bruise marks to indicate I'd broken it. Nope. I diagnosed no break. But it hurt. A lot.
This morning the toe looks swollen, but still no bruising. I know what doctors do when you break a toe: nothing. So I'm not dragging myself to an x-ray machine anytime soon. It doesn't hurt as much, but then again I haven't really started on my 10k-steps-a-day efforts today yet. So we'll see.
It's always something. 

[Lynn]

One thing that has helped my chronically dry eyes is lowering my brightness on all my screens to the lowest level I can see it comfortably for whatever environment I'm in. Like right now, it's as low as it will go while I have only indirect light coming through the windows, and when I turn on the light in the room, I'll bump it up to 30% brightness.

Just doing that consistently has made one heck of a difference. I hadn't realized how that brightness affects your eyes.

Anyway, everyone but me may already know this, but I thought I'd share.

Good luck with your eyes. They are precious!

[Max]

Best wishes with your eyes.

[spin52]

Yesterday morning I stubbed my toe.
Okay, stop laughing. As the day wore on, my toe hurt more and more. I kept pulling my sock off and wiggling the toe and looking for bruise marks to indicate I'd broken it. Nope. I diagnosed no break. But it hurt. A lot.
This morning the toe looks swollen, but still no bruising. I know what doctors do when you break a toe: nothing. So I'm not dragging myself to an x-ray machine anytime soon. It doesn't hurt as much, but then again I haven't really started on my 10k-steps-a-day efforts today yet. So we'll see.
It's always something.

I'd be the last person to laugh. Some 15 years ago, I broke my toe by slipping off one -- yes, one -- step and hitting a door frame. You're right, doctors do nothing for it. But take it easy on the walking. I walked too far, too soon, and in the effort of avoiding the toe, put too much stress on my ankle. Fifteen years later, I still get occasional pain from it. 

[Becca Mills]

For me it's almost 30 years in the Navy catching up with me. I have lateral herniations in my C1/C2 and C5/C6, plus a bunch in the lower back. Totally no fun. It's altered every single aspect of my life in every way. I was always very strong, like raise-your-eyebrows type of strong. I enjoyed that ability a great deal, but man, doing that and spending too many years on a ship rocking over a winter in the north sea will mess up a spine like nothing else.

The Navy did in my Dad's spine, too. The worst damage came from falling through a submarine hatch.

That said, I've given myself a lumbar herniation just by being overweight and slouchy. Backs are made for failing. I have a handyman over here this morning working on my honey-do list (both my spouse and I being very much of the honey-don't persuasion), and we spent our first five minutes talking about our various back problems. Ah, middle age.

About a year ago I started having problems with my eyes, it turned out to be bacterial conjunctivitis and it's caused me to have to stop writing for weeks at a time. It can also become a real hazard when not treated. I treated it and it went away, then came back. It went away, then came back AGAIN!

To date I do not know what the cause/origin of this is, but I have my suspicions that it's either my cat that I'm allergic to (it's a semi-wild stray) or that my eyes are reacting to a sinus allergy that I suffer from. The third possibility is reaction to the laptop screen from long hours at the computer.

Seconding Amelia's suggestion about lubricating drops, Tobias. My eyes have gotten drier as I age, and I think having not enough tears puts one at risk for conjunctivitis. But I have heard computer work is hard on the eyes because people don't blink nearly as often when they're looking at a screen. That could be apocryphal, but I have it stuck in my head as, you know, Something I Read Somewhere.

[Alice Sabo]

Goldenseal, in capsules or tincture, has helped me break the sinus infection cycle. It's an anti-inflammatory and anti-viral and overall boost to the immune system. And Vitamin C which is a natural anti-inflammatory and decongestant. Every fall my sinuses would turn into cement and I would spend all winter with no sense of smell and very little sense of taste. I wanted to avoid the congestion rebound that happens when you take antihistamines forever so I sought something more natural. It takes awhile, as natural products do, but it's made a huge difference.


Also - my mini-trampoline. So don't laugh, but I saw an episode of Elementary where Sherlock was bouncing on a trampoline to boost his lymphatic system (I think). I try to bounce every day and I am the healthiest I've been in years. It's ragweed season and I haven't sneezed once!

[Trina Lee]

About a year ago I started having problems with my eyes, it turned out to be bacterial conjunctivitis and it's caused me to have to stop writing for weeks at a time. It can also become a real hazard when not treated. I treated it and it went away, then came back. It went away, then came back AGAIN!

This happened to me about 7 years ago. For months it went on. Several different doctors tried and failed to help. They didn't know if it was viral, bacterial or what. It was when I found colloidal silver recommended on a natural healing site that I found relief. Drops of colloidal silver in the eyes cleared it right up, saved my vision in one eye, and I've thankfully never had a problem since. I keep some on hand just in case.

[Maggie Ann]

Goldenseal, in capsules or tincture, has helped me break the sinus infection cycle. It's an anti-inflammatory and anti-viral and overall boost to the immune system. And Vitamin C which is a natural anti-inflammatory and decongestant. Every fall my sinuses would turn into cement and I would spend all winter with no sense of smell and very little sense of taste. I wanted to avoid the congestion rebound that happens when you take antihistamines forever so I sought something more natural. It takes awhile, as natural products do, but it's made a huge difference.


Also - my mini-trampoline. So don't laugh, but I saw an episode of Elementary where Sherlock was bouncing on a trampoline to boost his lymphatic system (I think). I try to bounce every day and I am the healthiest I've been in years. It's ragweed season and I haven't sneezed once!

I'm also using herbals.

Diagnosed with Essential Tremors a few years ago and the meds were working fine. About three months ago, the condition worsened and the meds were no longer effective. They tell me it's a progressive neurological condition and that after about five years, no meds will be effective. Two new meds both failed to stop the tremors (now shakes like I'm playing the bongos) and caused terrible side effects. That's when I started researching natural remedies.

The herbals really help, although the neuro told me no med is perfect. Sometimes I still lose control of my hands which wreaks havoc on typing but I still feel like I'm doing better than I was three months ago.

And we won't even talk about my eyes. Sometimes it's like I'm looking through crumpled plastic wrap.

But I can still dance! 

[Becca Mills]

I'm also using herbals.

Diagnosed with Essential Tremors a few years ago and the meds were working fine. About three months ago, the condition worsened and the meds were no longer effective. They tell me it's a progressive neurological condition and that after about five years, no meds will be effective. Two new meds both failed to stop the tremors (now shakes like I'm playing the bongos) and caused terrible side effects. That's when I started researching natural remedies.

The herbals really help, although the neuro told me no med is perfect. Sometimes I still lose control of my hands which wreaks havoc on typing but I still feel like I'm doing better than I was three months ago.

And we won't even talk about my eyes. Sometimes it's like I'm looking through crumpled plastic wrap.

But I can still dance! 

Golly, Maggie Ann. The tremors sound like a real bear. :(

[RappaDizzy]

Anybody have any success with one of those anti-glare screens?

[Maggie Ann]

I'm also using herbals.

Diagnosed with Essential Tremors a few years ago and the meds were working fine. About three months ago, the condition worsened and the meds were no longer effective. They tell me it's a progressive neurological condition and that after about five years, no meds will be effective. Two new meds both failed to stop the tremors (now shakes like I'm playing the bongos) and caused terrible side effects. That's when I started researching natural remedies.

The herbals really help, although the neuro told me no med is perfect. Sometimes I still lose control of my hands which wreaks havoc on typing but I still feel like I'm doing better than I was three months ago.

And we won't even talk about my eyes. Sometimes it's like I'm looking through crumpled plastic wrap.

But I can still dance! 

Golly, Maggie Ann. The tremors sound like a real bear. :(

Thanks, Becca. It's not as bad as it sounds especially since I started the herbals. I found a book on Amazon called Natural Remedies for Essential Tremors and I found what I needed at The Vitamin Shoppe. I hit the wrong keys a lot more frequently, but there's always spell check. And thank goodness, it's not Parkinson's. Whew!

[Pandorra]

I'm legally blind and have to use f.lux to adjust the brightness of my screen, I also keep the background of my WIP black until I am done and format for pub.

[munboy]

For me it's almost 30 years in the Navy catching up with me. I have lateral herniations in my C1/C2 and C5/C6, plus a bunch in the lower back. Totally no fun. It's altered every single aspect of my life in every way. I was always very strong, like raise-your-eyebrows type of strong. I enjoyed that ability a great deal, but man, doing that and spending too many years on a ship rocking over a winter in the north sea will mess up a spine like nothing else.

My sis-in-law spent 6 years in the National Guard, including a tour in Iraq. Because the body armor wasn't designed for women, it messed up her back and now the simplest things can throw it out. She threw it out once, and I kid you not, bending over to pick up a piece of Styrofoam.

[bookworm]

Also - my mini-trampoline. So don't laugh, but I saw an episode of Elementary where Sherlock was bouncing on a trampoline to boost his lymphatic system (I think). I try to bounce every day and I am the healthiest I've been in years. It's ragweed season and I haven't sneezed once!

I just recently bought a mini trampoline for my kids. My 3 year old was sickly all the time. Once she began jumping she acted 10x healthier.

[Becca Mills]

Thanks, Becca. It's not as bad as it sounds especially since I started the herbals. I found a book on Amazon called Natural Remedies for Essential Tremors and I found what I needed at The Vitamin Shoppe. I hit the wrong keys a lot more frequently, but there's always spell check. And thank goodness, it's not Parkinson's. Whew!

I'm so glad the herbal remedies are helping -- that's great.  :smiley:

Parkinson's would be a tough row to hoe, that's for sure. Quite a bit of that on my mother's father's side of the family.

[dgcasey]

May be teaching you to suck eggs here, but have you tried using eyedrops to get through the screen-using day? I'm finding them increasingly invaluable the older I get.

My problem is a couple of overactive tear ducts, so i don't need to be adding any moisture to my eyes. 

[Jeff Tanyard]

Just wanted to offer my best wishes to everyone in this thread.  Y'all are going through some tough stuff.   

[David VanDyke]

I echo everyone above who had physically punishing jobs. I was a paratrooper for 5 years, and while I felt like a wimp for leaving the airborne life in my twenties, I wanted to go back to college, get my degree, and do something less brutal. I saw guys that were 30 looking like 40, and I didn't want to become them. Turned out to be a great decision, as here I am in my fifties with nothing but a bit of back problems from a tour in Iraq in my 40s--wearing all that body armor and carrying a basic load for long stretches will compress your spine. So, I count myself very fortunate to have a non-punishing second career where I can choose my exertion level, get enough sleep and so on. I salute all you folks with physical problems, especially who served society in whatever capacity, and am constantly amazed by the human capacity to overcome.

[Tulonsae]

Anybody have any success with one of those anti-glare screens?

I had to get separate glasses for when I'm on the computer so I got the ones which cut down on the blue screen. That helped some although I don't usually have much problem with eye dryness.

My big issue with eyes is that I have to watch out for retina tears. (I've already had one.) And I have constant floaters, mostly gray, so it always seems like I need to clean my glasses. It changes from day to day and hour to hour. Apparently, it's just something I have to live with. Luckily, it doesn't interfere with driving or anything. It's just annoying, and I think I've finally trained myself to stop rubbing my eyes in the hopes of clearing them...