anyone else having this trouble with masks?

[mytrueaccount]

Since last June I've been struggling with recurring eye infections and ear infections, neither of which has ever bothered me before. Needless to say I haven't been able to see my doctors, who have been phone consultation only since last March. But it has become very evident that there's a correlation between outbreaks and days when I've had to wear a face mask for more than a few hours eg, a long commute in to work and then having to wear a mask at work. This because I wear glasses, and things steam up heavily maybe it doesn't help I'm menopausal! (Lord knows how medical workers manage all day --)
But: there's no official way to register as exempt from mask-wearing -- I checked the government website. Also it seems so petty to do it for such non-emergencies. I don't want to scare everyone around me. (I AM double-vaccinated.) And yet, both are very painful. And each eye infection means I find it hard to read for days; each ear infection makes it impossible to lie down to sleep. (Another group I have sympathy for: babies with ear infections! Now I get it!)
Anyway, I want to know: has anyone else had this problem of mask-related eye and ear infections. And whether or not, do you think it's mad selfish of me to consider cutting masks just for that?

Get yourself some moisturising eyedrops & gel to put in your eyes last thing before you go to sleep, I suffer from chronic dry eyes & use Carmellose drops & Xaillin gel which can both be bought from Amazon.

I cannot breathe wearing a cloth mask (asthmatic), so wear the blue and white disposable ones. I cleanse my face really well and put on a thick layer of moisturiser which provides a protective barrier between the mask and your skin. I found a Tea Tree oil cleanser worked best and a thicker layer of your usual moisturiser. It does take around three weeks for this method to work, but Ive found it the best so far.

I had repeated bouts of tonsillitis when I was wearing cloth masks so I switched to the blue medical masks and change them all the time. That stopped the problem. It’s not very environmentally friendly but I have to make sure that I always have a clean mask on to stop me breathing in bacteria.

If your glasses steam up, your mask doesn't fit properly. Get some masks with a nose wire. I find the FFP2 ones the best and wear them on public transport now after seeing all the maskless covidiots there. Seems lots of young men are particularly "exempt".

I've had to wear full PPE including mask and visor 12 hours a day for a year and haven't had any detrimental side effects. I'm 60 with a variety of health conditions.
I think you are being ridiculous.

I refuse to see people who come into my clinic not wearing a mask properly

I'm guessing you are a doctor @Shehasadiamondinthesky?

If you have pre-existing ear/eye problems of course masks can exacerbate this. I've been using my antibiotic/steroid ear-spray too much recently to sort out problems I know the masks are causing. Some people have weaknesses they don't necessarily know about already. Your dismissive attitude is why I have little trust in most (barring a few) health professionals.

@gamerchick

Yeah those people with hidden disabilities have their uses eh? hmm total pisstake of that lanyard and what it's for.

I agree. There are lanyards which state on them mask exempt but the sunflower/hidden disability lanyard has been corrupted by this. The idea is these people may need more time/space/help when in social situations such as shopping etc. amd the lanyard points it out. And now they won't get the required help they need

And yet I have long since run out of fucks to give 🤷🏼‍♀️

That's to the "professionally outraged" on here.

[quote TheRealMrsMorningstar]@gamerchick

Yeah those people with hidden disabilities have their uses eh? hmm total pisstake of that lanyard and what it's for.

I agree. There are lanyards which state on them mask exempt but the sunflower/hidden disability lanyard has been corrupted by this. The idea is these people may need more time/space/help when in social situations such as shopping etc. amd the lanyard points it out. And now they won't get the required help they need [/quote]
Everywhere I go I see those lanyards with that printed mask exempt card hanging off it. It's a total pisstake and yes the message has been lost because it's mentally logged by the eternally dim who think that's what it was invented for.

Boils my piss it does. It's going to need a total reinvention.

The paper pale blue/white disposable masks are the best I think.

I don't understand why people wear the cloth washable ones. They look uncomfortable and like they could become grubby very easily

Off topic, but does anyone have a link to some good smaller sized disposable ones? They are all massive on me. With so many out there, and having bought some duds, a recommendation would be great!

I'm finding the mask wearing is making my allergies and asthma worse. So will try to wear more disposable ones incase it helps!

Wearing a mask makes me cough and the blue paper ones are even worse. I can just about cope with the fabric ones but then they have to be no more than two layers and not too tight against my face as I find they make me claustrophobic. I often think I may as well not be wearing one!

The sooner we can stop wearing the stupid things the better!

Yes, I've been getting dry eyes since I've had to wear masks regularly. Horrible, all sticky and sore.

Not quite so bad in warmer weather but still very unpleasant.

I'd thought it might be the fabric masks, so bought a load of surgical masks and still have exact same problem.

Ophthalmologist agreed it was likely to be mask related, prescribed heat masks and eye drops to keep the tear ducts lubricated.

No trouble with mine or my young child’s masks. But still a bit astonished that many are conveniently self diagnosed when suited to be mask exempt but far from exemplary as seemingly unmasked (not medically assessed unmaskable) are not immune nor a potential click and collect one person super spreading Covid tag hub especially with future evolving variants of vaccine escape.

I'll attach my card to a nice merry rainbow 🌈 lanyard.
Is that better my loves?

You are double jabbed!!!!! In numerous countries this means that people can have greater freedoms, the uk will no doubt follow and if it doesn't then ultimately what is the point of jabs???you have done the decent, considerate thing by getting jabbed so I don't see why you should be having to cope with negative impacts of masks. I'm just waiting for the next multi-resistant superbug to arrive due to the impact of the gallons of handgel everyone is having to slosh around when good old handwashing with soap n water does the trick.

Do you have to for work?

I think where and how you work are probably quite crucial to the advice.

Yeah, I'm going to try a new kind of paper mask with a better nose guard, that's a good idea.

I really think there's no question there's a link, and we're not just talking dry eyes but full-on infections, both eyes and ears. As anyone who's used eye drops knows, there are passages through between the nose and eyes, as well as between the respiratory system and ears.

But I don't want to scare anyone. As as one of you said, hopefully it's not much longer anyway!