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Please please tell me what to do about my eye [self pity emoticon]

17 replies

PuhPeng · 10/04/2008 18:56

I've got what I'm fairly sure is conjunctivitis in one eye. It won't go away. I read that my body will have no interest in fixing my eye as it's concentrating on the baby.

I really don't want conjunctivitis right now. My due date is less than a week away and I wanted to get my eyelashes dyed before having the baby (am very very fair and don't look great in photos).

I know it's really really not a big deal in the big scheme of things, before anyone tells me to get a grip. It's just, I'm tired and everything hurts and I am enormous and I could do without a manky, sore, red, puffy, gungy, oozing eye as well.

I assume no antibiotics as am pg - right?
Will anything else work?
Have tried Optrex baths which sooth but don't fix it.

OP posts:
ScienceTeacher · 10/04/2008 18:58

Go to the doctor

Fullmoonfiend · 10/04/2008 19:07

Well I know many different natural things you can try, none of which will hurt you in your pg state.
But first

  1. wash yur hands frequently
  2. do NOT wear make up until it has cleared up and maybe replace your eye make up with new to avoid re-infection

Raw juices of certain vegetables, especially carrots and spinach, have been found valuable in conjunctivitis.

Vitamins A and B2 have proved useful in conjunctivitis. Foods rich in vitamin A are wholemilk, curds, butter, carrots, pumpkin, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, mangoes, and papaya. Foods rich in vitamin B2 are green leafy vegetables, milk, almonds, citrus fruits, bananas, and tomatoes.

Conjunctivitis treatment using Coriander
A decoction prepared with a handful of dried coriander in 60 ml of water is an excellent eye-wash in conjunctivitis. It is said to relieve burning and reduces pain and swelling. This decoction should, however, be sparingly used by persons suffering from bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis.

A cold water compress on the eyes provides almost immediate relief. fold a small hand towel, saturate it with cold water, squeeze out excess water and place the towel gently over both the eyes. It should be covered with a piece of warm cloth to retain the temperature. The process should be repeated as soon as the cold water towel cloth becomes warm. Do this for an hour. The eyes should then be covered with a dry towel, and lie back and relax. Helps damaged eye tissues return to normal.

An old traditional remedy for this is to apply a poultice made of raw grated apples.

Put some salt in boiled, cooled water. Dip some cotton balls. Close your eyes and place the salted cotton balls on top of your infected eye. Remain in this position for about 5 minutes.

Cucumber juice or witch hazel are also useful. As is chamomile tea (cold on cotton wool pad)

Application of grated potato with a teaspoon of oil is also said to be effective.

or you could ask your pharmacist if there are any over-th-counter remdies which are safe to use

PuhPeng · 10/04/2008 19:09

Am afraid that would involve waiting an hour and a half in a hot, smelly waiting room with a bored toddler only to be told either there's nothing I can have as am pg, or there is something I can have but I'll come home, google it and decide it's not something I want to take while pg.

OP posts:
PuhPeng · 10/04/2008 19:11

X-post Fullmoonfiend.

THANK YOU!

I love you and will try some or all of your suggestions!

OP posts:
ScienceTeacher · 10/04/2008 19:13

Eye ointments are very effective, and since they are topical, will not affect your baby.

cmotdibbler · 10/04/2008 19:35

You can buy antibiotic eye drops over the counter in a pharmacy which are very effective.

HereComeTheGirls · 10/04/2008 20:05

I'm afraid the eye drops over the counter contain chloramphenicol which is a BIG no no if you are pregnant. Boiled water with some salt in it, wiped over the eye with some cotton wool, is very effective!!

Fullmoonfiend · 10/04/2008 20:20

well, as a veteran of eye infections...

of course, there is no guarantee that any of these will work for you (but seriously, try eating some of the foods suggested anyway...)

But trying out that little lot may at least distract you from your oozing misery

Janni · 10/04/2008 20:30

Ask your local pharmacist - I always do that first to try to avoid the GP. Colled, boiled, water with salt in it, applied with a fresh piece of cotton wool each time. Lots of rest.

Please please forget about the makeup and the eyelash dyeing. I'm sure you're just beautiful!

Janni · 10/04/2008 20:30

that should say 'cooled'

PuhPeng · 10/04/2008 20:32

Well the salt water was really soothing and hopefully did some good.

What's next?!

Have just read on another thread that conjunctivitis is really really bad news for tiny babys so now I am worrying about more than not looking nice on my post birth photos.

OP posts:
windygalestoday · 10/04/2008 20:32

is it an old wives tale to use warm milk???

Fullmoonfiend · 11/04/2008 12:06

windy, it is an old wives' tale but welders use it to help when they get arc-eye or whatever you call it, so perhaps it actually does work!

Puhpeng, meant to say yesterday - the other really important thing is to give your eyes plenty of rest. Sadly that means cut right down on computer screen time/TV/reading. But especially computer time

PuhPeng · 11/04/2008 12:18
OP posts:
Janni · 11/04/2008 12:29

Glad it's feeling better.

PuhPeng · 11/04/2008 19:26

Wahhhhhhhh!

Now I've burned the skin under the eye (impatient for 'cooled' boiled water to cool down) and not realised and aggrivated it with salt water.

[wally]

OP posts:
Fullmoonfiend · 11/04/2008 19:32

lol but in a sympathetic way...at least you've probably boiled the nasty bacteria away!

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