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Original poster

After 6weeks of rumbling bacterial conjunctivitis I now have Ocular herpes (coldsores in teh eye). Great

37 replies

SlightlyMadStirrup · 17/04/2009 22:47

Had a nasty bout of conjunctivitis begining of March. Had 3 courses of ABs and every time I stopped it bounced back as bad as ever. The last time was at teh weekend - so no GPs and was improving significantly by Monday morning so decided to let it run it's course.

In the meantime I have had a coldsore. I am pretty sure I have now transferred it to my eye. It is itchier than ever. Feels like I have got shampoo in it - even feels as though I may have scratched in in the corner. It was worse last night when I closed my eye to go to sleep. When I look closely I think I can see a small lesion/blister on the pink fleshy bit near the bridge of my nose.

Oh Joy. I guess I will have this for the rest of my life.

OP posts:
talkingbook · 17/04/2009 23:29

If you think this is the case read this.It needs urgent eye hospital treatment.Phone NHS direct 0845 46 47 if you need more help.

edam · 17/04/2009 23:34

talking's right, you do need to see your GP and get a referral to an eye specialist PDQ.

LuluisgoingtobeanAunty · 17/04/2009 23:35

sounds nasty, definitely get checjed out

gigglewitch · 17/04/2009 23:36

poor SMS

Another vote for what the others say too. Defo get referred, it really does sound like it needs an expert on the job.

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 17/04/2009 23:37

Oh Joy.

It isn't actually on the eyeball. It is on the trangular fleshy bit near the tear duct. I will review tomorrow and go to the alk in centre if no better. TBH I didn't think they would do aything as I know that herpes has to be treated within 24hrs of blister appearing which I think was last night (although I wasn't convinced at the time).

I am suppposed to be on a training course for 2 days next week....

OP posts:
ruty · 17/04/2009 23:44

oh SMS you poor thing, sounds nasty. Shouldn't you really get someone to have a look at it?

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 17/04/2009 23:48

TBH - I don't know if I am imagining it.

I know that the bacterial conjunctivitis hasn't cleared 100%.....and I also know I have a coldsore. Maybe I am seeing things.

I will go to walk In centre tomorrow.

OP posts:
singersgirl · 18/04/2009 08:05

My mum had ocular herpes after a similar bout of bacterial conjunctivitis, and it ended up scarring her tear duct so that she needed surgery to put a drainage tube in. Not meaning to scare you or anything, but you should get it checked out. I think it can cause scarring on the eye itself.

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 18/04/2009 13:16

I got it checked. Saw a GP at walk in centre. He says the fleshy bit is "inflammed" probably start of another bout of conjunctivitis. He can see no specific lesions though - which I can clearly see in the mirror - albeit only from certain angles - so TBH I am not convinced.

His treatment - for me to wash it with plenty of water ...not sure how I actually do that.

Oh and it still bloody stings.

OP posts:
MegBusset · 18/04/2009 13:30

Hi, not sure if this will help but my cat had ocular herpes a few years ago and we were told to give her a lysine supplement (from health food store). It seemed to help clear it up -- might be worth trying?

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 18/04/2009 13:39

Yes I have heard that lysine supplements help herpes in general.

Opinion of GP though is that it isn't herpes.

OP posts:
salome64 · 18/04/2009 18:34

I started getting cold sores round my eyes etc a few years ago (thanks to ds chicken pox reactivating the virus, cheers darling!)

Especially delightful as have bad eczema too....

Lysine has really helped. and catching the early symptoms, ie, feeling fluey, headachy and taking it right way.

But never had it inside eyelid. def get a second opinion if worried, or if in london you can go to Moorfields eye hospital (check they do A&e style stuff, but pretty sure they do).

Nettee · 18/04/2009 18:41

I know someone who has this sometimes - has it this week in fact - and he goes to A&E when it happens at the weekend for fear of going blind - if you don't think your doctor was right go and get it sorted somewhere else

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 18/04/2009 20:55

I am not in London (but do have a local eye A&E I think)

The lesion (whatever it is) is not actually on my cornea or any part of my eye so I am not worried about my vision (at this stage). I will be keeping a close eye on it though. It has been less sore (or at least intermittent) since seeng Dr - so it may in part be physcological.

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 24/04/2009 12:37

Update

My eye etill hurts. Lesion is still present

2 days ago though DD3 (3rd birthday today ) (who has also suffered recurrent conjunctivitis alongside me) was looking a little red in the corner. When I look closely she has a little cluster of blisters in the corner of her eye - just situated on the upper eyelid right over her tear duct. I took her to GP yesterday convinced it was herpes. It looked exactly the same as a coldsore. Anyway - he says no. He says she is not in enough pain (she doesn't sho pain - never has). Anyway he says it is probably excema and has prescribed diprobase (if I need to use it) - only to get me out of surgery.

Anyway -
I didn't trust the walk in centre GP
DD3s GP - I trust completely as a GP - but I am not sure I believe his diagnosis IYSWIM.
I daredn't go back to my GP (which I was going to do yesterday but couldn't get an appointment) despite having had this lesion and pain for a week now because I feel as though I am just being a paranoid difficult mother.

I am however not convinced that neither of us have ocular herpes. I just don't know that there is anything I can do in so far as self help....I guess the fortunate thing is that if either of us have it it isn't actually on the cornea.

OP posts:
LackaDAISYcal · 24/04/2009 20:08

Ouch SMS, sounds nasty

Not sure what to suggest, other than get back to your GP and badger him For a reFerral. The Fact this is still ongoing and seems to recur in the way that a herpes inFection does, makes it look like more than your average eye inFection. I would be concerned that although it seems to be conFined to the eyelids/membranes at the minute, that any irritation might lead to the cornea being scratched (especially in your DD who is probably rubbing at it) and the inFection getting into the eye itselF.

My MIL has pretty bad scarring and ulceration on her cornea and her eye is cloudy. She uses zovirax drops daily and also has steroids when it Flares up (usually two or three times a year). It causes her a lot oF pain and discomFort.

wish I had more words oF wisdom For you. I'll ask MIL tomorrow how hers started though.

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 24/04/2009 21:22

No worries about the capital F....tis a minor inconvenience in terms of getting a useful opinion.

I think that the "potential herpes" is the recent aspect probably as a result of the ongoing non specific conjunctivitis...leading to sub-conscious icthing and transfer of teh herpes when I had a coldsore IYSWIM. I am happy to believe that my "lesion" is something else. It is a single lesion - possibly a blister - but if it was it was/is a single blister so could actually be a bacterial ulcer as a result of chronic infection.

DD3s eyelid looked like a cluster of 6 or so tiny blisters which looked exactly like a coldsore to me.

I just feel that I am not being taken seriously. Our GP is a good GP and generally speaking I trust him implicitly. In this instance though I am being made to feel that I am being a neurotic nuisance. I may be - but I am genuinely concerned - especially for DD. I did try and express my frustration with GP but it fell on deaf ears - hence him giving a prescription for Diprobase for exzema WTF just because (and i quote) "if a prescription will help". I want to believe him. I want to trust him....I just don't want him to be wrong. But I worry that part of his evidence for the diagnosis was the fact that she was "happy and not in obvious pain". She is such an easy going and placid child though. She has had a primary herpes infection which lead to 20+ ulcers in her mouth. She was obviously ill and obviously in pain (given that she wouldn't drink or eat because of pain) she showed no behavioural response to pain. When she had Scarlett Fever (which was another me/MN diagnosis which over-ruled by GP) she was daignosed with a viral rash because she had not shown any sign of a painful throat.

Sorry for ranting. I am hoping you understand why I am ranting. I am not sure I have the confidence to get another opinion...I would feel like I am discrediting the GP.

Anyway i would appreciate it if you could find out how your MILs started...it might help me (in my head if not physcially)

OP posts:
LackaDAISYcal · 24/04/2009 22:23

totally understand why you are ranting. I think GPs all too often dismiss parents' concerns when really we know our children best.

I've just had a chat with DH and he said that his MIL had a scratch on her cornea and the virus got in that way; he's not sure whether it was a primary infection though.

He did suggest though that you could maybe try an optician who does eye health checks and ask for their opinion.

LackaDAISYcal · 24/04/2009 22:24

his DM, not MIL

and my "f" is back......yay

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 24/04/2009 22:39

Hadn't thought about optician.

I think that when I first saw DDs it was blistery. But had fused into one lesion overnight the way they do....so mayve it didn't look the same to GP as it did to me???

GP was not happy when I tried to tell him she doesn't bother with pain. It is the 100% truth...she is a bizaare child - she genuinely doens't bother about pain - it is not the first time that she has been (potentially) misdaignosed on the basis that she "doesn't look ill.
/isn't in pain. I am 99% sure she had scarlet fever (it is sooo charactistic). GP says she couldn't have done because no evidence of sore throat previous.(unless it was inflicted by someone and then she ca snitch on them and get them in trouble).

OP posts:
LackaDAISYcal · 24/04/2009 22:56

I had similar rebuffs when I was in labour with DS1...oh you can't possibly be in labour if the contractions aren't sore MrsDaisy....even though they were off the chart on the CTG! When they eventually examined me I was 6cms dilated!!

You'd think HCPs would be aware that not everyone has the same response to pain

I hope you have some success with the opticians and find out what it is and get the right treatment for it. keep me posted.

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 24/04/2009 23:20

DD3 is 3 (and 2hrs, 2 mins ) BTW just to put my concern into context...

OP posts:
Flamestorm · 25/04/2009 13:53

Your DD3 and DS are so similar in their pain responses! Looking back now I am stunned that dude was so vocal about the herpes pain - makes me realise just how ill he was.

I wish I had some advice, but I don't I had a friend give me some aciclovir tablets (yes, highly wrong etc) ages back along with the correct doses for DS's body weight etc at the time (she was an ex pharmacist) in case of another flare up. I feel like you need a friend like her

Original poster
SlightlyMadStirrup · 25/04/2009 13:55

I do have some acyclovir eye ointment in the cupboard which was prescibed for DD3s thumb herpes as it would be safe on her mucous membranes when she sucked her thumb.

I don't want to put aything in her eye which has been open 18m though because of the bacterial conjunctivitis risk.

OP posts:
Flamestorm · 25/04/2009 14:06

Ooh yes - you need some of that, but in date

(Love that you don't want to use it, but still have it )

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