Thursday, July 17, 2008

"If the Eye Offends Thee..."


Right about now I would LOVE to pluck BOTH my eyes right out of my head.

Back in February when we moved from the condo to the house, I started experiencing some allergies. Considering that anyone can develop allergies to pretty much anything at anytime, I didn't think a whole lot about it. I assumed that I had developed run-of-the-mill "spring" allergies that were making my eyes itch and water, my throat itch, and my nose run.

Not having had THIS bad of a reaction before, I initially was rubbing my eyes (trying really hard not to, of course) and irritated the skin of the eyelid with my acrylic nails. I assumed I had given myself eczema, and tried to baby the skin as much as possible, and not wear any eye makeup.

When I went to Portland for the wedding, it got better, enough that I was able to withstand having my eyebrows waxed (which I clearly could use again) and wear makeup regularly (just in time for my wedding).

Once I returned to Key West, so the affliction returned to my face.

In the past three months since the wedding it has gotten worse and worse. I wake up in the morning with swollen, crusty eyes that are bright red.

I have developed bags and skin tags that are not seeming to go away.

I gently wash the area with alternately a cold washcloth, hot washcloth, and eye scrubs, then follow up with neosporin, hydrocortisone cream, Burt's Bees eye cream, or Temple Spa calming lotion.

I also hold a bag of frozen veggies on my eyes to try and get the swelling to go down to the point where I can see.

The itching has started to gain ground, now affecting my cheeks and chin.

Yes, I should stop whining and go to a dermatologist, but I don't know any in Key West and medical care of any sort down here is somewhat of a joke.

I am surviving on a cocktail of Claritin during the day and half a Benadryl to sleep at night.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Holy Cow! Don't pluck your eyes out, you need them. Mabey your allergic to Stinkerbell.... Mabey you should try washing your face with something gentle like cetaphil and not put unscented face cream on it or none at all. Connors doctor recommeded the cetaphil wash and lotion for his skin also hydrocortisone applied about three times a day. Hope you can see better!

Anonymous said...

Move back to portland.


problem solved....

Micah

Anonymous said...

Ouch! YOu definitely need to see a doctor - your eyes are immportant.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Micah.

robkroese said...

Damn, that sucks. My parents just moved back to Michigan from Florida and feel much better about the quality of medical care. Florida can be kind of scary (especially way the hell down where you are).

Anonymous said...

Maybe you are turning to the dark side...

Angela said...

Ouch, honey! That looks like it hurts like hell. I'm thinking that Key West or no, we've got to find you a decent doc who can help. Oh, and there's always moving back to Portland. ;)