[bondgirl]

#1058709

The subject says it all! I am avoiding salt like a good girl, I didn’t use it much anyway. Would diuretics help at this point with puffy eye lids?

Also eye stuff flared in March 2011, red, red watery eyes, sore and pain, some minor puffiness. Now my eyes are not so red anymore, and the constant tearing has stopped. YAY! My new thing is a puffy upper lid, and lower lid in the morning. The puffiness was there in the beginning, but seemed to go away, now it has returned. I am inclined to think no redness, no tearing, am I getting better?! Does anyone know if you can one day return to being able to look upwards and it not hurt like heck?

Thanks!
Graves dx’d 1997

[Bobbi]

#1169494

We’re not doctor’s here, and it seems to me that whether or not diuretics should be considered would depend entirely on what is causing the puffiness in your eye lids. And, that needs to be decided by a doctor. If the problem is thyroid eye disease, then the puffiness isn’t really swelling: it is the fat pads at the front of the eyes being pushed forward a bit by eyes that are being pushed a bit forward by the swelling of eye muscles. If its an allergic reaction to something, diuretics wouldn’t help either. So the best thing you can do is check with your doctor.

[Kimberly]

#1169495

Hello – I attended a Q&A session on Thyroid Eye Disease earlier this year, and the doctor said that TED can result in increased production of "hydrophilic" substances such as hyaluronic acid…which can lead to fluid retention in the facial area. He recommended cold compresses and also keeping an eye on sodium intake.

Agree with Bobbi that diuretics are *not* a good idea without talking to your doctor first. Side effects can include dizziness, headaches, joint disorders, and muscle cramps. You don’t want to trade one problem for another!

[haydenx7]

#1169496

I had about 6 weeks of these kind of symptoms, then got double vision because my left eye is being pushed out of alignment. After about 4 weeks of increasing worse double vision I was diagnosed with TED. I take diuretics for an unrelated issue and did not notice any difference when I forgot to take them for about a week. In my case, this disease has hit lightning quick and because diagnosis took so long I’ve reached the point where I can’t drive and still have over 3 weeks to go before I see the eye specialist who can prescribe steroids to calm down the inflamation. My advice is to make the appointments you need to make now and get in to see the eye doc as soon as possible just in case your symptoms are Graves related. Sooner is better with this one. Good luck to you, to me and to all of us.

[snelsen]

#1169497

welcome to the board!!!
I Agee with all that everyone said in the prior posts. Do find an eye doc familiar with TED, a neuro/ eye doc even better.
I am a health professional, but this is not my role on the board. But I feel very comfortable stating that diuretics are very complex, and can really be dangerous. There is much to know and understand about them. There needs to be a good indication, with very careful monitoring of labs

Regarding your eye symptoms, I can tell you that my experience with TED began exactly the same as your symptoms. nd it really HURT a lot to look up. AS I look back, one of the first things I did when my eyes got so uncomfortable, was to become a big fan of cold washcloths and cold compresses. it felt SO GOOD!!!also eye drops.
I hope you can ask around for a good eye doc. If you live in a small town, it is not likely that there is a neuro/eye doc, If you are in or near a metropolitan center, and/or a university, you will probably find one. when/if you call, be sure to describe your eye symptoms. sometimes, insurance or the office may require a referral. Like endos, their practices are super busy.
shirley

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