ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Eye Issues => Topic started by: texsooner on October 19, 2008, 09:44:54 am
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Can anyone relate to this? I just went out on this beautiful morning northwest of Houston to run a few miles to continue training for the half marathon in Houston(that I hope I can complete in January). About a 1/2 mile into the run, I realized I forgot my sunglasses that I usually have on outside to protect my AN induced dry eye. My eye didn't feel bad, so I kept running. After about a mile, I noticed that my AN side eye felt like it had a lot of moisture in it...I thought ok...must be sweat, but my good eye didn't feel that way. I thought to myself maybe the jostling up and down was helping to trigger tear production again. That maybe wishful thinking, but wondered if anything similar has happened to anyone out there. Throughout the whole run(6 miles), tears never came rolling down my face, but I ran for almost an hour without having an issue with the eye(which has been unusual for me since surgery). However, as I sit here 30 minutes afterwards, I feel the eye drying out again and will have to put drops in. Trying not to get my hopes up too high, but I was hoping this might be a good sign for future tear production and less eye problems. Comments?
Patrick
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Good luck with your training and race! That's awesome.
Trish
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Patrick,
If I ever actually run 6 miles (or walk it, for that matter!), I'll get back to you on the issue! ;D
I can say that my eye does seem to produce tears quite randomly. Mine was dry most of the day yesterday, as we were outside a lot and we had very low humidity, but then we sat down to visit some friends, and all of a sudden, I had tears dripping out of my eye. Then later on, it was dry again. I have also noticed (and there was a thread about it on here recently) that when I do anything that would raise my body temperature - exercise, brisk walking, yard work - my eye tears more and my nose runs. I think the nose running is actually from the excess tears draining through the tear ducts.
Maybe when that nerve starts to come back, it only comes back in spurts? It tears a little and then tires out? Just a thought, I have no medical evidence to back that up, but since no doctors seem to be able to make sense out of it, I figure I can't be too far off the mark! :D
I would say that it is a good sign for the future if you are producing any tears at all. Some are definitely better than none, but it's probably something that will continue to improve. Hopefully!!
And good luck with your training! I'm really impressed by all the runners and other athletes we have here.
Lori
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Hi Patrick,
Same thing happens to me... when I exercise or when my core body heat increases. Oh I call them my million dollar tears (they are worth soo much). ;D My nose also starts flowing - I look kind of funny while I am running ... eye running, nose running. As soon as I stop running it starts to dry up again. Hey I will take it. Funny how are bodies work.
I am hoping that it is the lacrmal (sp?) gland waking up and saying "Hey I am here be patient, I am slowly waking up."
Happy running...enjoy your million dollar tears.
Michelle ;)
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I have the eye tearing and nose dripping with eating now on my left side which is the side of my recent surgery but no facial paralysis. I have had it in the past on the right when had the other surgeries and facial paralysis but don't now. I do get rt nose running but at miscellanous times. I have heard various explanations for all of this. One is that tearing from the eye is a symptom of dry eye. Another is that there is a petrosal nerve which also can have some damage. There is another reason that involves the facial nerve which my wonderful forgetfulness since this last surgery will not let me remember.
I met a lady in Florida who has hers only when she plays golf. My left side issue didn't even start till a good 3 months past surgery.
Cheryl R
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Thanks for the feedback Cheryl, Lori and Trish. Michelle, sounds like your experience may be a little similar to mine, but I've yet to actually shed a tear from my dry eye since surgery. I never have cried much(it's a man thing), but I'd love to feel a tear roll down my face from my AN side eye in the near future...and I'd be proud to say I cried!
This Friday I'm going to a follow up doc visit and plan to have a discussion about this eye.
Patrick
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Patrick~
I could count on one hand the number of times in the first 12 years that my eye teared - literally. Then in March, I had the T3 for my smile & it teared ALL the time - drove me crazy. It has settled down now & happens occasionally. It happens more when I am working out. I have always been a HUGE "nose-runner" when I am doing anything remotely strenuous.
K
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Kewl Patrick let us know what he says. I keep forgetting to ask.
Michelle ;D
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At least you know the tear duct isn't plugged. :D I guess you have an indication of good things to come when the facial nerve gets completely smoothed out again.
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My nose on my AN side has been very dry as well(since surgery 8/11), although it's gotten a little less dry in the last couple of weeks. Just curious Cheri, is your AN side eye normal or is it dry?
Patrick
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patrick, hi my name is bill recent surgery in july o8 so happy you r running with my dizziness id probly run in circles, i too notice my eye tearing with increased activity i also get an afternoon tear spell usually around 3/4 pm a probalbe explanation may be a sympathetic response to physical stress ie: exercise ( you know the fight or flight response) your body will do unexpected things if challenged, keep up the good work bill(inphiladelphia)
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Hey Cheri-
I have the same thing - my non-AN side nose runs like a darned sieve when I eat. Drives me crazy. I meant to ask my doc about it when I was there last week, but totally forgot. I'll ask him next time.
For all we non-tearers - I tried chopping onions the other day (sans onion goggles) just to see if my right eye would tear. The left eye was cascading, but not a thing from the right eye. Oh well. Maybe later....
Debbi, hankie in hand
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Debbi,
That's funny, I was thinking the other day of doing the onion thing to see if I could force some tear action. I still might give it a shot. I have a lot of eye questions for my doctor visit this Friday.
Patrick
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Debbie, I'm shocked that you would invest in onion goggles and then choose not wear them for the express purpose intended.
Sara
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I could be wrong and hope that I am but I don't think that the changes in ones eye during exercise means that it's the beginning of better things to come. First off keep in mind that I had a Facial Neuroma not an AN and my eye doesn't tear at all during normal activity. On the other hand if I cough really hard, choke or work out a long time my eye will water. When I had my surgery back in 92 I was bound and determined to participate in the local fun run called Bloomsday. I broke my leg in May just after the annual walk/run then had the Facial Neuroma surgery in June. My goal was to walk the 7.5 mile course the next May. I started training in early spring and was over joyed to find that when I really got going I didn't need to put very much ointment in my eye (usually every 15 minutes), that was great as I really didn't cherish the idea of stopping every few minutes on the course to do so.
The down side of exercise as some of you have mentioned is the fact that the Neuroma side of my nose runs like crazy. When I'm working in the yard I'm using the kleenex for the nose and my eye, either to wipe off the ointment below my eye or the excess water from my eyes when I really get working hard. The joke at the eye doctors is that I should either, cough, choke or exercise all the time so my eye will water! Jill ::)
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Sara, I know, I know. Why would anyone in their right mind miss any opportunity to wear such a stunning fashion statement! I plan to wear them on Thanksgiving just to give the elder Italians in our family something to talk about! ;D
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Patrick,
I have a slightly different experience, when I eat, especially in the A.M. my AN side eye pours like a faucet. I do not have tears on this side when I cry, which I do on occasion. (a girl thing?) I spoke to a Facial Retraining Specialist and was told this could be due to mixed signals to the nerve as it regenerates. I was sent a Facial and optical nerve specialist and he suggested Botox to stop the tearing. He did say if the injection was not done correctly my eyelid may droop but just until the Botox wears off. Bonus!!
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I had my 10 week post op visit with Dr. Chang(Houston). I thought the main purpose was to review the MRI that I did 2 weeks ago, but he said that this one would be used as the baseline to look for changes going forward. He said that when the dye is injected for the MRI, it lights up lots of particles and it's difficult to know what's what, but he said I didn't need to be concerned. I thought this was odd, but maybe it's not. He will look for changes in the next MRI.
He rated me a #2 on the facial movement scale(I know there must be an official term for that scale...what is it?). I was happy, as I know 4 weeks post op, he had me at a #3. I was prepared with a lot of questions for my dry eye, as that's really the only issue that I'm dealing with of any significance. He said my blink on the AN side eye is not as strong as it needs to be and is causing the eye to dry out quickly. I told him that I thought the main problem was that there is no tear production in that eye. I told him I researched this quite a bit and that my lacrimal gland(tear producing gland) must have been compromised in the surgery. I also asked him about the prescription eye drop, Restasis, as I've read that this stimulates tear production in some people with dry eye. He agreed to give this a try and wrote me a prescription. He still thinks I need to be patient as he believes my eye will improve on its own over time. My wife tells me all the time that I need to be more patient in the recovery process...guess they are right, but it is frustrating at times.
Anyway, in the overall scheme of things, I feel very blessed and thankful that I recovered as well as I have from the surgery. I know there are many people dealing with much more difficult issues.
Patrick
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Here is a quote from the Bell’s Palsy website
“For many, although the lacrimal gland produces tears, without a blink the tears cannot coat the eye. The eye may appear to be tearing excessively. It actually only seems that way because the tears are not being spread over eye, but instead are collecting in the limp lower lid or running out of the eye. Or, the eye may tear excessively, especially while chewing. We refer to this as "Crocodile Tears". Crocodile tears can occur from the onset of Bell's palsy, or can develop during recovery.�
Here is the link
http://www.bellspalsy.ws/eye.htm
I notice that my best facial function is after I exercise and get my heart rate up. I think the fact the we are getting the circulation going has something to do with the nerves firing better.
To me you have proven how important exercise is in our recovery process… although I am not up to a marathon (hats off to you). These past 2 months, with my kids back at school, I have done an astronomical amount of driving. My exercise routine has slipped, I have put on some weight – and I have had a regression in my facial function recovery.
As soon as the sun is up over the horizon – I plan to get out for a power walk… You have motivated me to get off my duff …and back at it. I live where there are no street lights – so once the sun is up I cannot make anymore excuses. .. I only had crocodile tears 2 days after surgery- never since. If I have tears they never come from the Bells Palsy affected side…I’ll be sure to through a party when they do. I think you should celebrate! ;D
DHM
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Thanks for the info DHM. Everything use said makes a lot of sense, and I can relate to it. I also agree with you that exercise and working towards something can make a difference in the recovery process.....keep going on the power walking.
Patrick
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Hey there,
I have been going through the same thing with my AN eye (I'm also a runner). I finally went to the eye doc and he said that the excess tear production is actually the eye trying to compensate for the dryness. He put me on drops during the day and a thicker drop at night. After about a week my eye has stopped tearing, either during exercise or any other time. I will stay with the drops until my next appointment
Best wishes,
Marci