FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CAN ANYTHING STOP MY EYES FROM WATERING?

NoSunshine

Hi All:

I just finished 6 rounds of Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin (the Herceptin will continue for 17 more treatments) one month ago tomorrow.  My Onc. wanted me to go to an optometrist but I said no more medical bills...yet he wouldn't write a prescription for my eyes.  The watering is driving me INSANE!  I don't know why I even bother with eye makeup in the morning...it's all gone by 10 AM.  I've searched the boards and even Google but I've not found anything that works (which may be my answer).  I've been taking antihistamines, every type of eye drop at the drug store and NOTHING works.  It does seem to be slowing down but not quick enough for me.  Does anyone know of anything that will provide immediate releif without going to yet another doctor.  Thanks!!

Carol

ibcmets

Carol,

I had 8 months of chemo and had the same problem with my eyes endlessly tearing.  Antihistamines worked a little for me as well, but not completely.  I've been off chemo since Feb and finally my eyes are not watering anymore.

Terri

suzie14

Carol, I am sorry to tell you I really don't think there is anything but time that will resolve the watering eyes. I had TAC and almost during the entire course of chemo,  not only did my eyes water but my nose dripped all over everything....talk about some embarrassing moments!  Now I no longer have the problem, in fact my eyes are too dry.  Hang in there, lady, you can do this,

gentle hugs

badgerfan

I am receiving my 2nd dose of taxatere tomorrow. I, too have the watery eyes and drippy nose. I started taking 24hour Claritine. It seems to have helped-my eyes don't tear up and drip down my cheeks...however, they remain very wet. My nose has also dried up. Good luck to you.

sushanna1

Carol,

It's probably the taxotere.  Unfortunately, you really should see a specialist eye doctor since taxotere can cause tear ducts to constrict or close up entirely which contributes to the tearing.  Sometimes they reopen, sometimes not.  I had artificial tubes put in to open the tear ducts, but after having the tubes pop out at inconvenient times, I saw a new doctor and learned to manage the problem by using artificial tears or preservative free eye drops such as Genteal.  (The tubes looked like a really thin rubber band or the type of elastic that sometimes pops out of underwear.)  To my astonishment, last year, one of the constricted tear ducts reopened--7 years after chemo.  

Good luck.  You might check the board for older discussions on the same topic.

Sue 

NoSunshine

Thanks everyone for the replies and encouragement!  Today I have noticed that they aren't tearing so bad that tears are rolling down my face...I guess that's a sign that they might be improving.  As with everything with this cancer I guess it will take some time to clear up....it's just driving me crazy!  Thanks again for the replies.

blondie45

Since you are done with your infusions except for herceptin I am not sure I can help. I had Taxol and not taxotere but my eyes started watering with the AC. They drove me nuts so I know what you are talking about. I started instilling lubricating drops during the infusions and it helped somewhat. I also had punctal plugs put in which helped a little also, but in your case the tearing should get better soon, I think mine did for maybe 3 months after I was done with the AC and Taxol.

TriciaK

I had the same problems right through my eighteen months of chemo/herceptin and found nothing to allieviate it.  I had tissue's in every pocket!!!

It will ease once chemo is done, but until then I suffered with it too.  

Tricia x

Traci-----TripNeg

Carol,

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this crap. I hope it's okay that I tell you a short story to explain why the title to your post made me laugh out loud. Maybe it'll put a smile on your face as well.

A long time ago (no idea when really, since my memory is gone) me and some family members took a road trip from the Tampa Bay, Florida area to Atlanta to see one of my sisters. We headed back home for the 8+hour drive on a Sunday in the early afternoon much to my brother's dismay, as he was going to miss pro football. He decided that having a cold beer might ease his stress.

Well in Georgia they didn't (might not still?) sell beer on Sundays. It was a four hour drive to the Florida state line. When we crossed the state line, he made us stop at the first place to get beer.

We quickly found out the state of Georgia caught onto that and so you have to drive like 3 or 4 exits (or maybe 10 - damn memory!) to get alcohol. So, when we got to whatever exit it was, the girl at the counter said we had to turn right to get to the store that sells beer.

We get to the edge to turn right, and all you can see is road. It looks like the road goes on forever, with nothing else in site. Those of us not dying for a beer tried to convince him to go further down the interstate, until we see something on the side of the road. My brother, more aggitated than ever said "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE TURN RIGHT!"

Thank you so much for reminding of that time, where my brother like always, had me laughing to the point of tears.

Hang in there Sister.

(((((hugs))))) Traci

NoSunshine

Thank you Traci--That was a funny story!  I moved to The Woodlands (N. of Houston) last year from the Tampa, FL area.  I really miss that area... and want to move back there some day soon!!  Thanks again...you made me laugh!!

 Carol

NoSunshine

TriciaK---I can relate to the tissues in every pocket and it sucks when you forget to remove them before washing clothes!!! 

I think we all should buy stock in Kleenex!!

Carol

Anonymous

  Carol,  I had the constant tearing and had surgery done to correct it.  They put plugs in my eyes which as I understand it created new tear ducts.  Since the chemo caused mine to close off I had tears flowing down my face all the time...it was uncomfortable, embarrassing and a big fat PIA.  I was always wiping the tears away and don't ask my why I just didn't tell people what was going on, but I would say Oh, my allergies are just awful this time of year.  My face was actually chapped from being wet all the time and the skin around my eyes looked 20 yrs older than it had before all this started.  I had the plugs in....canulae I think they were called, for about four months....the lower two I accidently pulled out a week before they were due to be removed.  I had loose funky nails from the chemo also and they caught on them when I was rubbing my eye and whoops.....and then I did the same thing on the other eye a few days later.  So I think they were ready to come out.  Then the opthalmalogist removed the upper ones.  And I am happy to say it was a success.  I know what you mean about the eye makeup....I couldn't even put it on because my eyes were so wet.  And believe me I needed some eye liner since I had no lashes at the time.  I would not have known that there was a surgery they could do, actually would not have known that this was all due to my tear ducts clogging up, if  I  had not been talking to some nice woman in the treatment room who had the same problem.  She said go right away because they may be able to correct it unless you wait to late so I went, right away.  I could not believe my onco didn't tell me what was going on.....I complained about watering eyes and his only comment was oh that's from the chemo.  I was on abraxane which is a member of the taxol family. 

   You live in The Woodlands....that is where I stayed when I went to MDAnderson last fall for a consult.  A friend went with me and her friend lives there.....very nice area.  We ate at a nice restaurant called Jaspers that I think was close by.  We weren't really close to MDAnderson, but it was so nice to have a homebase and someone to stay with.  One day we went on a tour of an ice cream factory....Blue Bell.  Ummmm, good....we don't have it in OH.