I'd like to hear from DUers who suffered from "pinkeye"

[CatWoman]

how long does it take to go away?

I thought shingles was painful :(

[SarahB]

1. I did, but it wasn't the communicable variety.

My daughter scratched my cornea when she was a baby and I developed an infection. I used some antibiotic eye drops and felt ok again in about 2-3 days.

[bif]

2. A couple days.

I had it about a month ago. Put hot compresses on your eyeballs. It didn't hurt that much, It just looked like a smoked a couple mondo spleefs, though.

[slutticus]

3. You need to go to an eye doctor.

They give you some antibiotic eye drops that also have an analgesic. The analgesic gives immediate relief, and the infection clears up very fast.

I'm not sure how long it would last if you didn't go to a doctor.



Oh...and don't rub your eyes!!!

[CatWoman]

9. I went to the doctor on Friday

and have been using the eyedrops since then.

I went to work yesterday, but the bright light both outside and inside the office building put me in agony.

[retread]

14. If you are told to finish the eyedrops do so even if you think it's

gone.

[Heddi]

18. Yep. Otherwise, you could develop antibiotic resistant strains

which then call for MORE antibiotics that are stronger and cost more and that require longer application time.

Oh, btw, if you're on birth control pills, use a backup method while you're on the antibiotics, as they can reduce the effectiveness of the pill

:)

[liberalnurse]

4. Are you taking prescribed eye drops?

If so, 48 hours at the most.

[Eurobabe]

5. I had it once, eyelids were gummed together

really good. If you haven't already, get thee to a doctor for some eyedrops! Also, it is highly contagious, you have to wash all bed linens, pillowcases, etc. to keep it from reoccuring.

Hot compresses to the infected eye area help to soothe the pain. Hope you feel better soon...

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Tea.. plain old cheap tea bags do the trick.. The tannic acid

ungums the lids in a hurry.

-----------------------------------------------------------
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[Liberal Veteran]

6. A couple of a days...I had it a few times in one year.

Keep a warm moist towel handy. It will help the symptoms.

[MissB]

7. Eye drops - today

Your regular doctor may be able to prescribe them. I was able to call in and get a prescription without being seen. Of course, I have kids so pink eye isn't unheard of.

The drops make it feel better within a day. Using hot water and a wash cloth to clean the eye before putting the drops in will help. It is easy to spread.

[flamingyouth]

8. 2-3 days

And yes, it is highly miserable. Throw out any eye makeup, if you use it. :hug:

[roguevalley]

10. about three days. I think my sister put hot packs on it so that the

duct would drain. Cold is not the cure. Heat is.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. The eye gel is better

it's more soothing and stays in longer than the drops that just leak out. My kid used to give me pink eye all the time because of his allergies and we both liked the gel better than the drops. Gets rid of it faster too. :hi:

[cags]

12. This may sound a little wierd but when I was a kid and we got

pink eye, my mom would mix a drop or two of honey in some warm water and drop it in the eye and it would usually be gone the next day.

[Modem Butterfly]

15. No pain for me

It was just a bit embarssing. It went away in about three or four days once I started on the medicine.

When I was a kid, someone's older sister told me you got Pink Eye from peeing in the street. So, at 27, when I was told I had Pink Eye, the first thing I could think of was, "But I havne't been peeing in the street..."

Oh, that wacky Ja'Donna Adams. From her I learned that Coke is a contraceptive and spring water will remove warts. I don't know where you are now, but I'm sure you're surrounded by misguided children.

[CatWoman]

16. the doctor says it's a virus

but it's no telling where I picked it up.

[Texasgal]

19. Viral's are different

I work as a nurse for an opthomolical practice.

The pain and mattering may go away in a few days, but the virus can stick around for a while. Make sure you use all drops prescribed, wash your hands frequently, do not wear contact lenses and throw away any make-up that has been used in the last few days. Do not rub/touch the infected eye, it can spread easily.

Photophobia is very common with this, to avoid, wear very dark sunglasses and try to stay away from direct light sources.

If you have any other questions you are welcome to PM me! :)

[CatWoman]

21. Thanks, Texasgal

I was getting worried for a while there.

It was so scary trying to drive yesterday.

Now I know how vampires feel :D

[Modem Butterfly]

20. Probably peeing in the street

You dirty, dirty girl.

:)

[CatWoman]

22. LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!

:D

[Heddi]

17. Oooh! Ooh! I'm a nursing student :) Let me tell you

probably what other people have said but I haven't bothered to read the replies yet :)

Okay--get to a Doctor. They'll give you drops to put in your eye (oh. see you already have appt. scratch that).

In the mean-time, get a wash-rag that you dont' mind throwing away in a few days. Put some warm water on it and just hold it over your eye. When the rag cools off, warm it up again (sometimes, wetting it and putting it in the microwave for a few secs will do it). This can ease the pain.

I don't know if you have pinkeye in both eyes or just one, but you want to keep that washrag in a ZIPLOC BAGGIE when you're not using it. Wash your hands THOROUGHLY when you're done touching it. Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) is VERY contagious and can spread from one eye to the other if you're not careful.

Wash wash wash your hands! When I've had it in the past, I kept a bottle of alcohol (rubbing, not drinking :) ) next to me and some paper towels and wiped down EVERYTHING that I used---the remote, the keyboard of the computer (real easy way to spread it, even after you're 'cured). Just wipe things down. The worst thing that can happen is that you get cured and you reinfect yourself!!!

When you wake up in the morning, your eye(s) will probably be crusted over. Don't force your eye open. Take your now-contaminated wash cloth, put some warm water, and let it sit on your eye for a few minutes to soften the crust. When the crust comes off FLUSH IT DOWN THE TOILET---it's infectious as well!!!

Wash your eyes really good before you go to bed, when you wake up, and throughout the day. You can use a paper towel for this or whatever. When you wash, wash from the INSIDE of your eye (towards your nose) to the OUTSIDE of your eye. That will prevent any cross contamination from one eye to the next.

Be really careful about putting your hands in your mouth and try to be really conscious about wiping or rubbing your eye. it's hard, I know, but if you have to rub it, use a wet paper towel or your wash cloth.

Oh yeah---continuously wash off your wash cloth with hot water & soap in between uses, you know, to keep it clean.

Change your pillow cases every morning, again, so that any crust/ooze that got on them won't infect your other eye.

Good luck!!! hope I didn't repeat what too many people said :)

[CatWoman]

26. Thanks, Heddi

you're a doll!! :hi:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

23. That's gross. I don't think I'm gonna talk to you until that clears up!

Glad you went to the doc..I was worried about you...even called Uly and told him to check on you. :hug:

[CatWoman]

27. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

I wanna kick Uly's ass.

When I told him I had to wear an eye patch, he suggested I accessorize with a parrot on my shoulder!!! :hi:

:loveya:

[DrWeird]

24. Here's what I do, it works every time I've had it. Learned from my granny

Take a hot wash cloth and run it under hot tap water. Real hot, just as hot as you can possibly stand. Then hold it up to your eye and hold it there as long as you possibly can, without scalding yourself of course. Repeat a few times, and you'll be just fine in no time.

[catbert836]

25. Don't rub your eyes

Whatever you do.
As for time, it'll go away in 2-3 days as long as you don't (as I said before) claw your eyes out.