Eye discharge with tight red burning facial skin

[Paul Farin]

I have a white/clear discharge from both eyes accompanied with tight  burning facial skin. My skin also has a sheen to it.  It feels as is someone has poured clear glue all over my face.  My face is also producing a great deal of histamine and it is very itchy.  The tight, itchy, and shiney skin stretches from the forhead to the neck, but is nowhere else.  Is it possible that I am having an allergic reaction to my glasses?  If so, does it have to do with the lenses (coatings or otherwise), or could I be allergic to the metal in the arms.  The glasses are rimless.  The whole thing is very uncomfortable, and increases with intensity as the day goes on. I've been living with this for several years, and it has gotten worse ever since I purchased a new set of eyeglasses.

[AMA17]

It seems like you should really try to visit an allergist or a dermatologist quickly! That seems very uncomfortable... You may also have some kind of severe food allergy? You've been living with this for several years?!? It COULD be your glasses, but it could be many other things... please visit your primary care doc & see what they would suggest, a specialist will most likely be needed... good luck.

[borninquisitive]

I wouldn't think this is due to your glasses, unless after a time of having them off, finds a recession of your problem.

I think you need to see a doctor. Though, don't fret.

~Kate

[Paul Farin]

Thanks for the advice, however I've been to allergists for patch testing and food testing (nada), dermatologists who have no idea, and every other type of doctor you could think of.  I've been doing this for years, and my hopes of finding a cure are fading. THIS forum is really my last hope. The intensity of the facialpain is surreal.  My face is covered with a shiney gooey substance which is most pronounced on the cheeks, around the eyes, and forhead.  Nobody knows what it is, or why my shiney skin is so tight.  It is as if my body is producing oil, but no moisture to mix with it.  I've tried every type of cream and ointment you can think of to get rid of it, but it never abates.  Equally bad are my eyes.  Again, I've used every type of eye drop (Patanol, Chromium, even Prednisone Eye Drops).  The mucous still collects in the corner and I have to pick it out constantly.   It also coats my eyeballs and is most uncomfortable.  I live in New York City and have tried the NYU Medical Center, Center for Eyes, Nose, Ears and Throat, Columbia U Hospitals. Does anyone have a suggestion of a doctor or another place to try?

[AMA17]

Hi Paul --

Wow, sounds like you've really visited some great places, I can't belive they have not come up with a diagnosis...Did they think it could be Scleroderma?? I think there are many variations of this, here's one link:

http://adam.about.com/reports/000088.htm

In looking into this there was a reference to Diffuse Systemic Scleroderma... here's an excerpt:  "About 95 percent of people with Diffuse Systemic Scleroderma show some early thickening and hardening of the skin, especially of the hands, arms and/or face."


I wonder if it could be something rare like: Harlequin Ichthyosis... it's probably not this exactly, I saw a show on Discovery Health about this extremely rare disorder that causes the skin to overproduce, crack & become infected.

If I were you I would find yet another doctor and insist that they help you figure out the issue... Maybe you can do some research about doctors that have specialties in facial skin disorders - and contact them? I unfortunately do not know of anyone, my aunt is an Ear Nose & Throat doctor -- but I don't think she would know anything about this, I could ask though, I will see her in a few weeks.

I'm sorry you have to go through this - it must be frustrating to look for answers and keep coming up with nothing - but I'm sure if you're persistant you will. I would be hounding doctors left & right until they helped me figure it out.

good luck.

[Paul Farin]

Thanks for your concern.  I was tested for Scleraderma, but my doctor, Dr. Solomon, at the Center for Arthritis and Auto-Immune Disease (part of NYU), guaranteed it is not that.  Same for Crest.  I saw another renowed Dr at the Harris Skin and Cancer Center, Dr. Franks, who believes methotrexate causes these symptoms.  However, Dr. Franks and Dr. Solomon disagree with eachother, and yes they did talk to each other.  Regardless, I have stopped the methotrexate for months now, but still no improvement.  I have exhausted all doctors in the NYC metro area, over 100 in all.  I am currently on Plaquenil, Enbrel, and Prednisone and feel horrible.  Very tired, worsening skin problems, and depression that I've never experienced.  Not sure if any of this is directly related to these meds, or just from suffering from this for nearly nine years.  Prior to being ill, I was the picture of health, with a bright future.  Now, my bones are thin, I have intense pain, fatigue, depression, and feel as though I am 100 years old.  Many days, I simply can not move, but the facial pain is the absolute worse. My skin is so tight, and burns like I've been in an oven.  The color and texture of my skin does not resemble  what it used to look like prior to the becoming ill.  I know this may sound a bit out of the arena of this topic, but I would seriously like to find a way to end things.  I've spent my life savings on trying to find a cure so I'm completely broke, My family and friends have  rejected me because of this (they have their own issues), and I simply have no future. Absolutely no one has any ideas of what this is, nor has anyone seen this before.  I've been everywhere and tried everything.  I no longer have the energy, time, or will to continue searching because I'm deteriorating so fast.
At this stage of the game, I just want out of life.  Assisted suicide is illegal in New York, so I've thought about moving to Washington state.  Does anyone have any info on how to do this?

[AMA17]

WOAH Paul... Please don't think that this is the only answer. I am seriously NOT qualified to discuss this with you, but this is not the answer. I'm sure of it.

Have you sought out help from a psychologist or shrink of some kind? They could possibly help you through the mental challenge of your problems. Been there done that?  Or no?

I know you've seen 100s of doctors but I think there must be someone out there with an answer. The fact that your bones are weak, depression, etc - leads me to believe something internally is causing this. It seems to me you've had every test in the book. Have you been tested for Shingles leading to Neuralgia or MMR?  Have you tried going gluten free before? What about other food diets?

ALSO -- have you visited any chinese herbalists or anything like that? Acupuncture? I know that these herbal remedies/way of life mixed with acupuncture have helped many people. Especially being in the NY area - I'm sure there is an abundance of them.  

It seems that if you've exhausted all of the traditional resources, a more "unusual" source might be the way to go -- the chinese diet & theories are really interesting. I think you could benefit possibly from a new diet - yoga - etc?   Not sure Paul, I'm trying to give you a bunch of different ideas - my last one seems best,  a new method of healing. You could use this to get through the pain and possibly be cured. Please keep me posted of what's going on - try not to give up hope! Please! And try to let your family know how they are negatively affecting you...
keep me posted....

[Paul Farin]

Indeed, I've seen a counselor for years, and she is as lost as I regarding this.  However, I can no longer afford to go.  I've also tried various diets (had food allergy test performed several years ago), as well as Chinese herbs, new age treatments, accupuncture... you name it!

Today I went to the Harris Skin and Cancer Center at the NYU medical center.  The doctor was amazed at how abnormal my skin was.  Patches of shiney skin all over my cheeks.  All of my skin is dark, and the skin on my whole body has a slight sheen. It feels as if someone put crazy glue on my face, and let it dried.  Very surreal.

The doctor thinks that it is something called mucinosis, and ordered blood work.  It could be the residue effect of taking methotrexate, but not sure.  He suggested a biopsy, but I keloid scar and don't want any more trauma in my life.  The week bones could be a result of taking prednisone, and the depression is a normal reaction to this entire mess.  Although the doctor, Dr. Andrew Franks, said there is treatment, he didn't say what the treatment entailed.  Instead, he told me to come back in a month for the results of the blood test.  The blood tests consisted of an immune complex screen (815), Immunolixation, Serum (816), and Ig Quant (IgG, IgM, IgA).  Not sure why he wants me to wait a month to come back, especially since the results will be in within two weeks (I was advised of that by the person taking the blood).  

It is good just to know that the doctor can physically see what I've been saying for years.  The tightness and extra smoothness of the skin was self evident.  Accordingly, this might not be an allergic reaction to something exterior, but an auto-immune related reaction to something.  

The whole thing is still upsetting, for I've spent years upon years of my life trying to deal with this mess.  Moreover, I've seen over 200 doctors, none of which had a clue.  This does not bode well for the medical community, but it's to late to think about that even though I'm now bankrupt trying to figure this out.

The discharge from the eye is still a mystery, however that could be an allergic reaction to the skin.  Still to early to tell.

[AMA17]

Any updates? How are things?