water bags under eys

[gbrownv]

under my eyes swell up and fill with water its very uncomforatable.


This discussion is related to SWOLLEN EYES.

[Dr Santos]

How are you? Puffy eyes are a condition where the eyes begin swelling due to different factors. This is because the skin around the eyes is very thin and is full of blood vessels which make it very sensitive. The reason for this puffiness include fluid retention, stress, allergies or hormone changes. What you can do is to wash face with ice cold water, limit sodium intake, drink plenty of water to clean out your system, cucumber and tea bags.   For allergies and puffy eyes, find out the item causing the allergic reaction and minimize its use. If this persists, you can see your doctor for further evaluation and management.

Take care and regards.
  

[laaz]

Doctor Santos  I too have the puffy water filled feeling under my eyes, they also have a bluish,discoloration . An ENT doctor told me that I have VASOMOTOR RHINITIS and that I can have the swelling and discoloration from vasomotor rhinitis. I have Chronic post nasal drainage as well, I have had this for 6 yrs. now.  I use nasal rinses twice a day for 6 yrs.  Tried every steroid nasal spray that was ever invented and also was even on oral steroids for 3 weeks - that did not help either.  Am I going to have to live with this until I die?  Nothing helps me and I feel so hopeless and desperate.  Why don't they ever do research on nonallergic or vasomotor rhinitis?  These problems with the post nasal drainage 24/7 , coughing, swelling of under eyes has changed how I look- people I know comment on how old this makes look.  I don't like the person I have become from  this, crabby, short  tempered,  tired. sore throat from constant drainage.  Is there any hope for Vasomotor rhinits in the future???  I thought oral steroids are suppose to help with vasomotor rhinitis?  Does the swelling  and discoloration undereyes from vasomotor rhinitis ever go away?   I aslo have swelling upper cheeks, almost to temple area and swelling on the side of of nose on the outside of my face.   Please rely Doctor - there are so many of us people that are in desperate need of a cure , these nasal problems might not be life threatening but they sure can change a person and make there life a living hell.  Is that why there is no reasearch being done because it is not life threatening?

[Dr Santos]

Hi Ma'am,
How are you? Vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) is believed to be caused by oversensitive or excessive blood vessels in the nasal membrane to such stimuli as changes in weather, temperature, or barometric pressure, chemical irritants such as smoke, ozone, pollution, perfumes, and aerosol sprays, psychological stress and emotional shocks, certain types of medications, alcohol, and even spicy food.

I agree with you that the pathology of vasomotor rhinitis is in fact not very well-understood and more research is needed. Since this is more common in women than men,  researchers believe that hormones play a role.Sadly though, Rinsing usually is the the preferred treatment, as the effects can be dramatic, but must be done daily and will become a lifetime daily ritual for those with severe disease.

Vasomotor rhinitis cannot be cured completely but can be brought under a measure of control. Treatment of VMR is patient-specific and require the care of a physician. Aside from avoiding the irritants, there are a number of medications that are effective. However, in your case, they seems to be not working.

If the rhinitis does not respond to drug therapy, very rarely surgical procedures can be considered. Some of the procedures that have been performed in the past include:
1) Cryosurgery affects the mucosa and submucosa, making it a quite successful procedure for congestion. However, there is sometimes prolonged post-operative nasal congestion and the possibility of damage to the nasal septum.
2)Vidian neurectomy disrupts both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers to the mucosa and it mainly diminishes rhinorrhea.
(http://www.allergyclinic.co.nz/guides/50.html)

I hope this helps. Take care and keep us posted.

[laaz]

I posted on June 19 th and thank you for your reply.  I spoke with one the the ENT doctors at our Medical College, his respones regarding Vasomotor Rhinits is that it is caused from autonomic imbalance. My vasomotor  rhinitis started after I had explosive dirrhea when I was in the Dominican Republic on vacation, the next night we flew home, that night I had a sensation of pain or a jab feeling way up high behind my nose - then secretions were like water running down back of throat for about 10 -15 seconds then stopped as fast as it started, then I felt thick secretions behind nose and that was 6 yrs. ago. How is the autonomic nervous system affected from irritants or change of wheather etc?  Now I have chronic thick post nasal drainage and watery eyes.  Is there any hope in the near future for a cure for this terrible condition? Thank you again Doctor.    Laaz

[Dr Santos]

How are you? The autonomic nervous system controls the blood supply into the nasal mucosa and the secretion of mucus. Either a hypoactive sympathetic nervous system or a hyperactive parasympathetic nervous system can engorge these vessels, creating an increased swelling of the nasal mucosa, and thus congestion. Activation by weather changes or irritants can also increase mucosal secretions leading to excessive runny nose as well as post nasal drip.

There are a lot of studies being done on autonomic dysfunction on vasomotor rhinitis, however, they are still in the animal model stage and may yet prove to be of value.

I hope this helps. Avoiding known environmental triggers as much as possible is advised and regular follow up will hopefully control the rhinitis. Take care and keep us posted.

[laaz]

Thank you very much for replying so fast.  After 6 yrs. and no relief, I hope the studies find something to help us people with this problem. Sorry to bother you but how many stages of a study and if they found something that would help would it take before it would reach the public for tx.?        Thank you       Laaz

[Dr Santos]

Hi Ma'am,

Clinical trials are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for new drugs or devices. Potential drugs are first have to be discovered, purified, characterized, and tested in labs (in cell and animal studies) before ever undergoing clinical trials.The drug-development process will normally proceed through all four phases over many years. Pre-clinical studies involve in vitro  or laboratory studies and trials on animal populations. Phase 0 is a recent designation for exploratory, first-in-human trials conducted in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA). This is administration of single subtherapeutic doses of the study drug to a small number of subjects (10 to 15) to gather preliminary data. Phase I trials are the first stage of testing in human subjects (20-80). Once the initial safety of the study drug has been confirmed in Phase I trials, Phase II trials are performed on larger groups (20-300). Phase III studies are randomized controlled trials on large patient groups (300–3,000 or more). Phase IV trial is also known as Post Marketing Surveillance Trial or ongoing technical support of a drug after it receives permission to be sold.

On average, at least 6 years of research of a particular drug before it even makes it to clinical trials. And each phase might last several years depending on the response of the drug. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_trial)

Take care and regards.

[laaz]

Is there any treatment or surgery for hypoactive sympathetic n.s. or hyperactive parasympathetic n.s. within the nasal mucosa??  As I posted before of the chronic 24/7 post nasal drainage, now I am having much increased congestion with difficulty breathing through nostril and much increased water bags under eyes with dark blue to black discoloration under the eyes.  My swelling is under eyes, upper part of cheebone area as well as outside sides of nose. I am now starting to wheeze and cough, my doctor said that I now have asthma from my vasomotor rhinitis. All steroid nasal sprays don't help.  What surgery, if any would help decrease the swelling and the constant post nasal drainage?  When I get the water bags and the swelling - I can actually feel the swelling under the skin tissue swell up.and  the swelling and discoloration does not go away, even if I hold ice packs on them.  Is there any solution to any of my problems? I have had this for 6 yrs. and it is getting soooooo much worse as time goes on.  Please help.                 Laaz

[laaz]

Sorry, if Vasomotor rhinitis is from imbalance of sympathetic or parasympathetic of nasal mucosa - then how could vasomotor rhinitis be from inflammation?  Couple doctors said vasomotor rhinitis is from chronic inflammation, a couple other doctors said from imbalance of sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system nasal vessel mucosa.  It is very confusing.  If from imbalance then why would steroid nasal sprays suppose to help?  Which they don't for me but I guess they do for some people.  Any surgery or treatments would be greatly apreciated doctor.      Laaz

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Rhinitis is defined as an inflammation of the nasal mucosa. The causes of rhinitis can be grouped into: 1) allergic( e.g. hayfever); 2) infectious (e.g. colds) or 3) non-allergic, non-Infectious or Vasomotor Rhinitis ( due to the nervous system imbalance). So, they are both correct in saying that inflammation is the presentation and the cause is the imbalance. Topical steroids  or nasal sprays help with congestion, runny nose, and sneezing brought about by the inflammation. However not everyone could have the same response to this medication.

As i have mentioned before, surgical procedures can be considered and rarely done.. Some of the procedures that have been performed in the past include:
Cryosurgery and vidian neurectomy.(http://www.allergyclinic.co.nz/guides/50.html) You can discuss these options with your doctor especially now that you have developed asthma. Take care and keep us posted.