Jan, yes, I'm using the gel at night instead. My eyes water a lot in cold and windy conditions, but not otherwise. My job also involves me being on the computer all day so I know that doesn't help.
I definitely agree with you - sometimes it is sad that we know as much as we do about some things. I'm sure I wouldn't like to know even half as much as I do about ostomies and pouches and the like. But what can we do.
TE Marie, my optometrist did some type of dye test when I was last there to measure dryness. Supposedly my eyes scored a "5" (which I believe is on a scale of 1-10) so it's moderate dry eye.
I'm not 100% sure if the cuff was biopsied. I assumed it would have been, but I only heard back about the pouchitis, not cuffitis. That being said, my most recent scope was with my former GI just days before he left the country. I will ask at my next appointment. I would hope that the results weren't lost in transition and that they were communicated to the new GI.
At any rate, since I did not tolerate either Salofalk or Pentasa enemas, I think I may be allergic to mesalamine; or it it's not a true allergy, then it just really irritates my pouch. I have had both entocort and cortifoam in the past. We could try that route again if the GI feels it's necessary. I don't really understand the role of cipro, or any other antibiotic for that matter, for cuffitis (other than the fact that it might slow frequency and thereby give the cuff some relief) but it seems to work for some folks. I'd rather not use cipro if I can help it, though. It completely knocks me out and I just generally feel really lousy on it.
It would be nice to have answers. This has been almost a year in the making. But at this point, I think I'd just accept having my symptoms managed for the long haul. Now it seems I have a few good weeks followed by a few bad ones; lather, rinse, repeat. I'm getting a little weary of the journey.
Thanks for listening, everybody.