Dear people on the internet that actually know me and my family
Notice how her eyes are all red around them. When she wakes up she can't even open them. They're cemented shut with all the eye goo she accumulated during the night. Both of her tear ducts are clogged and have been since she was born. Constant green nasties come out of her eyes. The doc suggested she have surgery, which means that they have to put her out. The thought of it makes me want to throw up.
Hi Damaris! (This is Karen's friend, Carri--I met you when your family visited the Hunts in Sacramento.) I wouldn't want to see baby Maria undergo surgery, either! It seems this is quite common in babies and she should outgrow it by 6-12 months. Several "natural" sites recommend using breast milk for eye drops to clear infection, in addition to massaging under the eyes and using warm, moist cloths. Just Google "tear duct blockage in babies" and read on! Here are some links to get you started. I'm also including a great site for "green" mommies: http://www.greenourkids.com/
Good luck and God bless Maria and your family:) Your children are precious and I love your blog!
Just a personal comment (from Carri again, not Karen)...the doc who suggested surgery at such a young age--especially when this condition is so common and usually repairs itself--doesn't sound like a very knowledgeable doctor! Or maybe needs the extra $$ for doing surgery? Anesthesiologists make a LOT of $$, too! Just sayin'...
After working as a volunteer in the Peds ICU for a year, I can say that children go through surgery all the time, and seem okay. I never had a kid come through that had been hurt by being out for surgery. They have to do it even to newborns sometimes. Anesthesiologists do make a lot of money because they know what they're doing. Accidents are pretty rare. This being said, whether or not she needs surgery is an entirely different matter. Have you gotten a second opinion? Research to find some amazing pediatrician in your area and go to them. I think opinions can vary widely, and I think it has less to do with money than knowledge.
Lilikoi's right tear duct is still clogged too. My Dr. said it is totally normal. My friend said that her sons was clogged for 18 months until she took him to the chiropractor and they adjusted him. It cleared up the next day. Take her to your chiropractor friend. By the way I want to talk to you. I always call and no one answers.
hey - this is annie - we've never met, but our husbands have been friends for years. my daughter's tear ducts were clogged too - totally looked like maria with the goop and watery eye. our dr. said that they start suggesting surgery if it's still a problem at 9 months. so we massaged them, cleaned them with those make-up squares, and i put milk in them occasionally - nothing too regularly or methodically. then one eye just cleared up around 6 months, but the other stayed clogged. her 9 month appt was approaching, and i was totally reluctant to go and have to decide whether or not she should have surgery. then one day it just cleared up. i was waiting for the goop to come back, but it didn't. i think we had that appt a little late - it was probably close to ten months. so my advice is to just keep waiting. but also, the surgery seemed really simply - they just prick the flap of skin that's covering the duct.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. i do the breast milk in eye constantly and I massage and i clean them out. I am going to wait a couple more months before deciding and hoping they'll just clear up.
kaity, I have to talk to Justin, what a good idea.
Annie, thanks for your suggestion and thanks for sharing your experience.
Can't vouch for the breast milk thing, have heard it works but obviosly use at your discretion. I can only echo what others have said, the massaging and warm compresses seem to work pretty well. And regarding the surgery, it is indeed very simple, and I have not seen any complications in my experience (limited as it is). How old is maria now? Waiting to see if they clear up on their own is best course of action if less than 1 year. After that I would definitely consider the surgery on my own child, though I admit that even though I see kids going under anesthesia all the time, the thought of my own child going through it still is a little anxiety inducing. Good luck with all.
8 comments:
Hi Damaris! (This is Karen's friend, Carri--I met you when your family visited the Hunts in Sacramento.) I wouldn't want to see baby Maria undergo surgery, either! It seems this is quite common in babies and she should outgrow it by 6-12 months. Several "natural" sites recommend using breast milk for eye drops to clear infection, in addition to massaging under the eyes and using warm, moist cloths. Just Google "tear duct blockage in babies" and read on! Here are some links to get you started. I'm also including a great site for "green" mommies: http://www.greenourkids.com/
Good luck and God bless Maria and your family:) Your children are precious and I love your blog!
http://ezinearticles.com/?Infected-Tear-Duct---A-Safe-Alternative-to-Antibiotics&id=3581147
http://www.mamapedia.com/article/closed-tear-ducts-in-newborns
http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bhealth/0,,3qdx,00.html
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/tear_duct_obstruct_surgery.html
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Tear-Duct-Blockage-of-Babies.htm
Just a personal comment (from Carri again, not Karen)...the doc who suggested surgery at such a young age--especially when this condition is so common and usually repairs itself--doesn't sound like a very knowledgeable doctor! Or maybe needs the extra $$ for doing surgery? Anesthesiologists make a LOT of $$, too! Just sayin'...
After working as a volunteer in the Peds ICU for a year, I can say that children go through surgery all the time, and seem okay. I never had a kid come through that had been hurt by being out for surgery. They have to do it even to newborns sometimes. Anesthesiologists do make a lot of money because they know what they're doing. Accidents are pretty rare.
This being said, whether or not she needs surgery is an entirely different matter. Have you gotten a second opinion? Research to find some amazing pediatrician in your area and go to them. I think opinions can vary widely, and I think it has less to do with money than knowledge.
Lilikoi's right tear duct is still clogged too. My Dr. said it is totally normal. My friend said that her sons was clogged for 18 months until she took him to the chiropractor and they adjusted him. It cleared up the next day. Take her to your chiropractor friend. By the way I want to talk to you. I always call and no one answers.
hey - this is annie - we've never met, but our husbands have been friends for years. my daughter's tear ducts were clogged too - totally looked like maria with the goop and watery eye. our dr. said that they start suggesting surgery if it's still a problem at 9 months. so we massaged them, cleaned them with those make-up squares, and i put milk in them occasionally - nothing too regularly or methodically. then one eye just cleared up around 6 months, but the other stayed clogged. her 9 month appt was approaching, and i was totally reluctant to go and have to decide whether or not she should have surgery. then one day it just cleared up. i was waiting for the goop to come back, but it didn't. i think we had that appt a little late - it was probably close to ten months. so my advice is to just keep waiting. but also, the surgery seemed really simply - they just prick the flap of skin that's covering the duct.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. i do the breast milk in eye constantly and I massage and i clean them out. I am going to wait a couple more months before deciding and hoping they'll just clear up.
kaity, I have to talk to Justin, what a good idea.
Annie, thanks for your suggestion and thanks for sharing your experience.
Can't vouch for the breast milk thing, have heard it works but obviosly use at your discretion. I can only echo what others have said, the massaging and warm compresses seem to work pretty well. And regarding the surgery, it is indeed very simple, and I have not seen any complications in my experience (limited as it is). How old is maria now? Waiting to see if they clear up on their own is best course of action if less than 1 year. After that I would definitely consider the surgery on my own child, though I admit that even though I see kids going under anesthesia all the time, the thought of my own child going through it still is a little anxiety inducing. Good luck with all.
I love her sweet little face. It melts my heart.
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