Sunday, February 14, 2021

52 Tags Challenge continues...

Winter has finally set in to central Indiana - like it has in most of the eastern part of the US, it seems.  While it has had the effect of slowing me down, fortunately it doesn't appear that it will be sticking around longer than through this upcoming week.

Last week started off with some work being done at my brother's house, and me dealing with an eye infection.  Ugh.  It's the third eye infection I've had since October.  The first two cleared up pretty quickly within a few days by simply using hot compresses.  This time, though, I needed some help.  After several days of antibiotics, it's still there, but it feels much better.  Not quite as scary red and swollen.  

The reason I'm sharing this is in case it benefits anyone else.  The eye doctor said they've seen a lot more eye infections this year and they are wondering if mask wearing is contributing to it after all.   The fact that I didn't even see a doctor for the first two infections I had, I have to believe many infections clear up without ever being noted.  In other words, if doctors are seeing more eye infections in the office, there are even more likely going unreported.

Honestly...  listening to my doctor and doing some research about it, it now seems ludicrous to think masks couldn't be a factor to an increase in skin and eye infections (as some articles I encountered still suggest).  My husband also had a skin infection just under one of his eyes several months ago. I don't know if he was told his was staph, but he was treated for it and it took weeks to clear up.  

My point isn't to not wear a face mask.  I'm not there - yet.  If you have dry eyes and/or experienced eye infections since wearing masks, I suggest reading up on the problem, as it's multifaceted.  No one is suggesting that face masks directly cause eye infections.  Conversely, articles that dismiss the problem by stating "face makes don't cause eye infections" are misleading and don't get to the point or deal with the problem.  And worse, articles that simply call such claims false are written by lazy writers who do a disservice to people looking for real information. 

For me, a person with dry eye syndrome... this means, in addition to continuing to be fastidious about washing my hands and wearing fresh masks when one is called for, it may serve me well to take some extra precautions because those pesky sluggish oil glands in the eyelids (which is one cause of dry eyes) are more susceptible to infection.   I bought me a Bruder (eye) Mask to make warm compresses easier to do - hot, wet washcloths helped when I took the time to fiddle with them, but a mask that stays put and holds its heat longer makes it all much less tedious.   Bottom line:  take care of and pay attention to your eyes.  Dry eyes are more susceptible to infections.  If they're feeling dryer than normal, it could be more than just the dry winter air that's affecting them.  Regardless, it's wise to address the problem of dry eyes - not only for comfort's sake, but for the health of your eyes.

~~~~~

And with that PSA finished, now I'm on to what usually brings me in here on Sunday afternoons - my Year of Projects post.  After the busyness and not feeling so good the first half of last week, I found myself finally inspired on Friday to work on two more tags in the #52tagshannemade challenge.


The theme of Tag #5 is "Kisses"
Can you figure out how the theme "kisses:" is played out above?




And the 6th tag's theme is "Bevy of Buttons"
I think this one is self-explanatory.

If you're interested in Anne's Brooke's 52 Tags challenge, you can see her tags and videos here!

And that, dear reader, is all she wrote!





33 comments:

  1. Central Indiana!!! I'm a Purdue grad (not going into how long ago). We are practically neighbors since I live in Cincinnati (expect for the winter). Don't know if you are going to get hit with the snow storms this week. I feel so bad for my son who is house sitting for us as we have a 1/3 mile driveway with 2 90 degree turns to clear every time it snows (and a neighbor who is only too happy to drive his truck on the first 400 ft of driveway we share thus making it impossible to clear with the snow blower -GRRRRR).

    I do love these tags but I'd want to use them as gift tags. Hmmm, I have an artist niece that does the cutest advent characters. I could print them onto stickers and put on tags with a little ribbon for Christmas next year!!!!!

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    1. My husband and I met at Purdue. He was in grad school, I was a freshman at the time. We're supposed to get snow for the next few days. Not planning on going anywhere, so hopefully we can stick with that plan. The good news is it's supposed to warm up the following week - balmy into the 40's. I hope your son is able to contend with the snow. I have it in mind I may use the tags (or some of them) some day for gift tags. At the moment, I'm just collecting them on a large ring. I've also thought of stringing them on a line and making a garland when I've collected enough.

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  2. Your tags are so creative! Sorry you had to deal with an eye infection; it doesn't sound fun.

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    1. Not fun, for sure. It was worrying that I might be developing a secondary infection that got me into the eye doctor. It's on the mend now, and hopefully it will clear up completely soon.

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  3. Your tags are lovely so pretty. I'm sorry to hear about your eye infections and now you have me wondering. I have dry eyes following laser surgery may years ago, it doesn't usually bother me, I use artificial tears morning and night but over the last few months I've been having problems with my left eye, it's been sore and irritable. It clears up then comes back again. Mask wearing could certainly be a factor I'll have to be extra careful.

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    1. I struggled with dry eyes for years, but didn't realize what it was. Early on a couple different eye doctors had suggested it might be a problem and recommended eye drops, but it was only a little over a year ago that a new-to-me eye doctor did a tear test that indicated Dry Eye Syndrome. She took it seriously and I was given a steroid (in eye drops) for a couple of weeks. My eyes felt markedly better, but it wasn't a long term fix. I don't mean to make dry eyes sounds like a terrible scary thing. I just didn't realize the condition creates an environment in the eyes where infection can happen more easily. Now that I know a little more I'm happy to do some things to hopefully minimize these infections I've been getting.

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  4. I hope your eye is all healed up soon! I have avoided mask issues thus far, mostly because I barely leave the house; unless its to go on a walk outdoors, at strange times, in unpopulated areas.

    The tags are so lovely! I appreciate you sharing them.

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    1. Thanks, Cinna. I suppose I've been busier than usual, but I'm looking forward to a few days of hibernating during the (relatively short) stint of bitter cold that's coming our way. Maybe I'll even find more time for crafting. :)

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  5. Wow, you had quite the week. I hope your eye clears up soon. I know dermatologists are see many more cases of problems from masks. I feel sorry for those people who have to wear them all day at work. Just wearing it to go to the grocery store is about all I can handle. Praying that there will come a day when we can dump the masks.

    Your tags are super cute. I figured out the X&O tag right away. It is the way I used to sign my cards to my mom. What a great way to use up some buttons too.

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    1. It was just a hard way to start a week. Otherwise, things are moving along and I'm so ready for spring I could nearly burst. :)

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  6. I've had to do special eye care for many years because of blepharitis. Daily careful eyelid cleaning with special pads. Otherwise I'd be very vulnerable to infections. Colloidal silver spray is good,too. The thing is that you're right they need to be taken seriously and that dull work of care never skipped. My eye doctor tells me that the vast majority of eye infections in adults are viral in origin, and anti viral drops are needed. I also step up my elderberry extract, a natural antiviral, when my eyes bother me. There's my psa!!

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    1. I've just recently learned of blepharitis. It appears my doctor's recommended eye care is the same as yours. My doctor didn't press me to use the expensive scrubbing pads, but she did mention them to me. When my eye stops being tender, I'm going to try to discipline myself to regular cleaning of the eyelids with baby shampoo (her other suggestion) and daily heat treatments to soften up the oil glands. Dreary indeed...

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    2. Baby shampoo stings like the devil. No matter how diluted. I wonder if doctors who recommend it have actually tried it. The EyeScrub, not an ad, pads I use with no problem. I split them, use half per eye, to hold down the cost.

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    3. After reading your first comment above, and reading that baby shampoo can cause irritation, I went to Amazon and ordered some Ocusoft lid scrub foam. I'll give that a try and see if it works. Just wanted you to know I took your comment seriously. :)

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  7. I hope the eyes clear up this week. The tag is gorgeous.

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  8. I’m pretty much a hermit or walking the dog not near others so rarely need to wear a mask. I’m not quite sure I understand how eyes can be affected but maybe it depends on the shape of the mask and where it is redirecting your breath? Perhaps a different design may help?! I think since before Christmas I’ve only been to the bank and a supermarket once. I wondered whether if eyes are rubbed when there’s residue of antibacterial gel maybe that may cause some dryness and irritation. Hope it clears up. Are you going to use all these gift tags on gifts for people in coming years or display them in some way?

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    1. I'm thinking my PSA wasn't meant for you, Liz. ;^) A quick search of face masks and eye infections will explain a lot pretty quickly if one is interested. Please know my point isn't to make people who haven't experienced eye infections since wearing masks worried about it, but rather if anyone has experienced infections, to consider what might be going on and to realize there may be things they can do. I'm not making the tags with a particular plan in mind. Remember a post of yours recently, they might be consider crafting clutter. lol

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  9. My eye doctor wanted me to take eye drops as he said I had dry eyes. I laughed! LOL! My eyes are fine. I refuse to take medicine for a condition that if I have...it doesn't bother me. Luckily I have not had any infections but then I only go out about 2 times a month so not a lot of mask wearing. I'm so sorry you're having trouble as that is not fun! I have allergy eyes sometimes in the Spring and Fall but it doesn't last. I love your tags. What do you use them for? I hope your eyes recover!

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    1. Thanks, Sam! I didn't take it seriously when I was first told about my dry eyes, either. I understand.

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  10. Thank you for the PSA . . . that is definitely something to be made aware of. Praying that your eyes recover fully and quickly!

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    1. Thanks, Cheryl. The eyelid is still a bit red, but I think it's healing up slowly.

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  11. Well that certainly explains my 3rd eye infection. I have some polysporin drops that seem to work if I get on it quick enough. Never thought it might be related to masks but it makes sense and I do have dry eyes and can be quite negligent about keeping up with my refresh eye drops. LOVE the button tag!

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    1. Thank you, Mary-Anne. :) Somehow it makes me feel better knowing others have similar issues.

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  12. So sorry to hear about your eye infection Becki! I am glad you are feeling better and on the mend!

    And I love your KISSES tag! I enjoy the buttons one too - you must have an extensive button collection. But the kisses made me smile right away. So creative!

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    1. I have a LOT of buttons. I already owned a bunch of my mother's (which were probably originally my grandmother's). Then after MIL pass last spring I became the owner of hers. MIL's were mostly newer buttons, though. And a few novelty ones. Yes... I have a lot of buttons. Hopefully, these tags will make a dent in them.

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  13. I'm sorry about your eye issue - hopefully it's better now! Interesting to read your thoughts on how mask wearing can be affecting our eyes as well as our skin.
    And I 'get' the kisses on your tag! They're both really pretty.

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    1. It's getting better. I finished the antibiotic last night and today, for the first time the eye seems almost normal. This one was a doozy. I'm so glad I got in to see the doctor when I did. The thoughts about masks and eye infections aren't mine - at least not originally. I'm just passing on information. And personal experience. :)

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  14. Well it makes sense about the masks and eye infections. We use disposable masks and discard them after use - and when we do discard if we did a lot of talking the inside of the mask is damp. Some people don’t discard them after one use, and with cloth masks the tendency is to wash them occasionally not after every wearing. So bacteria could build up. I haven’t heard about eye infections but I believe your doctor when he points a finger at masks and eye infections.

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    1. I'm occasionally guilty of sticking a mask in my pocket and using it another day. Since I don't really wear a mask very often, the germs (maybe even bacteria) are probably are dead by the time I put one on again. The idea behind thinking masks could be contributing to the problem, is that if staph is in one's nostrils or upper respiratory system (which, evidently is fairly common), it could possibly be passed via our breathing or sneezing, directed right into our eyes out the top of the mask. Glasses wearers may be more susceptible, my doctor mused, since this air is sort of trapped there until it dissipates. FWIW, I had no idea until last week that staph can lurk in our nasal passages. It's kind of amazing to me now that infections aren't more common.

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  15. Oh, my, what a bummer of a condition to have to deal with after everything else going on in your life these past few months. It can't be easy dealing with your brother's house either. I am very conscious of taking care of my eyes since I found I had wet macular in one eye and dry in the other some years ago. I am constantly "washing" my eyes with over the counter drops. I realize our problems are different but the point being that eye care is essential for us all, more so as we age. I think we will all heave a collective sign of relief when we turn the calendar page to March! In the meantime distractions like your ingenious tags are a great way to stretch our imaginations! I love your hugs and kisses.💖

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    1. Oh boy... two different types of macular degeneration. What a worry! Thanks for your kind words, Susan. The process of settling an estate is so multi-faceted. There's practical stuff, relational stuff, legal stuff, emotional stuff. Some days are fairly free of dealing with it, and then there are days that are totally consumed by it. Just taking it a day at a time...

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  16. Your tags are really pretty Becki! :) Interesting about the mask-eye-infection link. It makes total sense...I'm glad you're feeling better though. I hate taking antibiotics, but three infections since October isn't fun!

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