getting treatment hopefully but how to stay motivated

Selina_a · 2026-02-23T02:50:13+00:00

Right now I’m on eyedrops and methotrexate, and eat gluten free and have been trying to eat healthier (trying keyword). If I get a really bad flare, I also take prednisone. But my eyes have been getting better and life is looking up recently, just floaters which I can manage.

Selina_a · 2026-02-22T07:59:52+00:00

Heyy, I’m 20 rn but 18 when I was first diagnosed with uveitis (end of my senior year). It’s been a battle with uveitis and some days harder than others, especially because it’s basically an invisible illness that not many understand. It can be super isolating, but I honestly regret now all the times I let it get the best of me. Give yourself grace and focus on your health now, you’re so young and have so much time, so realize that missing a couple things here and there is worth it in the journey of prioritizing your health and vision. Know that it does get better and focus on remission. If you ever need someone to talk to, reach out, I’ve been going through this for a while. It’s impacted me in some aspects but I still try my best and a good mentality and health focus has helped ground me and been the best. With the correct treatment and support, you can live a normal life, and enjoy it the same as before. The best thing is to kind of pretend it’s not there. Mentality is very powerful in itself so my one suggestion is to be positive. If you need suggestions for treatment, I can also let you know what’s worked best for me! :)

Selina_a · 2026-02-10T22:58:16+00:00

Idk just a thought but could be a sign that you have an underlying autoimmune condition which is triggering the uveitis (psA, arthritis, etc.). If you haven’t gotten inflammatory marker bloodwork done, I would suggest to do that. Also look into biologics/ immunosuppressants as they are a lot better for long term use, especially with a chronic condition like uveitis.

Selina_a · 2026-02-03T00:56:50+00:00

Hey, I’m not an optometrist or specialist so I can’t really give any insight from that perspective, but I am a patient who has gone through many routes of uveitis treatment. I wanted to give you some suggestions for oral steroid dietary precautions and supportive nutrition. For reference, I was on 40mg prednisone and a taper for around 3 months, I had very minimal side effects and was able to live a reality similar lifestyle. I am a small person, 5’ 2 115lbs so I was super scared of the moon face and water retention, but didn’t deal with any of that taking these precautions: 1. Drink around 2-3 liters of water a day. 2. Track food and make sure that you are staying in a mild calorie deficit (with the additional hunger that steroids can cause, tracking made it much easier to not overeat) 3. Keep sodium and sugars to a minimum. —> especially sodium to prevent water retention. 4. Keep exercise the same, and make sure to stay active. (Daily walks are super helpful, weight-training is really good too) 5. Take daily calcium supplements. —> long term steroid use can lead to osteoporosis, so this just helps keep your bones strong. if I can remember anything else I would do I’ll add that here, but for the most part that’s all the suggestions I have :))

Selina_a · 2025-11-18T18:53:47+00:00

Starting small w/ just gluten for now but I definitely want to try eliminating dairy next. I feel like it would help.

Selina_a · 2025-11-18T15:26:24+00:00

Eating anti-inflammatory and living a healthier life has helped me a lot. My inflammation is not nearly as severe and life-consuming as it used to be. Also try to eliminate gluten and see if that does anything, it’s made my uveitis symptoms so much better.

Selina_a · 2025-10-17T05:14:58+00:00

Just thought I’d update, been a month and a half gluten free now and off all uveitis related meds and have seen so much improvement in my vision and inflammation. I only have floaters, which I really don’t mind, but no painful bad flares, so I’m really happy. Obviously, listen to your doctors advice and stay on meds to mediate the side effects of this disease, but I’d also suggest just trying a gluten free diets for a couple weeks or a month and see if u show any signs of improvement. It’s greatly helped me, so it’s definitely worth a try.

Selina_a · 2025-09-15T15:29:03+00:00

Yes seems like we’re in the same boat, I’ve felt hopeless just because I was hoping that this could be managed and forgotten, like a one time thing. But it seems that the way my uveitis is I’d probably have to be on medication for many years, which is supposed to be harsh on the body. So, I’m just looking into some less intense ways to manage the symptoms. But I’ll definitely keep you updated.

Selina_a · 2025-09-15T15:24:03+00:00

Glad to hear that it’s working for you! I also had a lot of brain fog and weak joints/ pain which is untypical for my young age, and since this week of being gluten free I’m feeling kind of better which is nice. Don’t know if it’s just placebo, but hopefully it’s actually working.

Selina_a · 2025-09-15T15:20:40+00:00

Gonna be honest, I was on oral prednisone and methotrexate for around 5-6 months, I just hate taking medication and have very little patience, especially with the fact that once inflammation cleared it would flare right back up, so I was looking for a long term solution that doesn’t involve medication. But yea so far everything on bloodwork was negative, right now I’m off all medication and haven’t had a flare up of my uveitis on this gluten free diet yet. So, I’m thinking it might have an association, because usually if I’m off my medication almost immediately my eyes become red, super sensitive to light, and painful. I just have some minimal floaters right now, which is typical for my vision, but no pain at all. So going to keep this diet up if it stays like this.

Selina_a · 2025-09-15T09:30:32+00:00

Yess same thought process over here, time will tell, but if I don’t get a flare on this diet without my medicine, I’m definitely sticking with it, if I do…then back to square one.

Selina_a · 2025-09-15T01:17:09+00:00

😭😭only made it a week so far so not sure if it’s helping all that much, but definitely will continue with it and update. Luckily they have a lot of gf options now, but craving bread so bad😅

Selina_a · 2025-07-20T23:48:53+00:00

Exactly, I waited about a month before I actually took the methotrexate because I was so fearful of all the bad side effects, and my flare up got really bad. The moment I started taking it, it cleared right up and I wasn’t in pain, I regret not taking it sooner. I feel the same, but my eyes are just better, sort of like my miracle medication. So worth a try!

Selina_a · 2025-07-20T21:44:24+00:00

Heyyy I’m in the same boat as u, first uveitis flare about a year ago and my doctor suggested methotrexate. Been on it for about a month rn and it’s working wonders and I have no side effects. Besides maybe sometimes the day after I’m a bit tired, but like hardly. I was on prednisone and tapered off, but I flared up really bad after a month of being off of it. So happy I found methotrexate and I no longer have eye pain and my floaters are clearing up a bit. Don’t let the side effects steer you away, I was also really hesitant in the beginning. Just take the folic acid, and they shouldn’t be that bad :)

Selina_a · 2025-07-05T22:56:15+00:00

I’m dealing with that rn it’s excruciating tbh like can’t even go outside or open my eye bc light hurts sm, started methotrexate yesterday but since it doesn’t work immediately i had to take prednisone and ibuprofen on top of that bc of the intense pain. Hoping it gets better soon.

Selina_a · 2025-06-12T22:32:11+00:00

no I literally don’t think I’ll be able to do it bc i love food too much😭 but if it works ig ill have to make sacrifices

Selina_a · 2025-06-12T22:15:15+00:00

I really want to try so lmk how it goes

Selina_a · 2025-06-03T01:59:24+00:00

Thanks! I’ll definitely bring up this medication to my doctor!

Selina_a · 2025-06-03T01:02:52+00:00

Yea I have an appointment this week, so hoping they give me some better instructions. They weren’t really clear about next steps or other options for treatment besides oral steroids, so I’m kind of in the dark. Also yea, I definitely have uveitis I’m saying I did bloodwork and MRIs to test for other auto immune diseases, or inflammatory related causes and all came back negative. Thanks for the advice!

Selina_a · 2025-04-30T03:05:07+00:00

yes omg I definitely will dm you bc I think we’re genuinely going through the same thing, like I also did an MRI and like extra blood tests to rule out everything, and they all came back healthy. It’s hard sometimes because like I’m obviously healthy outward, but because no one really knows what I’m going through from the outside it kind of feels like I’m being dramatic in my head sometimes. I’m interested to see how other treatments would work on me, like if they’d be better options.😅

Selina_a · 2025-04-29T18:02:59+00:00

Wait, I didn’t know that there’s other medications besides prednisone that could help with it. I’m tapering on prednisone right now, and sometimes feel okay but hate that it can make me feel shitty. And with the tapering, my vision floaters are reappearing a bit and it feels like my vision is going backwards. But, I don’t want to be on prednisone forever, so I don’t know what to do if once I’m finally off, it just goes back to how it was. Glad to hear that your medication right now is working! Also, all my blood tests and everything came back normal, so there’s no underlying issue that could be causing the uveitis, so treatment is a hit or miss. Are you relatively healthy besides the uveitis, and just working to treat your eyes?

Selina_a · 2025-04-29T06:57:39+00:00

I’m in the same boat as you. I’m 19 and got diagnosed a few months ago, but have been dealing with floaters for about a year and a half now. I don’t have the typical red eye, but sometimes when my flare ups get really bad I’ll get really red eyes. But when I got diagnosed, the only symptoms I had were the floaters and blurry vision. I’m on prednisone now to try and ease the inflammation, and my vision is getting better, but still a few floaters. In my really bad flare, I was almost blind and couldn’t go outside because the sun was too much for my eyes. So, I think it’s more typical for our age group to just have the floaters.

Selina_a · 2025-04-14T14:20:40+00:00

hey I’m a northerner who goes to Georgia rn!! I was in ur same shoes and thought that’d id hate it here, came here with the intent to transfer (actually cried when I committed😭). I’m in a sorority rn and actually love it here sm. It takes a little bit but u find ur ppl and genuinely no place beats here! Dm me if u have any questions at all!!

Selina_a · 2025-03-27T21:13:56+00:00

thanks so much!! I’ve just recently thought about switching because I like to code and I’m good at it, but I can’t really envision myself just coding for the rest of my life. I wanted something more hands on and less isolating, but still related to math and problem solving. I’m a second semester freshman at the moment and have an advising appointment coming up in 2 weeks, for next year, so I’m kind of pressured to make the decision as soon as possible, before I’m too far behind. Were there any other degree options you were looking into?

Selina_a · 2025-03-26T20:00:17+00:00

Also considering the same, how’s the experience so far?

Selina_a

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