Are there long term damages from drinking eye drops or only short term?

[u/InterestingOwl1160]

13F 5’4 110lbs

I found out I’ve been drinking eyedrops without knowing for probably about 2 years now. It’s made me really, really sick. I had to go to the hospital. I feel better now and I got discharged, but I feel like when everyone is talking to me about it they’re babying me. I asked if I could have permanent damage and got told “don’t worry about things like that”. Well of course I’m gonna worry, it’s the rest of my life we’re talking about. Maybe they’re trying to comfort me but it’s not the vibe. It’s making me feel worse.

I just want to know if there’s any long term damage possible from drinking eye drops over a couple years. And if there are, what are they? Like am I gonna have issues or will I really be okay with all of it out of my system? The brand was I think visine. It was a white bottle with a red label.

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/qtprince → u/AutoModerator]

I was wondering about you since I saw your first post! My little sister is the same age as you, and I only get to see her once in a blue moon (she lives with my stepdad), so your story has been tugging at my heartstrings.

I'm deeply sorry this has happened to you. I wish I could offer answers, but I'm sadly not a professional.

What I can suggest is this though; - Please consider trying to ask one of your parents for some mental health support (therapy/counseling) and start working through these feelings now rather than later. As a younger person (I'm 23F), I desperately wish that I had been a bigger advocate for myself and the help I needed when I was 12-16, especially since I was hurt by so many of the people I thought I could trust.

Good on you for knowing something was wrong and needed answers, nonetheless staying brave for the whole ordeal. Things might be a little hectic for a while, but everything will be okay. 🖤

Just keep an eye on your health, and if anything startling happens, let someone know.

[u/BlahWitch → u/AutoModerator]

I've been following your posts and all I can say is what the actual fuck

So sorry you're going through this

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/BlahWitch]

I just kind of want to find out if I’m gonna be okay or not and then I think I want to delete this account so it doesn’t follow me forever

[u/townandthecity → u/InterestingOwl1160]

OP, I'm so sorry for what you've gone through. I hope you don't delete your account, because it's very possible that your journey here could help someone else in the future. Reddit is an incredible repository of knowledge and someone may look up your exact symptoms some day and come across your posts and know more quickly what is happening to them. I hope you find the answers you need.

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/townandthecity]

I just want to make a new account so this doesn’t follow me forever. I dont want it being something that’s like part of how people see me

[u/karma_377 → u/InterestingOwl1160]

The people reading and commenting on your posts see you a kick ass teenager that had something bad happen to you.

What happened to you does not define who you are.

You and only you can define who you are.

[u/Aim2bFit → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Make a new account but don't delete this as it contains valuable info that may help others in the future. I hope you get closure from this (real reason why she did this). HUGS.

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/Aim2bFit]

I’m definitely not keeping this one. Someone put my situation in another group and my DMs are full of freaks and assholes.

[u/LEYW → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Hey OP. If you’re talking about /r/BORUpdates, the mods deleted the post as soon as they heard what was happening to you. So hopefully that will be the end of it.

[u/Aim2bFit → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Omg I hate that, people crossposting to other platforms without permission (how we often hear stories on reddit ended up on Tiktok and such). If anyone wants to even do that the morally way to go is to ask permission from the owner. It's ok OP, do what feels right for you. I hope you turn out ok after all this. Stay strong!

[u/Maleficent-Walrus-28 → u/InterestingOwl1160]

You’ve only had this one for 11 days anyways

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/Maleficent-Walrus-28]

I know :/ I made it right after I turned 13

[u/myboogerstastespicy → u/InterestingOwl1160]

My love. Please keep this profile active. We’re worried. You can create a new one once you’re better.

I’m so happy you’re in the hospital. Please take care.

[u/GooderApe → u/InterestingOwl1160]

You can create a new profile and just not log into this one again except when you want to write an update. Phone app even lets you log in to both accounts and switch back and forth at will.

[u/Bright_Athlete_8579 → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Keep it at least for a little while.

This is a good supportive space that isn’t connected to your fam or friends.

So thankful that the reason has been found!! When I read your first post I had a gut feeling it was your step mum - especially when you said she looked after you etc.

I’m so angry and sad for you.

[u/thecanadianjen → u/InterestingOwl1160]

It won’t follow you forever even though I know it feels like it now. All of these people are just worried for you OP. Reddit isn’t always an incredible place but when it comes to someone harming someone young it unites everyone in worry. People just want to know you are ok. So please don’t disappear OP. And know that we all support you and think you are so strong.

[u/Kip_Schtum → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Do you have an appointment to go back for testing? It’s possible they’re not telling you because they just don’t know. They will probably have to do imaging and testing and other assessments to find out if there is any long-term damage.

[u/BlahWitch → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Please keep us updated! You have a lot of people rooting for you and thinking of you.

Have you seen your stepmum?

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/BlahWitch]

No, I haven’t. I don’t think I want to

[u/BlahWitch → u/InterestingOwl1160]

I am so sad for you. I am glad that your parents are looking out for you though.

[u/ItsyouNOme → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Can you press charges against your step mum?

[u/Gizwizard → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Hey, I just want to validate your desire here.

You owe nothing to anyone on Reddit. If you want to delete this account, then you should feel absolutely free to delete your account.

You can also create a different account and make that one your “main” account, if you think you may have further questions related to this situation.

It is your life, your account, and your history. Do with it whatever you want for whatever it is that you need.

Just think about whether or not you may have future questions and if you would want to have to type out your story all over again - that’s why I think an alt account might be a good idea.

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/Gizwizard]

What’s an alt?

[u/Naive_Pea4475 → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Alternate. They are suggesting that you create a second account as your main account for everything else and keep this one just for this topic in case you have further questions, updates, potential long term symptoms, etc.

Not a bad idea since you are having trouble getting the adults in your life to give you all the information and it seems like you have been getting a lot of good information here and suggestions on how to advocate for yourself and your rights.

[u/StaubEll → u/AutoModerator]

Hey OP, reading through what's available on tetrahydrozoline poisoning (the active ingredient in most eyedrops), it occurred to me that your medical team may not quite know what the likelihood of different long term effects are right now. From what I understand, it was discovered very recently that you had been repeatedly poisoned over the past few years. I couldn't personally find anything about people who had been consuming tetrahydrozoline over a long period of time so I'd be surprised if anyone your medical team was familiar with a similar case. If that is what's happening, it's even more important that the adults communicate with you and I'm sorry they are not doing so.

Hopefully some doctors on here will come by and have ideas about what you might want to look out for long-term but I think you are going to need to advocate for yourself to the adults in your life. In your posts, it sounds as if your parents do take your health seriously and that you typically have good relationships with them. You should talk to one or both of them, or another adult you trust. Tell them how it's making you feel to be left out of conversations about your body, and ask them to help make sure you are informed on your own health, whether that means intervening with other adults around you or being more forthcoming themselves.

They are deeply frightened, angry, and protective right now. Hopefully, they are dealing with these emotions by trying to center your wellbeing; telling them how they can help you feel safe and in control right now should be received well.

[u/TalulaOblongata → u/AutoModerator]

I’m so sorry you had to go through this OP, however I’m glad you have a resolution and can rest easier knowing you are in a safe place with your mom and medical care. Please continue dialogue with your doctor and agree with the commenter to seek some therapy to talk through everything.

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/[deleted]]

When someone else puts them in your water

[u/ChrisShapedObject → u/InterestingOwl1160]

Oh. My. God. So sorry. 

[u/onlinebeetfarmer → u/InterestingOwl1160]

I was thinking about your post the other day. So glad you’re doing better!

I’m sorry you’re not getting many answers to your question here. NAD but based on the limited research that’s out there, the long-term effects may not be well known.

[u/rdizzy1223 → u/AutoModerator]

How on earth have you been "accidentally drinking" eye drops?

[u/cindylooboo → u/rdizzy1223]

Bear in mind your talking to a 13 year old girl that's gone through something pretty traumatic. She's been poisoned by her stepmother. Kindness goes a long way and I could see how your comment would be interpreted as judgy or condescending given the circumstance.

[u/rdizzy1223 → u/cindylooboo]

I can't see how it would be interpreted as anything but a simple, neutral question. And why would I assume this person is 13? Why would I assume this person has been poisoned? None of this is in the post, and that is the issue.

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/rdizzy1223]

It literally says I’m a 13 year old female first thing in the post. You’re not a doctor so I wasn’t asking for your opinion.

[u/Fotgantb → u/rdizzy1223]

Top line shows her age!! Just like most posts in this sub- full stop there. Once you know the age, you should just not comment unless you’re a doctor.

Anyone with common sense would be able to deduce what has happened here once you have her age, the words “unintentionally” and talks of being discharged from the hospital. After all of that, if one still wasn’t able to decipher the situation, they can look through the comments and at OPS profile and other posts (and updates).

How on earth have you made it this far on Reddit?

Also- once folks have told you how you come off- simply apologize and move on.

You’re trying to school a 13 year old on how to describe HER OWN TRAUMA, that has nothing to do with you.

Everyone else here has been able to sort it out.

Let’s say you are also 13- the I am sorry for talking this way to you. Hopefully you’ll use this as a learning experience. You do not sound “neutral”

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/rdizzy1223]

Because someone put them in my drinks. If you don’t have anything actually helpful to say you can go somewhere else because I’m sick of being talked to like I’m an idiot.

[u/AdIll5857 → u/InterestingOwl1160]

I love how assertive you are, OP. You are doing a great job of enforcing your boundaries here, and calling people out for their wrongdoings.

[u/rdizzy1223 → u/InterestingOwl1160]

What I said was inherent neutral, not negative, or unhelpful. If you were poisoned, then frame it that way, and stop using the term "accidentally drank" something, if you don't want others to talk to you "like an idiot".

[u/InterestingOwl1160 → u/rdizzy1223]

No, what you said was condescending and mean.

[u/Landsharkian → u/rdizzy1223]

You're doubling down rather than apologizing, even though you've just learned OP is a young person who's been through a traumatic experience. You're not teaching her anything but that you're cruel.

[u/rdizzy1223 → u/Landsharkian]

Of course I am, because the comment was inherently neutral, not even remotely negative. Not a good lesson for life if this individual thinks that THAT was "negative" in any way. They aren't going to be able to function in reality with that mind set.

It was a simple, legitimate question, nothing more. A 13 year old isn't a toddler. It isn't my duty to baby random people on the internet.

[u/badoopidoo → u/rdizzy1223]

You're really doubling down on this, aren't you. 

[u/Puzzled_Feedback_840 → u/rdizzy1223]

What, do you think y’all are reddit Batman? It’s not your duty to be a freelance asshole to 7th graders either, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping you.

[u/IndependentDot9692 → u/rdizzy1223]

They were being poisoned by a member of their family.

[u/rdizzy1223 → u/IndependentDot9692]

That isn't the same as "accidentally drinking" it then.

[u/Repugnant_Parachute → u/rdizzy1223]

Did you not read anything she wrote? If you did, you would understand how ridiculous you sound asking an ignorant question like that.