Can I just ask if anyone is suffering from swelling under their eyes? Ive had this for over 4 months now… the bags under my eyes swell up and I wake up with them swollen, this normally goes quite rapidly by lunchtime and they normally start to swell late afternoon, and by the time late evening comes there quite large and very noticable, Ive tried all sorts of things to get them to go away, afterall feeling bad and looking bad are two diffrent things! I get pain and a burning sensation in them at times too and the left eye is usually worse than the right eye… Is this a symptom of MS or something else??? My GP gave me antihistamine eye drops but im not sure its helping at all…
Chelle x
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Hi Chelle,
External swelling is not a usual symptom of MS, no.
Although it’s an inflammatory disease, it’s of the Central Nervous System, which can’t be seen on the outside.
Some medication might cause eye puffiness, or maybe it’s just poor sleep, or poor quality of sleep?
MS occasionally causes a droopy eye (a bit like if someone had a stroke), or various other eye problems, but I don’t think “bags” is one of them. Never heard of this one, anyway.
I’m not making light of your problem, as I get repeated bouts of what seems like conjunctivitis - but only ever in one eye! Tests for infection invariably come out clear!
The best anyone can come up with is that it’s some kind of allergic reaction, but I never heard of anyone being allergic in only one eye!
Like you, I’ve had my suspicions it was something to do with MS. But it has proved impossible to link it.
Tina
Thanks Tina! The mystery goes on… oh well I will remember to tell the consultant when I see him in 3 months time, thats when Im hoping to get some sort of diagnosis? All my tests should be back to him by then and Im keeping my fingers crossed that its not a bad prognosis, as he thinks its definately MS, but what type it is who knows??
Michelle
If it WAS MS, it’s fairly easy to tell, yourself, which type, without having to wait for an expert opinion., as it’s quite simple:
If you have had distinct “episodes”, from which you have recovered - either partially or completely - then it’s relapsing remitting (RRMS). This is the kind about 85% of people are diagnosed with, so by far the most likely.
If you have never had noticeable episodes or attacks, but have just been getting gradually worse, with no let-up, then it’s probably primary progressive (PPMS).
That’s the two main possibilities, at diagnosis.
Yes, I’m over-simplifying a little, because you do get a few people who seem to have a hybrid type, which is continuously progressive, but with relapses (attacks) superimposed on it!
Also, it’s theoretically possible to be diagnosed with secondary progressive, but this would only arise if case history suggested you’d had undiagnosed relapsing remitting for quite some time already, and that it had now become progressive. I.e. if you used to have attacks, which weren’t recognised at the time, but now you don’t get them any more, but have still been worsening.
Tina
Thanks guys! I have just been out shopping with my sister, I felt so much better today only to rush home feeling awful with a horrible tingling feeling going down my left hand side, starts on my face and down to my foot??? God I hate this I really do… Im just not sure whats going on, really I feel like im desparing with this dam thing! Still managed to buy some lovely shoes and a couple of dresses so I should look on the bright side!
Chelle x
Hello 
can I please ask if you have found away to get ride of them, I wake up with them nearly every day and my left eye if always worse then the other,I have suffered from this for years now and it really embarrasses me.
big thanku in advance for any help xx
I also have heavy bags under my eyes…caused by 20 years of illneess, medication and broken sleep. I guess only plastic surgery will shift them.
Tried other measures to no avail.
Boudsx
Hello, yes i hate it and I can feel the swelling of them push up into my eye especially my left eye( I hope that makes sense) I can push on it and see the indent of the fluid. I get embarrassed by it. I am about to try fibroblast on my under eye bags today so I will let you know if it’s successful. Have a great day . Jodi x
Hi again…is this private? Good luck.
Boudsx
Went on a long vacation knowing I won’t be getting much or any sleep many days so get rid of swollen eye bags. I Got Dermalmd Under Eye Serum beforehand hoping it will eliminate my bags on the rough days and it did exactly that. Important to put very little. If putting too much it can start cracking a bit but I got that fixed with a tiny bit of water. Would 100% keep using.