Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Annie0710 on March 28, 2015, 12:36:29 PM

Title: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 28, 2015, 12:36:29 PM
Me again .... My symptoms seem to increase by the week now

I've just been back to the opticians as they wanted to do more tests from last weeks appointment

I'm very shortsighted and in recent years I've got on well with a strong contact lens in the right eye and a weaker one in the left so that I cnd see both long and short vision

But in recent months I've felt my brain or eyes aren't coping with it (probably foggy brain can't handle it) and I've developed double vision which doesn't help with the light headedness that I'm getting too

Optician said I've got 6th nerve palsy in the left eye and is referring me to the hospital (so that is now tissue specialist for my burning mouth syndrome and now the eye clinic)

I asked what on earth has caused this and she said it's a sudden onset of muscle weakness, I mentioned menopause and she agreed it's likely

So , not that I can handle much more appointments but wonder what next week will throw at me ?

It's getting ridiculous now, although when I am eventually at these appointments I'm definitely going to be cheeky and ask to be referred to a gynaecologist !
Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Limpy on March 28, 2015, 12:48:23 PM
Perhaps worth seeing your GP and getting them to refer you to a gynaecologist? May be quicker than waiting for the other specialist appointments.  Also, not sure tissue Specialist or Eye clinic would refer you onto gynae, may be wrong though.
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 28, 2015, 01:44:01 PM
I asked the gp on thurs about a possible referral and said they would want to see that the gp has tried first balancing out the hormones

I just don't get the most common symptoms (flushes and periods (I've had a hysterectomy)) but am getting lots and lots of others xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: countrybumpkin on March 28, 2015, 01:46:12 PM
The muscle weakness is quite common I remember my mother in law having it ( sudden onset of double vision) she was okay again in 3 weeks and could start driving again.

I was born with severe shortsightedness and am now partially sighted with other complications of severe myopia.  Theoretically they can operate on me and remove all the gel in my eyes and replace the lenses to improve my sight but they have to do both eyes two weeks apart ( unless they blind me which is  50/50) because my brain could not cope with one eye being able to see and the other only seeing what it can at present.  I doubt your prescription difference in your eyes is enough to cause problems like double vision but it can happen as in my case.  As I only have 50/50 chance of not being blinded I am not being operated on yet!!

I am 2 years post meno and have at least two pages of new health problems ::)
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 28, 2015, 02:35:54 PM
This started at least a couple of months ago but is getting more annoying

Optician said unless they find no other cause for it most sufferers return to normal vision by about the 6th month

I've never investigated corrective laser surgery because I'd be too worried that something bad would happen and my contact lens man said last week I'd probably still need to wear glasses/lenses but with a reduced prescription, so it's just not worth it
Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: dazned on March 28, 2015, 03:01:09 PM
Hi just thought I'd let you know that was extremely short sighted -8 in one eye and - 7 in other ! Then one eye got worse and optician said he could guarantee if he prescribed New glasses ( at a great cost I might add) that I wouldn't get double vision as my brain wouldn't be able to cope with the difference between the two eyes so he suggested laser on both eyes which I had done NHS. Now can see fine only glasses for reading after 50 years of needing very strong lenses.
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 28, 2015, 05:14:12 PM
Hi just thought I'd let you know that was extremely short sighted -8 in one eye and - 7 in other ! Then one eye got worse and optician said he could guarantee if he prescribed New glasses ( at a great cost I might add) that I wouldn't get double vision as my brain wouldn't be able to cope with the difference between the two eyes so he suggested laser on both eyes which I had done NHS. Now can see fine only glasses for reading after 50 years of needing very strong lenses.

Omg Dazned that's amazing !

Right let me make sure I've got this correct

You were very short sighted but had laser surgery on Nhs and now distance is perfect ?
How did you manage it on Nhs ?
Btw, if I've read it right, I'm so happy for you !
Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: dazned on March 28, 2015, 05:30:19 PM
Yes that's right ! Extremely short sighted ,had to pay alot to get lenses thinned down so they didn't look like jam jars  ;D

But then right one got alot worse then left one ,optician said next pair would cost about £500 with the thinning and then he couldn't guarantee that after paying for them I wouldn't get double vision as my brain might not be able to cope with the difference between both eyes ! So he suggested the only option really was laser treatment so he preferred me to the hospital .I waited about 6 months for 1st eye then had to wear a contact lenses in the bad eye to even them up until I had the other one done about 6 months later. It was amazing ,the very next day I could see out the "Done" eye. They can put in sense for both short and long distance but it's still not perfected,so optician advised not to go that route so I just went for short sighted rectification. Now no more glasses! Only for reading which I can get anywhere. X
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 28, 2015, 07:35:36 PM
That really is so good !

My double vision is in the left eye , I pay monthly for my contacts
So she suggested I get the freebie ones to allow me to see near which I'm finding difficult lately even though the lenses worked well up until all this

Once I'm sorted and diagnosis is that it's short lived I'm opting for proper prescription lenses in both eyes so long distance is perfect then will pay for bi focals for pc/written work

I can't remember my proper prescription (they haven't told me recently) but my contacts at present are -5 and -3 (to see far-near) but think they were -5.75 and -5.5

Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: dazned on March 28, 2015, 07:41:16 PM
Mine were -6/7 in one and -8 in other !
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 28, 2015, 07:44:34 PM
I dread to think how it felt, I can't walk about home without contacts or glasses as I tread on things or bump into things and certainly can't find things.
But if I do my eyelashes or my nails, I wear nothing and it's perfect !

My old optician told me he had a Eastern European patient with -9 prescription

As you know, you pick your frames then the price shoots up with thinning the lenses !
Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Limpy on March 28, 2015, 07:47:09 PM
Dazned, It's so so encouraging to hear of your success in getting laser treatment for your short sight.

I HATE wearing gasses, mine are very very thick.
I am -11 in my right eye -8 in the left. I have always been shot down in flames if I suggested surgery, even privately funded  :'(
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: dazned on March 28, 2015, 08:22:01 PM
Oh poor Limpy I feel for you and glasses were so expensive!  :-\

Why we're you shot down ?
The procedure took about 20mins and I could see straight away just had to wear a shield at night for about 7 days to prevent accidentally rubbing it and had to use ABdrops for week. Job done painless ! Ask again and then ask why not the optician I used was Boots.
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Limpy on March 28, 2015, 08:43:32 PM
They, i.e. 3 different sets of opticians said, with big intakes of breath, "but it's so risky"
so, what with that and OH saying "well your accommodation will have gone now" I just never followed it up.

The thiner lensed glasses don't look as bad but they are awful heavy, however I am going to use lenses for as long as I possibly can.
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 28, 2015, 09:27:19 PM
Wow, I've never come across anyone with worse eyes than me before (apart from the mention of the Eastern European lady)

I hate when I have to wear glasses, I have to buy kids ones as I have a small head lol

Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Limpy on March 29, 2015, 09:33:43 AM
Yep, Annie, a real life example of somebody with worse eyes than you.

I got a new pair of glasses about a year ago. What I did was get plastic framed ones, so with the thinner lenses, the actual frames help to mask the thickness of the lenses. They don't actually look too bad, but I still don't like wearing them.

Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 29, 2015, 10:32:06 AM
I agree
I am always directed towards the thick plastic side frames because they can only reduce the thickness so much can't they ? Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Limpy on March 29, 2015, 11:29:06 AM
That's exactly it.
Also, my eyes still look very very small through the lenses.
Hey ho, at least I can see  ::)
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: rosebud57 on March 29, 2015, 11:40:12 AM
As good as our opticians are there are limits to their knowledge regarding some eye conditions. 

I was once sent to an emergency eye clinic at our local hospital, because the optician thought my retina was detaching.  I turned out I had an 'optical migraine'
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 29, 2015, 12:08:30 PM
As good as our opticians are there are limits to their knowledge regarding some eye conditions. 

I was once sent to an emergency eye clinic at our local hospital, because the optician thought my retina was detaching.  I turned out I had an 'optical migraine'

I guess it's better to be safe than sorry and refer to specialists

Years ago our optician saw a mole at the back of my daughters eye and referred her, fortunately it was nothing serious but the consultant said run a Mile from any new optician that doesn't notice it as the good ones will see it

My 2 sons have kerotoconus and their opticians both referred them ASAP
Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: CLKD on March 29, 2015, 02:05:49 PM
drop in oestrogen = laxity of muscles
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 29, 2015, 02:39:21 PM
drop in oestrogen = laxity of muscles

Yes I think that's what the optician was more or less saying, but wants anything more serious ruled out

It's worse in the left eye, objects are doubled and into the next object, whereas right is very slight and overlapping slightly, close my left and it's gone ! Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: CLKD on March 29, 2015, 02:48:24 PM
Difficult.  One could accept this if 1 had taken a drinkies/several  ;)
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 29, 2015, 03:46:36 PM
Definitely, what with this and light headed/swimming feeling I always feel like I've hit the bottle without experiencing the giggles and fun !
Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: GeordieGirl on March 29, 2015, 08:16:25 PM
drop in oestrogen = laxity of muscles

It really is like piecing together bits of a jigsaw this...

I've always had good eyesight until around last year when my eyes seem to take a while to focus on a morning, or I struggle to refocus if I spend time looking at a book or screen. I thought it was overuse of computers....it's starting to make a little more sense now.

That oestrogen drop really is a bit of a bugger. 

GG x
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: honeybun on March 29, 2015, 08:31:29 PM
My eyesight has deteriorated a lot over the past two years. I'm due an eye test soon. Maybe it's not just age related thing.

My mother has always had very poor eyesight. I remember as a child her having thick glasses. Now she spends a small fortune getting the glass ground down as thin as they can. She manages to have quite light weight frames though.

Honeyb
x
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 29, 2015, 08:57:28 PM
Another reason for my hospital referral is because if this isn't a short lived problem I'll have to prisms (?) put into lenses and glasses

Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: CLKD on March 29, 2015, 09:49:01 PM
Prisms - do you remember Pollyanna hanging those across the windows …………  ;)
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 30, 2015, 07:32:15 PM
Prisms - do you remember Pollyanna hanging those across the windows …………  ;)

No???!!!! Lol
What are they ? Xx
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: CLKD on March 30, 2015, 09:49:43 PM
you're not as old as me then  ;D

In the bedroom of the grumpy old man was a chandelier - so Pollyanna took it from the ceiling and hung the pendants (prisms) across the window to make a rainbow on the wall …….
Title: Re: 6th nerve palsy
Post by: Annie0710 on March 30, 2015, 10:01:01 PM
you're not as old as me then  ;D

In the bedroom of the grumpy old man was a chandelier - so Pollyanna took it from the ceiling and hung the pendants (prisms) across the window to make a rainbow on the wall …….

Never heard of it !!
I am 48 in years CLKD, 88 in body ! Xx