Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Jett on September 29, 2023, 04:43:44 PM
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I’m losing it. Two panic attacks in a week. Eyes so dry they wake me at night feeling like my eyeballs have stuck to my eyelids so wake up feeling like a half shut knife. Spend the day anxious, in tears, a wreck not able to function.
Mirena is still there. On 3 pumps gel now. Eye drops and gels were helping but seem to have stopped working. I am losing the will.
Sorry this is such a moan but it feels hopeless - how do I achieve some sort of balance again.
I am going to ask to go back on patches they were better than this. Though how do I find out what’s not right - estrogen level, absorption, Mirena, something else?
Sorry just had to get it off my chest. Thanks all, hope you are all having a better day.
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I’m so sorry to hear that you are suffering so badly. Try and get that GP appointment as soon as you can. Things can and will get better with the right treatment . Big hugs to you x
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Thank you so much xxx
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I have thar with my eyes occasionally for a few days at a time. You can get the green hycosan eyes drops for daytime and gel ones you put in at night time only. Both from your optician. They do help, especially the gel. The eyelid sticking to eyeball feeling is horrible 😥
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Thank you Penguin, the Hycosan gel was helping but last night not sure what was going on as it didn’t seem to work.
It’s encouraging you don’t need it all the time, I’m hoping if I can figure out what has aggravated my eyes I can level them out and improve them. Researching it folk have asked if the Mirena kicks it off and also both too much estrogen and too little has been mentioned- looks like it happens when things are out of balance.
Sending hugs to everyone xxx
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Thank you Penguin, the Hycosan gel was helping but last night not sure what was going on as it didn’t seem to work.
It’s encouraging you don’t need it all the time, I’m hoping if I can figure out what has aggravated my eyes I can level them out and improve them. Researching it folk have asked if the Mirena kicks it off and also both too much estrogen and too little has been mentioned- looks like it happens when things are out of balance.
Sending hugs to everyone xxx
I do seem to get it once a month without fail, same time usually as my finger joints start hurting and I can dry on the outer bit down below. I'd hazard a guess and say low estrogen. However, progesterone is also a diuretic and I find myself peeing for England and very thirsty on the 12 days I take that, so it could be that as well. I'll have to see if there is a patter but it's horrible isn't it.
Ooh also one other thing that works a bit for overall dryness is a humidifier in the bedroom. I have a small one I leave on overnight. Can't say I've noticed if it helps eyes directly but my mouth is less dry!
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I use eye drops as necessary. Sometimes my eyes feel gritty and sore .
How do U feel on 3 drops? It can take 3-6 months B4 the body takes up replacement .
As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out.
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Hi Jett,
Think loads of us have been in your position..some days\weeks everything crashes. But amazing women on here have always reassured me that the downs are always followed by ups, even if you can't see it right now.
It can be hard to work out what is right and what is wrong in your regime. Tempting as It is to change everything at once, it may be better to do one thing at a time otherwise wont know what change is the better bit.
Can you ask your gp for blood tests to check oestrogen levels, I know they may alter a bit during cycles, but it may showing there is a huge difference. If you were happier on patches any not to back on them? Give them a chance to settle before thinking about altering your progesterone if you will still need to. Too much change at once may freak your body out too much at once?
And don't apologise for a moan, we all.there at some time or another.
Take care
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Thank you for your reply CLKD. It feels like 3 drops doesn’t work any longer.
SarahT thanks to you too for your kind words of support- you have really helped me by suggesting a practical approach of eliminating things one by one. So that’s what I will do- first step back to the patches and see how that goes.
Thanks to you all in this amazing community you have really helped xxx
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My optician recently advised me to use the drops with eyes open, then close the eyes and run the liquid along the lashes top and bottom: then gently massage the top eye lid towards the nose with a slight downward movement. Which encourage the liquid to cover the whole eye as well as removing grit etc. gently.
At least 3 times a day and certainly, last thing.
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Thank you so much CLKD I will try this and let you know if it helps any. xxx
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Just to check, did these symptoms come on after coming off hrt, or at a different time? Problem is, as I know from experience, that GPs put everything down to the menopause, when there could be so many other reasons instead, or in addition to this.
Just thinking perhaps they might run some comprehensive blood tests? Possible hyperthyroid came to mind. There's a forum by Thyroid uk on health unlocked that is very helpful. Good luck. X
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If an optician has checked eyes then using drops appropriately should be fine.
What are the symptoms of thyroid disfunction? I remember a friend developed gold fish eyes which was a sign of over active I think. She had to undergo surgery.
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My daughter has Sjogrens syndrome which is an auto immune disease that causes dry eyes amongst other symptoms. She uses special eye drops very frequently (sorry can't remember the name).
It's probably not that for you hopefully but just a thought.... hope you feel a bit better soon, anxiety is the pits x
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My eyelids stick to my eye balls all night long.
I use the red Hycosan extra drops. I get them from Amazon. About 10 quid. But so worth it.
My eyes go from hellish.....to completely soothed in seconds.
I use about 4 drops each eye.....probably 3 x a night.
I keep eyes shut as too stuck to open, tilt head back, 4 drops on closed eye then blink blink to get the drops to run down into my eye and that works for me x
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Thank you for your kindness everyone
:-*
Shorty Pants, the symptoms- the dry eye has appeared since I changed to Mirena and Oestrogel (4 months on those but the eye problem has just developed in the last month- I did not have it before) the anxiety and panic I had a couple of years ago and was helped hugely by evorel conti patches but had to come off them due to thickening of womb lining and fibroids
Both my mum and gran both had thyroid issues- I have had a set of bloods done but apparently levels are ok just now. I am aware this could be something I am susceptible to given family history and also know the NHS tests don’t always pick it up…I will have a look at the forum you have suggested, thank you!
Julia Dizzy, thank you for the info, I’m sorry your daughter has Sjorgens that must be so hard for her to manage. Could I ask how it is diagnosed? Is it special tests - I take it this sort of thing wouldn’t show on a routine blood test?
I have the red Hycosan Dorothy Gale, thank you for your post. They are one of the myriad of things I have been trying. I have not used them in closed eyes though so I will be sure and try that!! I will try anything right now, so very much appreciated xx
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Hi Jett, my daughter was ill with migraines, dizzyness, nausea, fatigue, eye pain for at least 4 years before she finally got that diagnosis, after visiting various Dr's, neurologists and rheumatologists. They seem to think it was all triggered when she had shingles which can mess up your immune system. She has had every treatment available to help with her auto immine conditions and head pain, the latest one being botox. The specialists say she's complicated! She was a healthy happy fun loving girl prior to this and was working in a Gp surgery.
She also has vision issues and hasn't been out for 2 months, as she has had a big flare up. It's so awful she is only 36.. she can't work and has such severe light sensitivity to the point now she can't watch Tv, even has trouble focusing on chopping/prepping meals just now and gets around in her own house in her sunglasses. :'(
So I hope it's not any of these auto immune stuff for you.x
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Julia,
Thanks so much for you reply. Your poor daughter what a horrible and debilitating condition to have to live with and navigate. All the normalcies of life becoming nigh to impossible. She sounds like an amazing person dealing with all of that as do you supporting her.
Sending love xxx
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Thank you Jett for your lovely kind words xxx