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Jo

by Jo
(USA)

I will be 55 in a few days. My story is similar to many, hot flashes, irritable, mood swings, and cry easily. I consider myself to me in menopause. I don't have periods as I reluctantly had a hysterectomy at age 40 but had no problems or issues. At age 50 I was diagnosed with glaucoma. I have considerable damage to the optic nerve in one eye even though my Optometrists was doing yearly tests (don't know the actual name but it's photos showing the optic nerve) and always stated that my optic nerve looked good and healthy. I'm on 2 different eye drops which I apply faithfully but absolutely hate because I am not a 'medicine' type person. That is the only prescription medicine that I take and as I said, I hate taking it but cannot find a natural alternative. I read and read until I think my eyes are going to pop out which obviously isn't good for my eyes but in my area I have nothing but conventional doctors who know everything (but know nothing!). I have found some literature linking menopause (low progesterone levels) and glaucoma but still not sure if there's any real connection. I have spent 2 days researching this website and it's contents but haven't come up with any literature connecting these 2 issues. I have ordered 3 tubes of Natpro and am anxious to see if it will help with my other symptoms. I do take 5,000IU's of D-3, a Non-GMO Whole Food Multi vitamin for women over 40, probiotics, and other various supplements that may or may not help with my glaucoma (alpha Lipoic Acid and Lutein & Bilberry). Also, several years ago my GYN did a Cholesterol test and Bone density test and suggested medication for both. I supplement for the osteopenia with Calcium, Magnesium, and K2 and exercise/lift weights and I don't worry about my 'high cholesterol' of 212 because my HDL is at an excellent level (as are my trigs) and I question the whole dangers of 'high cholesterol' anyway. I would appreciate any information or advice that you could give me. My glaucoma was diagnosed in the same time period as my menopause symptoms began. Can there be a connection between the two? Thanks!

Comments for Jo

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Aug 11, 2013
 Jo
by: Wray

Hi Jo It's interesting you made the connection with menopause symptoms. Oestrogen does cause water retention, the eyes are no exception. I've found if my progesterone levels drop my focal length changes, anecdotal of course! It's also implicated in nose problems like rhinitis too. There are many progesterone and oestrogen receptors on the face. I've found a few papers you could look through, see here and here. This last is interesting as they found oestradiol eye drops had neuroprotective effects. But oestradiol blood levels rose too high. I do wonder if the oestradiol drops stimulated progesterone and it was this which gave the neuroprotection. Oestrogen primes cells to produce progesterone. Here's another on oestrogen. It's such a pity they only look at oestrogen and not progesterone, it's something so far from their minds that it barely exists. There are many studies showing how neuroprotective progesterone is with none of the adverse side effects which oestrogen has. And this paper here suggests it's the lack of oestrogen at menopause which causes our ageing and glaucoma! Heaven help us. Progesterone is the anti-ageing hormone, see here, here, here, here and here. It seems Contraceptive users are at risk, see here. Concluding with "These data add further support for a role of circulating estrogen in the pathogenesis of POAG." Interestingly more women suffer from glaucoma than men, see here. Of course the reasons given are due to the fact women outlive men, plus the fact oestrogen levels decline in menopause.
Continued below
Aug 11, 2013
 Jo Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Jo But women continue to make oestrogen from their fat cells, see here, here, here, here and here. And if this study is correct, the menopausal ovary is an androgen producing organ, see here. Oestrogen is converted from testosterone by the enzyme aromatase. Ironically cancer and heart disease increase after menopause, never once do researchers think this could be due to the very low progesterone levels. I would be interested to hear once you start the progesterone if it helps you. Please be aware of Oestrogen Dominance, as this could increase the pressure in your eyes initially. Please have a vitamin D test done, 5000iu is a good dose, but if levels are low it doesn't raise them quickly if at all. And please check your multi vitamin for vitamin A, it's often added but it inhibits vitamin D, see here, here and here. Please be cautious about too much calcium, if you eat foods containing it, the vitamin D will draw it from the gut. It's usually magnesium which is in short supply. These are two excellent sites you could look through Vitamin D Council and GrassrootsHealth. I do agree with you about cholesterol, besides it now seems high triglycerides are a better predictor, and yours are low. Continued below
Aug 11, 2013
 Jo part 3
by: Wray

Hi Jo Finally taurine, is so important for the eyes, it's a potent antioxidant. After the heart there's more taurine in the eyes than anywhere else. It's high in all tissues which are subject to oxidative stress, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. I make up 2% taurine eye drops for myself using taurine and distilled water. I use them morning and night, and find them very soothing. Take care Wray

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