Visual difficulties Options

[maureend]

Does anyone else have trouble with their vision when you have a headache? I never had a problem with headaches until recently especially when I am off the progesterone cream.  My vision is one eye gets a little blurry. It sort of comes and goes with the muscle tension in my head. I guess add this to  the list of symptoms!!Take care ladies

[Nina Bellanti]

yes im going through this right now!!!  I am just starting to get migraines.  I am experiencing dizziness, and my eyes feel like there is pressure around them which makes my vision seem jumpy or hard to focus almost like i want to go cross eyed.  

[MaryO]

That sounds kind of like an ocular migraine.  My husband has/had that and he has medications that he can take.  You sould ask your optometrist or doctor about this.

[wildflowers]

about 8 years ago..i had the vision problem with words sort of jumping around the pages..and more like half the page was black..on/for a few wks..went to the dr. after the first time..(not my current dr. who doesn't know much..the one before him..who knew a little more..)..he said it was occular migraines.. (no pain at all)  prescribed some meds. to take..and i said can i take them and function in life..he says no..you have to go lay down in a dark room..i said nope..can't do that..stubborn..i asked my gyn. specialist i'd been seeing..he said even back then..its peri symptoms.(actually he smiled and said ..its the beginning of peri stuff..).i was then 40..they went away by themselves..but if a guy can get that..maybe it could be..but mine just went away  after a month or so..

[meesh1271]

I have had migraines all my life and more recently they have changed, I always had visual distrubances(flashes of light in front of my eyes) but I have started getting blurred vision and eyesight changes (one day I can see clearly and another I can't see anything but blurred images unless I get close). I get headaches more often than I used to aswell. I get 2 types now 'migraines' and what I call 'non drinking hangovers' and I get one of these about twice a week maybe 3 times if I'm unlucky.I just take good painkillers (prescription strength) and if it gets too bad go to bed if I can.Bye for now and best wishes,Michelle.

[Kari]

I used to get migraines all the time but they went away during my menopausal years, and are now replace with visual problems. My eyesight seems to have gotten worse and it's like i've lost my focusing ability.  Sometimes my eyeballs tickle.....if that's possible. I went to my sons school conferences and just about freaked when I looked at the blackboard and the words seemed to be in 3-D. They looked like they were standing out in front of the board. I guess i'd better make an appt. with the eye doc.    :o

[Dearest]

Sounds so familiar. I, too, suffered with migraines during perimenopause along with the eye problems, but they eventually stopped. Get occasional headaches now, but nothing like those debilitating migraines. I'm also having blurry vision lately -- have thought maybe it's related to too much time at the computer, but it seems worse than ever. Just had my prescription changed last year and think I'm ready to have another change this year, too.

What I've found helpful is Visine-A. It has a mild antihistamine in it, so it's good for those allergy/sinus eye issues, but also is comforting when your eyes feel strained and fuzzy. You might want to try it.

Dearest

[Kari]

Thanks Dearest------I'll try the Visine-A.  Maybe it will help with what I call gunky eyes.....this might be an allergy issue.  Geez, it seems my entire body has aged overnight.

[lattymom]

I just cant get over all the weird things that go along with perimenopause. I had been contemplating seeing an optometrist. I see things like everything is hazy. Colors dont look as bright. I even want to paint our home in vivid colors just for that reason. It's not something that is overwhelming it just is. And before I began this journey my eyes were near perfect. I'm so glad that others have similar problems. It's a relief..Susan.

[CMulcrone]

I figured this vision thing might have something to do with menopause, but my main frustration right now is that my eyes are changing so fast I can't keep the same correction for long--that can get expensive! I will end up with a drawer full of glasses at this rate. Also frequent headaches from trying to make do with glasses that aren't quite right, or maybe even way off. I wear contact lenses too, but I found I preferred the glasses because I could have a shot at reading (something I like to do) if I push them to the end of my nose, but with the lenses I'm stuck--reading glasses don't work well at all, same story of having to have 6 different strengths, depending on what day it is, and lately the strongest (highest number) isn't enough. This is a major bummer, the rest of menopause stuff didn't bother me much. My eyes have been very myopic all my life, and gradually worsening. But, I could go at least 2-3 yrs. before needing a new rx, now it's every few months, once my prescription changed by half a diopter in a week!! I stopped having periods a couple years ago, so I thought I was past most of the changes, but this vision thing has gotten really bad in the last year or so.I did have one ocular migraine about 10 years ago, that was really wierd because I didn't know what it was, but since it was only hours long it was a mere drop in the ocean. But the rapid visual acuity changes will be enough to bankrupt me. How long will this go on, I wonder?

I tried monovison contacts--that's where they undercorrect your weak eye, so it does all the close work, and the other eye's job becomes reading the highway signs and other long-distance work. I mention this because it may have something to do with my present situation. I decided to quit the monovision route a year ago because I felt like it was making me cross-eyed. Even now, a year later, I don't think I converge my eyes normally. If I walk into my darkened bedroom and look at the digital clock, I see two of them, and can't converge the images at all.

[tazler]

I had my doctor increase my strength of progesterone from 2% up to 10% before my migraines stopped.  Somtimes I get a mild headache but not every month.

[EveningPrimrose]

Hi,

I'm just wondering if anyone has this problem.  I keep getting visual disturbances and they make me somewhat anxious.  I get the experience of seeing a tiny zig zag which gets worse until my vision is disrupted.  ie. I'm partially blind in one eye and then at the moment it gets worse and I think I cant stand it anymore it disappears.  There is no headache with it although I am having a lot of migraines just lately.  The visual problem does not always start with a zig zag, sometimes its something else.  This happened when I was driving about a week back and I had to turn back and come home.  Now I find I'm waiting for this to happen again and any slight visiul disturbance (even sunlight glare) makes me anxious.  I've become anxious anyway because there are so many symptoms that keep ocurring and it takes me by surprise. I keep thinking "what the hell is happening to me now"  

When I walk in a darkened room from bright sunlight, everything seems strange, almost like everything is exaggerated.  I feel like a hypochondriac more and more each day.  I would be grateful if someone could reasure me about this.

Thanks

Gez

[MaryP]

I'm a bit late replying to this, just read it tonight.  I had this same strange thing happen for the first time a couple of years ago.  It has happened three or four times since.  I feel it has to do with occular migraine.   I worried that it had something to do with my eye lense, or something equally drastic, but it has not develped into a problem and I have seen my eye doctor since.  My migraines are worse with perimenopause, and come like clockwork each month, so I guess it all has to do with  the same thing.Mary P.

[EveningPrimrose]

Mary, thanks for your reply. I just happened to see your post because i'm 9 days away from menstruation and I have a really bad migraine. They seem to be occuring more often around this time. I'm hoping they will settle down. Thanks and I hope you're well. Gez

[darling]

Yes Gez and all I have severe migrains closer to my periods and very dry eyes which make it hard to wear contacts. Using drops helps. Progesterone helps but i am worried when i have to take a break from it. cause it helps so much except for the last 2 days my head is real bad. Sometimes i have to go to the hospital to get help.

[EveningPrimrose]

Oh Darling, I'm sorry they are that bad that you have to go to the hospital. I'm trying to drink lots of water to help clear mine or at least relieve some of the pain. Has anyone else had any luck with natural remedies to help with migraine? Darling, I'll try and catch up with you soon in insta-chat. Take care Gez

[paulinep]

Hi Gez I also suffer with migraines since i turned 40, before that i very rarely had headaches. But now i always get them just before period starts and for 6 days if not more afterwards as well. In the end i went to the doctors as they are really getting me down thats when he said they are migraines and gave me tabs to take at night time. But i read the side effects and did'nt bother thats me for ya scare myself silly worrying as to what might happen to me if i take them. I now just take pain killers and they help a little at least make it bearable. They do not seem to help much with the foggyness that i have. I have read that Butterbor i think that is how you spell it is supposed to be good, and i think i will get my son to pick me some up from Solihull there is a very good health store there that sells just about anything you need. For you Town may be easier and there is a good shop in the Palisades. Take care Pauline

[EveningPrimrose]

Hi Pauline, My migraines usually start around 4 days before my period and last for 3 days after. Its a long time to have a headache and like you I'm very wary of taking meds becasue of the potential side effects. I tend to take a painkiller but only if it gets unbearable. I'm a few days away from my period and funnily enough the headache is gone. I just have lots of anxiety, heart palps and my breasts are sore. I dont get sore breasts usually but its something that is now starting to occur. I feel that this is becoming so unpredictable now and dont know where the hell I am with this. Hope youre well today. Gez PS..Got your e-mail this AM, will write to you later.

[paulinep]

Hi Gez To help with the sore breasts take evening primrose oil and vitamin E the one i like is called Quarma since i have been taking it i do not get the sore breasts. For the anxiety especially if you find it more difficult to sleep before period starts get some Valerium. The week before period starts for me is always a difficult one anxiety does get worse, and each month is so different. last month i had PMS nearly all month and was dreadful but so far this month has not been bad at all. But then i have another 9 days to go before my period is due. Hope you are ok and perhaps the period has started. Take care Pauline

[Joline]

The week before my period is always the worse time of the month for me. Every month seems different....some worse than others. I am now three days late in starting and the constant pms s*cks!!! Oh well, this too shall pass (that's what I keep telling myself anyway) Hang in there ladies......sharing in this PS community has been a true blessing! Hugs to all of you for being here.

[darling]

I have great commpassion for thos e with the migrains as mine hve been so severe. my eyes seem to do things i do not like . I went to the eye doc yesterday and i have severe dry eyes and she gave me samples of thera-eye drops and my has my vision cleared up and colors are becoming bright again. also my glasses were to strong which has made my contacts get off and now i am having to try weaker glasses to determine if i even need a change in my contacts. Hey eyes can get better with proper nutrition. This doc said so.Yeaaaaa!!!! love darling

[Hootie2000]

I am 48 years old and have just recently started having several symptoms of menopause. Can anyone tell me what I can do or take for the pressure that I have in my head and nose? A reply will be greatly appreciated.

[EveningPrimrose]

Amazing-4 days from my period and I've got hit with the most severe headache. I am out of the usual med that I take and its Sunday (no shops open), so I've had to make do with Aspirin and its not shifting it. I hate this damn peri-menopause. I feel so sick today. Hootie-I dont know what can help you with the pressure in your head. Maybe some kind of massage? I'm still yet to find a cure for my own ills. Sorry I cant help you but hopefully someone else can. I hope youre feeling batter. Gez