dry eyes

D

dude1234

New member
Hi flemmy,

Self-medicating may have exacerbated your problems. It may be your immune system that is weak, not your adrenals. Did you have your adrenals checked out so you have a true diagnosis? We can really upset the natural balance we need by looking at symptoms and assuming we know the cause. I'm not saying that is what you did. I'm just concerned!

Conjunctivitis is a viral or bacterial eye infection, not at all related to hormone balance, so that is likely what your doctor was trying to get across. Conjunctivitis can be from Herpes, or any other kind of virus or bacteria. Perhaps building up your immune system would allow your eyes to heal and stop the eye problems.

Dry eyes caused by thyroid imbalance suggests hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid), not hypothyroidism (too little thyroid). And while it is uncomfortable and irritating, that in itself doesn't cause infection. So you may want to consider the many other things that cause eye issues such as allergies, sensitivity to light (maybe a vit. A deficiency), stress, plugged or inflamed tear ducts, not getting enough sleep, etc. High metabolism whether caused by thyroid levels or not can cause dry, sensitive eyes. But those things don't cause infections. Infections suggest a low immune system, perhaps from eating too much refined food. The prepared food that has added vitamins isn't the same as eating nutritious food, since heat destroys most nutrients.

Your current eye problem could be from using the cortisone, in which case it could take a long time to recover. Really, I think a reoccurring infection is indicative of a need to eat foods high in antioxidants and maybe also take antioxidant supplements to help build up your immune system...this natural process isn't a instant or quick solution like a drug (which usually only works temporarily), but usually it works.

I hope something I said rings a bell, and that you find the solutions you need.
 
Hi and thanks for the response.

What do you mean by "true diagnosis" regarding adrenals?

I realize that my bouts of conjunctivitis may be autoimmune, or allergies etc, but I think I became predisposed to it when I messed with HC, which must have affected the protective coating on my eyes. At least, that's the best rhory I can come up with.The term "dry eyes" may be too much of a catch-all term.

I don't know what else I can do to buildup my immune system. I've been a total health nut for more than 20 years and lead a VERY healthy life. I could probablywrite a book on natural/alternative health.. I admit this has me stumped. According to a book I'm reading by a Dr. TIntera, Hypoadrenocorticism, I may have been born with weak adrenals, or at least developed them early on..

Thanks for the suggestions.
-michael
 
Hi flemmy

I am very much into self-treatment as much as seems safe and plausible, which of course is always a personal judgment call. I am one to research and try things on my own, too. I prefer non-toxic solutions. I know I can be too close to my subject (me), though, and I commend you for seeking all sorts of opinions. Only you know your own body.

By true diagnosis, I mean verified by one or more doctors, where you also agree that your symptoms match the doctor's findings. You may very well be adrenal insufficient, I couldn't possibly make that judgment, not even from all I have read.

And let me say, if you are definitely having hypothyroid symptoms not explained by anything else, then a trial of thyroid hormone for six weeks to see if you improve makes sense, but no eye doctor can or would diagnose that or treat it. Most endocrinologists are more interested in acute cases, so you would need a doctor like a DO or internist, and mine is a Pain Management Specialist, who specializes in hormones and treats according to symptoms as well as test results (not one or the other).

Definitely there is a correlation of starting thyroid treatment and perhaps needing a short term adrenal boost (which can be gotten from raw adrenal in capsules or licorice root in capsules, NOT the candy) due to the stress of having your metabolism increased by thyroid med.

There are other very safe ways to rest the adrenals, like reducing stress, not eating sugar or using alcohol, etc. Basically an Addison's diet. What we ingest ingest does affect the adrenals.

The symptoms of Addison's' Disease (hypoadrenocorticism), that I have read, have nothing to do with infected eyes, which is why I asked if you have been diagnosed beyond what you have read. The testing for hypoadrenocorticism is much more complicated than just a cortisol test. It involves a blood sugar test and other things and involves the symptoms below. I don't know your other symptoms. I didn't even realize there was more than one page to this thread.

The symptoms of low adrenal are
Weight loss
Fatigue
Low blood pressure
Hyperpigmentation
Weakness
Anorexia
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Bronze color skin darkening
Hypotension

Dr. Tintera's did research with only 200 patients over 15 years, and his writings indicate that he treated adrenal deficiency to reverse hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue, alcoholism, allergies, arthritis and certain types of schizophrenia by administering Hydrocortisone by injection. He noted that it's use could easily create further hormonal deficiencies in other hormone producing organs. Even today, Hydrocortisone is not to be used longer than ten days for any reason, due to its potential for damaging imbalance effects.
http://www.fred.net/slowup/tint01.html

The website was preapproved by the Administrator

I'm just saying that the eye issues seem to me to be unrelated to either hypothyroidism or the adrenal...but I do think you easily may have hormonal imbalances, such as age related, needing a little thyroid boost, maybe even short term.
 
Hi. I've had Dry Eye Syndrome officially diagnosed for 16 years now.

You didn't give us your age. My Ophthomologist has said that is is more common as people age. I got it in my early 20's though. I really think mine was a combination of genetics and moving to a low humidity climate.

If your environment is dry, a h umidifier can help.

Natural tear drops have been extremely helpful over the years. My preference is Refresh tears.

I also have known allergies and get allergic conjunctivitis frequently. Allergy treatments have helped with that.

If you have bad dry eye, punctal plugs could help. Any natural tears you do make won't drain and will stay on your eye to help with the dry eye. You can also go with tear duct cauterization, but the plugs seem effective to me.

There is Restasis for dry eye. It is very effective, but it is very expensive.
 
Hi again..

Well, then, I guess I have a "true" diagnosis, as I got a doctor to agree with me after he saw my saliva test results and prescribed 12.5 mg HC.

As for being hypothyroid, as I've said, my present doctor says my numbers are "normal," while people on thyroid forums say that they are not. According to Dr. Rind's chart, I have a lot more adrenal symptoms than thyroid. But then, the two systems work together, so......that's why I was posting on the thyroid forum with this originally.

I've tried adrenal glandulars, licorice, and even 1 gr Thyroid-S for some time, with no great improvement in symptoms. I'm beginning to realize that my case may be more than I can handle on my own...so am trying a new, holistic MD in about 6 weeks.

Thanks,
-m
 
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