Confirmed Glaucoma Diagnosis Today

[Guest AutumnE]

As stated in my title, I had confirmation of glaucoma today in my left eye. He started me on travatan and I see him in a month to see if its helping. I read that a healthier lifestyle is recommended and he told me to cut out caffiene since it is shown in some studies to increase pressure. It is the beginning stages and I do have some vision loss but minimal he said, near my nose in my left eye only.

Has anyone here been treated with this medication? Did it work well for you? Did you do a lifestyle change with your diagnosis regarding diet? I read a few things on the internet regarding possible autoimmune related and Im wondering if this is one of those related disorders. The only person I know of related that has this is was my great grandmother. What helped you the most websites, books?

Also Im questioning me and my husband trying to concieve another child, since I cant use the drops during pregnancy and I am afraid to go without treatment for fear of damage the only option he left open was surgery before I try to have another.

I was planning on waiting till at least next year in the fall anyways due to healing from celiac disease since I only went gluten free almost six months ago. I wonder with all of my health problems and this one added if I should just not take my chances and not have anymore children. Really, Im not feeling a baby urge and it was only so my daughter would have a sibling to grow up with. Did anyone here have a pregnancy after diagnosis?

Thanks for any responses

[Ursa Major]

Autumn, I did a google search for glaucoma, and it looks like celiac disease could have caused it. Also, instead of using the medicine, you can use natural ways of controlling it, which wouldn't harm a baby. Here is an excerpt from one website:

Nutritional Deficiencies and Poor Digestion - Often sufferers of glaucoma are deficient in some or many of the important nutrients including essential fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, taurine, antioxidants, bioflavenoids, zinc, selenium, vitamin B-complex.

Here is the link to that site: Open Original Shared Link

Here is another link that looked promising Open Original Shared Link

I didn't read much in either, but they looked interesting anyway. I am sure you can find hundreds more.

[georgie]

AutumnE , This may be totally unrelated to your situation but is what happened to me. I had a very high reading and had to be rechecked for damage. And checked again. During this time my Dr found I was HypoThyroid with an autoimmune disease and started me on natural Thyroid meds. By the time I went back for 3rd eye check - my pressure was completely normal. Glaucoma runs in my family - so I am high risk. And pressure may go up & down - and it may have been unrelated to my autoimmune Thyroid. But thought I would mention it anyway. If you google search Glaucoma and Thyroid you get a lot of info. Just a thought. Dx low Thyroid can be difficult if your Dr is not aware of new ranges for blood tests.

[Guest AutumnE]

Ursula-Thank you so much, those are very informative websites. The secondary glaucoma symptoms I have had almost all of the risk factors. Including being on a high dose of motrin for years for what I thought was arthritis and I have since found out its due to celiac disease and corn intolerance. I went off them about a year ago due to fear of side effects to my heart because of it. Im afraid to not be on my medicine since my eyes are already showing damage to my vision. Losing my eyesight scares me so badly. But I do intend on looking into more supplements. And my chocolate intake was done after yesterday hopefully that will help.

Georgie- Thanks for your help also, unfortunately its not just my pressure. I failed the visual acuity test, they were showing lights and I was completely not seeing a side of them. They measured my cornea to get a baseline and it was a little thin and when they took a "picture" of my optic nerve it showed the glaucoma. Mine is one sided with the other side being just fine so I'm hopeful it will stay that way. Im still looking into armour thyroid to help though. Did you have any other testing done besides pressure tests to make sure its not the kind of glaucoma with normal pressure?

[georgie]

Did you have any other testing done besides pressure tests to make sure its not the kind of glaucoma with normal pressure?

No. They are watching me closely and after the last test he said he could see no damage. I haven't had a field of vison test. Do you think I should still ? My pressure is normal now, and the specialist looked at my eye and could see no damage of optic nerve.

I didn't really think my eye pressure change info would help you - but its always a posibilty that it could be a reason and if treated - could prevent further damage ? I haven't a scientific explanation on why eye pressure can improve after starting Armour for Thyroid. Its something to do with ocular fluid. Same story with carpal tunnel when nerve improves after fluid pressure ( Hypo) improves.

[Guest AutumnE]

Well as long as the picture of the nerve was done I wouldnt probably worry about a visual acuity test. Its a very subjective test and its more confirmation with the picture of the nerve. One other test that is new is the measurement of the cornea. They can see if your at risk for it with a thinner cornea or its a measurement for progression into glaucoma. Did he look at you through a device on a computer or was it with that little glass tool? There is a difference, the computer one I was told was more accurate. I actually could see the damage.

After cutting out caffiene and slowing down on my water made my pressure almost in the normal range. I bet medicine would make it just right. I think stress has alot to do with it also. I have had a problem with dealing with stress lately. Many, many things have happened over the last five months that haven't been the easiest to deal with. Im hopeful things will slow down and the pressure will go down from that also. Plus I have been having insomnia from what I suspect has been adrenal fatigure so hopefully I will be a much more healthier person after all of this. I would like to look into armour thyroid also though since it treats the whole thyoid instead of just t3 and t4.

Thanks for all your help I hope your pressure stays down and you dont have any problems. Take your vitamins, eat well, limit caffiene and hoepfully it will keep it away.