Hi everyone,
Have I been barking up the wrong tree the whole time? I've been a strong advocate for low dose Dhea (2,5 mgs, preferably sublingual / intravaginal) to increase mouth & eye moisture. Which worked - until menopause hit me.
Last month my eyes were so painfully infected I was prepared to drink horse pee! Fortunately it didn't come to that as I dug up a scientific paper from 2007 claiming progesterone rubs on the eyelids 2x daily can treat eye inflammation.
I tried testosterone, estriol and Dhea cream, but had never seen progesterone mentioned. When I woke up last Wednesday morning I immediately felt a stark difference. My eyes didn't stick or hurt!
Gradually the improvement amplified; the cornea is finally healing & now I rarely grab eye drops.
Progesterone is plausible, as all hormones dwindle in menopause. But I sure wish I'd known sooner!
I have also suspected that Progesterone is key, but Progesterone cream that I used didn't make a difference for my eyes.
I did only use it at night though.
Maybe I wasn't using the right one?
Which type of Progesterone did you use?
Hi Sharon,
Like I posted in the paramount study about hormones before, it's probably due to their interaction. Like an orchestra playing together.
As I also take a pinprick of transdermal testosterone, 2.5 mgs of Dhea and a 1/4 tablet 2x weekly of Livial, I suspect progesterone is the missing ingredient (or musical conductor, lol... ).
The brand I use is Pro-Gest (natural progesterone, by Emerita). I apply on upper and lower eyelids at dawn & night. I'm truly amazed at the beneficial effect.
Study: https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2382585
That's the same one I used :)
How wonderful that you've found relief!
I think I'll try the cream again with the instructions you suggested.
I've heard some great things about progesterone for dryness, glad it worked for you!
do you buy it on amazon?
Hi Blue,
Well, it was some time ago. I don't think I got it from Amazon; probably just a regular website.
Good luck!
I ordered it from iherb.
thanks Maria and Sharon
Thank you,Maria,
I just ordered Pro-Gest from Amazon.
Hope I have some relief and I will keep you all posted!
Regards, Elaine
You're welcome everyone ;D. Hope it pays off for all of us trying this natural progesterone cream.
I forgot to mention that for the first 3 or 4 days I applied it up to 4x daily to get the glands going again. I have now reduced to 2x, but I feel I need 3x (unpractical, because that requires an extra application at lunchtime when I'm at the office wearing eye make up - progesterone eye drops would be easier).
My dryness is exacerbated by quetiapine which I use as an anxiolytic and sleep aid.
Keen to learn your results! Please keep us posted!
Thanks so much for sharing Maria3667.
I may ask my hormone dr if it can be made up at the compounding chemist.
What strength is the progesterone cream please?
I use natural hrt & my body loves progesterone!!
I'm feeling hopeful......
Lotus1
Have any more of you tried this yet? I'm considering getting the Pro Gest but wondered if there were any more good news stories.
Hi Araminta,
Been on a tiny amount of Pro-Gest for 1 month now. The effects are impressive! Eye moisture is almost back to normal :D
There's 1 snafu: after a year's absence my period returned! How can such a tiny amount (1/2 a green pea) have this effect?
Also, saliva flow & mouth burning have improved!
Thanks Maria, very glad you're getting good help with this. I might give progesterone another go. I tried it before without much noticeable difference, but never on eyelids.
Might be good to try. It's pretty cheap, 1 tube lasts a long time and it's very effective.
By the way, I've given up on Dhea totally and have not noticed worsening of dryness issues (but do get fatigued quicker and have slightly more backache).
may be this has already been cleared but I see that you also are on transdermal testosterone; the good effect could be from testosterone plus progesterone? did you try quitting testosterone?
Hi Blue,
As a matter of fact I was already using testosterone when my eye dryness severely deteriorated. As it's benefits other symptoms (saliva flow, muscle tone and dry skin) I'd rather not quit using it.
Maybe testosterone does enhances the effect of progesterone? The study claims sole benefit from progesterone alone, so it's difficult to say.
Have you tried it yet?
ciao Maria, non i did not but I will. do you take testosterone in pills? I am afraid in Italy that in pills we do not have it, I mean without other components. I tried it in cream for vaginal dryness with dhea.
Good morning Blue,
Merry Christmas!
No I use testosterone cream, even though I have tried capsules in the past (from endocrinologists, but you have to take a high dose as most of it is broken down in the liver). The cream is prescribed by a naturopath and made by a compounding pharmacy.
Hi everyone
I tried the progest cream I ordered from e-vitamins.
Since the cream contained safflower seed & almond oils I reacted.
My eyes swelled & went blurry after 1 day's trial.
It was no surprise as when I eat nuts & seeds (including traces) I react with hives.
I'm discussing having progesterone cream made by the compounding chemist to trial with my hormone dr on Wed.
If dr complies I'm hoping for a good result like yourself Maria3667.
I'll let you all know how I go!
Roll on moisture!!!!!!!
Take care people.
Lotus1
I received protest but I am wondering if any of you who use it are old ladies . I am afraid that protest can make a mess in my sleeping hormones... I will ask to my gyno