I've been dabbling around the edges of the Menopause BTD, asking lots of questions. Yesterday convinced me that I'm going to have to make a more serious commitment. Among the tissues that are drying out are my eyes.

Two weeks ago I had a sudden sharp pain in my right eye. It was very scary, because at the time my nephew was in the hospital with a critical cornea infection. I got into the doctor the next day. After looking at my eyes for a long time, he said I had several small scratches, and he thought it was the result of a virus. He gave me an antibiotic ointment and told me to come back in two days. When I went back, the doctor was very pleased. The scratches were almost healed. I continued the ointment for the rest of the week, and went back to my usual routines.

Saturday night I went to bed feeling perfectly normal. Sunday morning the alarm went off, I opened my eyes, and felt a sharp pain. Lubricating drops did not help. I started the ointment again, but it didn't help much either. This was even scarier than before. Not only did it hurt more, but I was concerned that the virus had relapsed.

After church I called the ophthalmologist's office and spoke to the doctor on call. He said, "Based on what you're telling me, I don't think it was a virus. You wouldn't have gotten over a virus that fast. I think that you have very dry eyes. Your lashes are sticking to your cornea in the night, and when you wake, you are scratching your cornea. Use the ointment every 2-4 hours if you have to keep your eye lubricated. If you don't feel better by tonight, call my cell phone, and I will meet you at the office."

Wow - It has been years since I dealt with a doctor with that attitude of service! The more I thought about it, the more I thought he was right about the dry eyes too. Everything else was drying out and hurting, why not my eyes as well. My eye was slightly better by the end of the day, and much improved by morning. I guess I will have to start using lubricating drops morning and night.

If giving up a few more foods and adding a few unfamiliar foods on the Menopause BTD will keep be from drying up, I'll do it. It hurts to read today because the ointment floats around, making the letters swim. Tomorrow, I'm going to start reading the menopause book from the beginning.