Vision Problem

[mtlieb]

Hi All,

I lost my eyesight briefly last night and it has me a little concerned. I was wondering if this has ever happened to anyone else here, and if it is possibly HCM related?

My left eye has been bothering me for a couple months now... it hurts quite a bit back behind it and it's uncomfortable when it moves, almost like something is pulling on it from behind. I've had some terrible headaches on that side of my head, and occasional blurred vision from both eyes. I had attributed all of this to the sinus infection but my ENT says that it could not possibly be... at least not anymore.

He also says it's perfectly normal to have all the wierd smells and tastes i've been having since the sinus surgery. I still get a very strong smell of ammonia at times, and two days ago i swear i could smell my dad's cherry-blend pipe tobacco all day like he was sitting right next to me. The man's been dead for twenty years.

My eye doctor did an intensive examination the day before i went into the hospital, and noted that my optic nerves look 'feathered', but told me that it is 'probably nothing to worry about'. The last time i heard that line, i ended up having cancer, so forgive me for being skeptical. I don't like or trust this doctor anyway since he gave me the staph infection to begin with.

Last night when i was driving in town i lost my vision entirely and it scared the crap out of me. I was on a side street with no other traffic so i was able to just stop right in the middle of the road and wait for my eyesight to come back, which took less than a minute. It's hard to explain, but it felt like my eyes had suddenly turned in seperate directions back into my head, if that makes any sense. My eyes were still blurry and painful afterwards, and the left one still is, but thankfully i was able to get myself home without a major accident.

Is this something that i should be going to the ER to have checked out, or do you think it can wait until tomorrow when i can (hopefully) get in to see another eye doctor? I'm just so tired of all the problems lately, i have to admit i'm inclined to just ignore this today.

Thanks much,

Jim

[Sarah]

Re: Vision Problem

jim,

see if your health insurance has a 24 hour nurse hotline to call, talk to them or even better also call your doctor's office and have the doctor on call paged and see what they recommend. do the later especially if you are going to the er as then they can call the er and tell them to expect you or you can have them call your doctor when you get there. you get better service that way.

and please note:
The American Stroke Association wants you to learn the warning signs of stroke:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Not all the warning signs occur in every stroke. Don't ignore signs of stroke, even if they go away!

Check the time. When did the first warning sign or symptom start? You'll be asked this important question later.

If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or.... go to the er
(from http://www.americanheart.org/present...dentifier=4742).


let us know what happens,

s

[Linda]

Re: Vision Problem

Jim, Get it checked out. It could be any number of things from migraines to who knows what. You've had a lot of "trauma" to that area recently with infection, surgery, etc. You only have 2 eyes, you don't want to take chances with them either. Sarah gave you good suggestions for checking it out. Hopefully, you will find it is something simple and easily remedied, but at this point, you just don't know. Keep us posted. Linda

[cynthiaG]

Re: Vision Problem

Jim,
You've had your share of problems. I would do as Sarah suggested. I would request for a CAT scan also. I'll be pulling for you

[Reenie]

Re: Vision Problem

Jim, I don't know if you're aware of this, but migraines aren't always accompanied by pain. There are optical migraines that only mess with your vision. I'm not diagnosing, but it's worth thinking about.

Reenie

[cynthiaG]

Re: Vision Problem

I was thinking of that after I posted. There are different kinds of migraines that cause a variety of symptoms. I used to get "cluster" migraines where my vision in one eye would get "waves" and blurry and would last for several minutes. I would get a headache after. It's worth looking into...best of luck...check this site out.

http://www.accessmednet.com/prescrip...raine-symptoms

[shirleymahoney]

Re: Vision Problem

Jim

With all the problems you've had don't take a chance, just like Sarah said you need to call your doctor on call, that is one of the stroke signs so If i were you i would be gone already, i will be praying for you and keep in touch with us


Shirley

[mtlieb]

Re: Vision Problem

I went to the ER last night, and as expected, it was about six hours of my life i wish i had back. They did bloodwork and said it looked fine, they tested my vision and said it was 20/20, and they did a CT Scan and said it didn't show that i had experienced a stroke of any kind. My eye doctor says that it cannot be my eyes causing any problems, my ENT says it cannot be my sinuses or the surgery causing any problems, my cardiologist will not return my calls, and the ER doctor suggested that maybe i should see a mental health professional. LOL. I give up!

I see my PCP in about an hour... perhaps they'll surprise me and order an MRI or send me to a neurologist. In the meantime... my eyes hurt worse and worse, i'm sick to my stomach and dizzy all the time, and i'm in HMO ****

I've officially reached the point where i now just break out in hysterical laughter every time i think about all of this.

[shirleymahoney]

Re: Vision Problem

Jim

You poor guy i feel for you, you have been through alot lately. Hang in there there's got to be something over the horizon for you


Take Care
Shirley

[cynthiaG]

Re: Vision Problem

I cannot believe the ER doctor said that! I think you'll be on the right track with a neurologist...they didnt even mention it could have been a migraine? Jim, hope you get your answer....keep in touch with us all!

[mtlieb]

Re: Vision Problem

Hey,

I saw my new PCP (Primary Care Physician) tonight. In the midst of all this crap lately, i'd gotten so fed up with the old one that i called her up and dropped her like a used kleenex into the garbage can. Goodbye and good riddance!

My new doctor made a very good first impression. Let me tell you, this guy is a man of action! Tonight was the first time the man had ever seen me, but after reviewing my medical history and recent events, the first thing he said was 'I think you've been jerked around enough, it's time to get you some answers'. He pulled some strings and got an MRI scheduled for me... tomorrow no less. He told me he's ordered the works, with and without contrast, everything from the neck up, and when it's all done he'll have a clear picture of every freakin thing that's going on in my head... sinuses, eye structures, and of course the grey matter between my ears (if there's any left). I guess it'll be a bit longer than a normal MRI, but i've never had one before so i don't really know what normal is.

I was a bit disconcerted when he started talking about multiple sclerosis... with the visual disturbances, family history, abnormal optic nerve, and some other little things i haven't really shared with you all, he wanted to prepare me for that possibility. This one hit me out of the blue entirely. But i did thank him for his honesty. I'm a guy that definitely likes to see all the cards laid out on the table, and not pussy-footed around. Besides, my feeling is this... there's not a God in the universe that would let me have MS on top of everything else, right? (Ahem... this is where you say 'Yes Jim, you are correct'.) Okay, maybe i shouldn't have asked that

He also called up a friend of his who is an eye specialist (i never know the word for it) and got me an appointment tomorrow for a second opinion. I was very grateful that he did this for me.

At any rate, it sounds like i'll spend a lot of my day tomorrow with my head in a magnetic field... woo hoo! I just happen to have some percocet left over from my surgery, so if they tell me it's okay to take one (and of course i'll ask first), i should not mind the MRI at all. I do have somewhat of a problem with enclosed spaces, and it sounds like an MRI is a bit more intense than a CT Scan. If anyone has any experience with MRI's, please fell free to share them with me tonight.

Thanks again for all your support. I just wish i didn't always need it so much! You're all great people, and someday... somebody will write songs about you

Jim

P.S. Oh... and my new doctor seems to posess enough knowledge about HCM that he asked me all the right questions, and for the first time in quite a while, i actually felt that he knew more about it than i did!

[Cynaburst]

Re: Vision Problem

OK, Jim.....MRIs, with and without contrast.....

Remember, I have had several brain MRIs both before and after my brain surgery, all within the last 2 years, so I consider myself something of an authority.

First off, you will be asked if you have anything metal in your body by way of a long questionnare. If you do, no MRI. I for example now have an ICD which I didn't have during my last MRI. So, no more MRIs for me. Dental fillings are ok, but if you have any implanted things, they will have to know more.

Ok. then you remove all of your clothes and jewelry. They bring you in the room and you should either ask for or bring ear plugs. The noises the MRI machine makes are loud pinging and banging noises.

Then, they will send you up in the machine for about 30 minutes or so. You will hear lots of banging and knocking. I recommend closing your eyes for the whole thing. If you can take something to make your relax before, you should. If you can sleep through it, that is best. The easiest one I had was when I was really drugged up. Then, they will bring you out to inject you with the contrast dye, and send you right back in. That part after the dye only takes another 10 or 15 minutes or so.

The dye feels cold going through your arm, but that's about it. Not too bad.

As I said, the best strategy is keeping your eyes closed. I never opened mine until I was out of the tube.

Good luck. I sure wish all of this stuff would stop for you. I am sure you do too, but at least you have someone's attention now.

Please keep us posted.

Best wishes.

Cynthia

[Reenie]

Re: Vision Problem

Cynthia gave good advice. Remember this, my 7 year old had an MRI last year to see if they could find a cause for his migraines. If he can do it you can too.

Reenie

[mtlieb]

Re: Vision Problem

Reenie and Cynthia,

Thanks for the great advice. The only metal i have in my body, unless there is something that i don't know about, is dental fillings. From what you have said, that is okay though. If i did happen to have any other metal in my body, what would happen? Would it become magnetized and do something really cool? I must admit that i'm having a rather morbid curiosity about that right now.

I will ask the technicians when i arrive tomorrow if it is okay to take a percocet. If they say that it is okay, then i doubt there will be any problems. I will most definitely be in my 'happy place' if they let me take one or two percocets. Woo hoo! I'm glad i held back a few of these puppies for a rainy day

I was told tonight that the most troubling thing about an MRI is all the clanking and other associated noises coming from the machine, just like Cynthia said. I actually did fall asleep during a CT Scan once, and hopefully i'll just do the same thing tomorrow. These days, i seem to be able to fall asleep at will, being as i'm so fatigued all the time.

Reenie... thanks for putting it all into persepective... and you are right. If a seven year-old can do it, then surely i can as well. No matter what is going on with my own life, i always try and think about the poor kids that are going through the same thing. I guess we all are like seven year-olds our first time, but being a father myself, i know what you are talking about.

Thanks again,

Jim

[mtlieb]

Re: Vision Problem

P.S.

Are you talking naked naked? I can't stand the sight of my own body right now, much less anyone else having a look at it. Will i at least be able to wear a hospital gown?