Aa
Blurred/Hazy Vision During and After Physical Activity
Hello All -
I have been gone for a while, but am back with a simple question. Actually I am happy to say that I am still living nearly 98.9% anxiety and panic free - in Feb it will be a year!! I am still having issues with hypochondria, but am working on that. (And as an aside for those who do not know me, I did this without meds - so it is possible).
Now, even though I am not having the anxiety and panic per se, I still (and probably always will) have an overactive adrenaline gland. The difference is knowing when it is just adrenaline and nothing to worry about.
Anyhow I went to the Y with my youngest son this afternoon and was playing basketball. We were just practicing - not a lot of hard physical activity really, but enough to get a decent sweat going. Anyhow about halfway through our session I noticed that my vision was starting to get blurry (more like hazy really). I was not feeling really anxious or anything, but I had the vision issues still the same. Then I got to thinking, this happens to me quite a bit when I am doing physical activity - especially when it is hot. I do not really have any other symptoms and it usually goes away about 30 mins to an hour after I am finished with the activity.
I will have to pay more attention, but I am not sure if this happens EVERY time or not.
I am not sure if this is related - however, usually whenever I go to the Dr and tell him any particular symptoms that I have he almost always says it is related to the anxiety/adrenaline, etc.
On a side note, I am WAY out of shape and do not get much exercise at all (which I plan on changing though hopefully). I am also a smoker (which I plan on quitting as well when I can finally get the courage. I am ready to quit - have been ready for a while now, but too nervous to stop doing something that I have done every day for 15 years now).
Thanks for the help in advance!
Mike
I have been gone for a while, but am back with a simple question. Actually I am happy to say that I am still living nearly 98.9% anxiety and panic free - in Feb it will be a year!! I am still having issues with hypochondria, but am working on that. (And as an aside for those who do not know me, I did this without meds - so it is possible).
Now, even though I am not having the anxiety and panic per se, I still (and probably always will) have an overactive adrenaline gland. The difference is knowing when it is just adrenaline and nothing to worry about.
Anyhow I went to the Y with my youngest son this afternoon and was playing basketball. We were just practicing - not a lot of hard physical activity really, but enough to get a decent sweat going. Anyhow about halfway through our session I noticed that my vision was starting to get blurry (more like hazy really). I was not feeling really anxious or anything, but I had the vision issues still the same. Then I got to thinking, this happens to me quite a bit when I am doing physical activity - especially when it is hot. I do not really have any other symptoms and it usually goes away about 30 mins to an hour after I am finished with the activity.
I will have to pay more attention, but I am not sure if this happens EVERY time or not.
I am not sure if this is related - however, usually whenever I go to the Dr and tell him any particular symptoms that I have he almost always says it is related to the anxiety/adrenaline, etc.
On a side note, I am WAY out of shape and do not get much exercise at all (which I plan on changing though hopefully). I am also a smoker (which I plan on quitting as well when I can finally get the courage. I am ready to quit - have been ready for a while now, but too nervous to stop doing something that I have done every day for 15 years now).
Thanks for the help in advance!
Mike
First - Silverberg. You are absolutely correct in what you said about the meds. My message is not one of anti-meds but more one of hope in general! Unlike what my doctors and psychologist told me, I will not have this the rest of my life! Actually as I typed that, I realized I mispoke. I probably will be more prone to anxiety than others; however, I will not let it rule me for the rest of my life and I will take that!
As far as those that are on meds, you are right it is absolutely okay and I am not knocking it one bit. In fact as my story goes, I was on meds myself for quite some time. I think they did the job that they were supposed to do for me at the time. As an aside I am not keen on any medicines really, not just to treat this. About the only thing I ever take are antibiotics, ibuprofen, and xanax (on the very rare occaison that I need one). I apologize if I came across as saying that meds are bad or that people who are taking them are going about it the wrong way.
To the rest on the advice about this issue. I am pretty darn convinced that it is because of the adrenaline/anxiety. Reason? Like I mentioned before, I still have the symptoms of an active adrenaline glad (anxiety, I suppose), but never let it get me into the cycle of fear that I consider to be the disorder. Anyhow I would say my biggest symtoms now come in the form of visual disturbances, especially in bright lights, which there are at the gym where I was at the other night. I was at my sons therapist with him today and I noticed the same sort of haziness though it did not last as long.
Here is my rationale - I went about 2 years ago to get my eyes checked (and not just the can you read line two type :) ) and when the Opthamolgist put the drops in my eyes to dialate my pupils I got the same hazy/blurry effect. I did not put two and two together until today. Adrenaline, and the fight or flight syndrome, cause the pupils to dialate. So possibly when exerting physical activity my adrenaline acts up and my eyes dialate more than is usual based on the current light in the environment I am in. Hence, the blurry vision. I felt fine otherwise except way out of shape.
And I am pretty sure it was not sweat in my eyes, while I worked up a sweat, it was not the dripping kind, more like it is when it is humid outside. Nonetheless I already have a Dr. appointment tomorrow so I will just mention it (expecting and actually hoping he says it is related to the anxiety, which is usually what happens).
Speaking on that, the doctor dismissing everything as anxiety used to be upsetting but now that I am a bit more reasonable about it now I have thought back and EVERY time he has been right - so now all I do is simply trust him.
I learned some time ago when I was in paramedic school that doctors diagnose using a method called bayesian(sp?) method. With this method, doctors use a probabilistic model that correlates symptoms with conditions to identify a diagnosis. This relative probability evolves as additional information is collected, such as history, physical examination, and test results. They also use experience and intuition. Bascially, they start with the most common explanation and then take it from there, which makes sense to me. Not to mention, their whole career and livelihood is based on their diagnoses so if they are quick to diagnose, then that must mean they are confident. I believe this is why it is important to have a doctor that you can trust. I am lucky and have had the same doctor since I was 10 years old. He is really cool. I realize not all can be so lucky; however, when I tried to switch doctors or get second opinions when I first had panic attacks it ended up in a disaster, so I am putting my faith in him and that is all that I can do!
Sorry for the tangent. Thanks for everyone's input!
Mike
As far as those that are on meds, you are right it is absolutely okay and I am not knocking it one bit. In fact as my story goes, I was on meds myself for quite some time. I think they did the job that they were supposed to do for me at the time. As an aside I am not keen on any medicines really, not just to treat this. About the only thing I ever take are antibiotics, ibuprofen, and xanax (on the very rare occaison that I need one). I apologize if I came across as saying that meds are bad or that people who are taking them are going about it the wrong way.
To the rest on the advice about this issue. I am pretty darn convinced that it is because of the adrenaline/anxiety. Reason? Like I mentioned before, I still have the symptoms of an active adrenaline glad (anxiety, I suppose), but never let it get me into the cycle of fear that I consider to be the disorder. Anyhow I would say my biggest symtoms now come in the form of visual disturbances, especially in bright lights, which there are at the gym where I was at the other night. I was at my sons therapist with him today and I noticed the same sort of haziness though it did not last as long.
Here is my rationale - I went about 2 years ago to get my eyes checked (and not just the can you read line two type :) ) and when the Opthamolgist put the drops in my eyes to dialate my pupils I got the same hazy/blurry effect. I did not put two and two together until today. Adrenaline, and the fight or flight syndrome, cause the pupils to dialate. So possibly when exerting physical activity my adrenaline acts up and my eyes dialate more than is usual based on the current light in the environment I am in. Hence, the blurry vision. I felt fine otherwise except way out of shape.
And I am pretty sure it was not sweat in my eyes, while I worked up a sweat, it was not the dripping kind, more like it is when it is humid outside. Nonetheless I already have a Dr. appointment tomorrow so I will just mention it (expecting and actually hoping he says it is related to the anxiety, which is usually what happens).
Speaking on that, the doctor dismissing everything as anxiety used to be upsetting but now that I am a bit more reasonable about it now I have thought back and EVERY time he has been right - so now all I do is simply trust him.
I learned some time ago when I was in paramedic school that doctors diagnose using a method called bayesian(sp?) method. With this method, doctors use a probabilistic model that correlates symptoms with conditions to identify a diagnosis. This relative probability evolves as additional information is collected, such as history, physical examination, and test results. They also use experience and intuition. Bascially, they start with the most common explanation and then take it from there, which makes sense to me. Not to mention, their whole career and livelihood is based on their diagnoses so if they are quick to diagnose, then that must mean they are confident. I believe this is why it is important to have a doctor that you can trust. I am lucky and have had the same doctor since I was 10 years old. He is really cool. I realize not all can be so lucky; however, when I tried to switch doctors or get second opinions when I first had panic attacks it ended up in a disaster, so I am putting my faith in him and that is all that I can do!
Sorry for the tangent. Thanks for everyone's input!
Mike
Hey Mikey! Welcome home! I'm so glad to hear that things are still going well for you! Congrats on your "almost" one year anniversary! We are all so proud of you!
You got some good advice..........being a bit out of shape is probably part of it, and letting yourself get dehydrated will do all sorts of weird things.
Good for you to keep thinking of quitting the smokes. I'm going to give it another shot on the first of Feb. But as Mark Twain said, "quitting is easy, I do it everyday!" Him and me both.
That doctors push everything off to anxiety, once they know you have it, is a sad and sorry fact.
The only other advice I could possibly think to add would be to have your eyes checked. A real check, not just the "can you see the second line" check at the GPs office. Or is it possible that since you say this only happens when you are doing something physical that sweat is getting into your eyes? That would certainly affect your vision. Why not try one of those nifty sweat bands the next time you "work up a sweat."
Really good to hear from you again, Mike! Don't be a stranger. Your recovery without meds is a real inspirational story and I think you should share it!
Let us know what you find out, OK?
Take care, pal!
Greenlydia
You got some good advice..........being a bit out of shape is probably part of it, and letting yourself get dehydrated will do all sorts of weird things.
Good for you to keep thinking of quitting the smokes. I'm going to give it another shot on the first of Feb. But as Mark Twain said, "quitting is easy, I do it everyday!" Him and me both.
That doctors push everything off to anxiety, once they know you have it, is a sad and sorry fact.
The only other advice I could possibly think to add would be to have your eyes checked. A real check, not just the "can you see the second line" check at the GPs office. Or is it possible that since you say this only happens when you are doing something physical that sweat is getting into your eyes? That would certainly affect your vision. Why not try one of those nifty sweat bands the next time you "work up a sweat."
Really good to hear from you again, Mike! Don't be a stranger. Your recovery without meds is a real inspirational story and I think you should share it!
Let us know what you find out, OK?
Take care, pal!
Greenlydia
Well, welcome back stranger!:). I would have to agree with the above members here on this one, although I know it can be frustrating when the docs simply dismiss anything as anxiety related. But, I work out a lot and I still get dizzy sometimes (heck, sometimes when I stand up) and as you said, being out of shape can definitely cause all sorts of aches, pains, etc....welcome back and feel free to drop a PM to tell me how everything is going!
think you answered your own question, out of shape etc. playing with your child (he is most likely really active) you just needed to slow down, and good for you for getting through your Panic/Anxiety issues without meds. but for those of you on meds its ok to, we all have different forms and intensity of Panic / Anxiety.
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