Eye Exam

[AZHR]

The most life altering & disturbing effect of Chiari for me has been visual changes.  When examined b4 surgery, the double vision was too severe to be corrected by prisms.  My NS said I may not regain my normal vision & just give healing time.  
How long should I wait ?  I cannot read without greatly enlarging this page & reading has been my life.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks, all CM patients  

Oh, I am 3 weeks post op

[bean418]

Just curious....do you see an Opthamologist or a Neuro Opthamologist ?

[selmaS]

  LOL...I know it is hard, but yup...lol....with the way we wait for a DX and then to find a Dr that knows and understands this and related conditions and I feel ALL the waiting to get answers -is to help us develop patience we will need to heal.

JMHO  : )

[AZHR]

You're not suggesting patience, are you?  LOL.  
As usual you are right on track.  Thanks, again, again, again!

[selmaS]

  I just wanted u to know at 3 months post op is just the beginning of ur recovery, ur incision may be healed but the nerves can take up to 2 yrs to completely recover and as they do u will notice diff symptoms return for short periods....

Depending on if u have ne related condition will also determine which ones may stay....

Give ur self time b4 u resign to always be like this, I am 4.5 yrs post op and I continue to see benefits with each passing yr.

[AZHR]

As you may have seen, all the ups & downs of this surgery & condition are bubbling up now.
Thanks for your patience & understanding.  Even though my NS was very candid about my deficits & no promise of return, I didn't really get it.  I am beginning to grasp this is a "condition", an illness or disease state that I must learn to live with and adapt to.  The surgery was not a cure.  It was a stopgap measure.  I am not getting worse every day as I was.
My life has changed, right?  Am I on the right track now in my thinking?

[girlinxile]

I am about 7 weeks post op and my vision has improved greatly from 3 weeks post op... so there is a chance it will improve :)

My taste buds changed a lot after surgery, so did my sense of smell. My hearing has improved greatly, I could hardly hear anything before surgery. I also am not nearly as hungry as I used to be before..... I would say with anything new, give it a good 2-3 months before you worry too much. Good luck!

[AZHR]

I've been wearing glasses for years.  Prism is something they do with the lens to correct double vision.  I did not know I had double vision, I just thought everything was blurry.  
I've called the Optha. & he is to call me back this afternoon.

On a different note:  Has anyone experienced loss of taste, or few things taste good?  So many days over the past year I have lived on Kind high protein bars and high protein Ensure.

[selmaS]

  Hi I also have vision issues and use this screen on the largest font setting as it helps me see the print....and some days that does not help. I also wear  magnification glasses as my eye Dr said I did not require glasses but I could not see and like I said some days it is worse then others....so I understand ur issues.

I am not sure what prism is

[AZHR]

That's it.  Changes from minute or hour to hour.  Do you use Prism?  Did your Rx change for your glasses?

Thanks so much.

[ChiariWolf]

I have had temporary periods where my sight returns. They are only temporary though. We just have to adapt. In my case my vision can change many times throughout the day. One minute I can read my Bible the next I may have to get out the iPad were I can enlarge the print.

Not the greatest... but you know Life truly is what we make of it. I tell my wife sometimes "at least you're alive". Not trying to make light of this or take it lightly... In fact for me personally this is perhaps the most disturbing symptom that does still remain. But We have to stay positive to make it through this system.

CW