Aa
Hello, Peeps!
Hi, Friends!
WOW, I haven't been on in a long time agin! How and why do I let that happen? Shame on me!! Most of you don't know me so I can just crawl right in here without notice.For those of you who do, know I think of you often and some I even stalk on Facebook!! :-)
I went to the optometrist yesterday to get an exam for contact lenses. I'm so vain, I probably think this song is about me! On the health history form, I listed 'demyelinating disease.' That is what my working diagnosis is now, with a suspicion of MS.
The optometrist looked at my eyes and asked when was the lst time I had seen an ophthalmalogist. I said I had seen him about 3 years ago and was great. She said I have to get right in to see him. The pressure is just up over normal in both eyes and both optic nerves look enlarged to her. I was pretty stunned. I had just been in for an optometry exam in December for new glasses when my last pair broke. My prescription had changed quite a bit, too, she said.
I asked a ton of questions as she continued with the exam. When we got to the part where I closed my right eye to check the prescription for the left, I kept pulling away from the exam lenses. It was so weird.... I kept getting dark spots. I was really alarmed. I was able to tell her which seemed clearer, 1 or 2, but I had to check around the missing spots. With both eyes open in a well-lit room I have no problem. In this exam, little things I had thought were my imagination were very pronounced.
She gave me some contact lenses to try for a half hour and come back to see how they worked for me. I walked around for a while and came back to report to her: The right one was perfect. When I only had the left open, it was somewhat blurry. She gave me a look for a while and said, "I really don't think it's the prescription. I think you're having a problem with your left eye. Let's see what the ophthalmalogist says and then come back."
Ouch, baby. Very ouch. She was very pleasant and answered all the brilliant questions that stumbled out of my mouth. I'll call an ophthalmalogist tomorrow. I'm very eager to see what they have to say I have read a little bit and apparently steroid use can cause pressure which can cause swollen optic nerves. I had a lot of Solumedrol last year. I really do hate to get my info from the Internet, though. I'm eager to get good news from a doc!
Also, I see a new neuro on Wednesday. He gave me a NCV last year and is suspicious of MS. I like him already!!
Take care and feel well! Peace,
Momzilla*
WOW, I haven't been on in a long time agin! How and why do I let that happen? Shame on me!! Most of you don't know me so I can just crawl right in here without notice.For those of you who do, know I think of you often and some I even stalk on Facebook!! :-)
I went to the optometrist yesterday to get an exam for contact lenses. I'm so vain, I probably think this song is about me! On the health history form, I listed 'demyelinating disease.' That is what my working diagnosis is now, with a suspicion of MS.
The optometrist looked at my eyes and asked when was the lst time I had seen an ophthalmalogist. I said I had seen him about 3 years ago and was great. She said I have to get right in to see him. The pressure is just up over normal in both eyes and both optic nerves look enlarged to her. I was pretty stunned. I had just been in for an optometry exam in December for new glasses when my last pair broke. My prescription had changed quite a bit, too, she said.
I asked a ton of questions as she continued with the exam. When we got to the part where I closed my right eye to check the prescription for the left, I kept pulling away from the exam lenses. It was so weird.... I kept getting dark spots. I was really alarmed. I was able to tell her which seemed clearer, 1 or 2, but I had to check around the missing spots. With both eyes open in a well-lit room I have no problem. In this exam, little things I had thought were my imagination were very pronounced.
She gave me some contact lenses to try for a half hour and come back to see how they worked for me. I walked around for a while and came back to report to her: The right one was perfect. When I only had the left open, it was somewhat blurry. She gave me a look for a while and said, "I really don't think it's the prescription. I think you're having a problem with your left eye. Let's see what the ophthalmalogist says and then come back."
Ouch, baby. Very ouch. She was very pleasant and answered all the brilliant questions that stumbled out of my mouth. I'll call an ophthalmalogist tomorrow. I'm very eager to see what they have to say I have read a little bit and apparently steroid use can cause pressure which can cause swollen optic nerves. I had a lot of Solumedrol last year. I really do hate to get my info from the Internet, though. I'm eager to get good news from a doc!
Also, I see a new neuro on Wednesday. He gave me a NCV last year and is suspicious of MS. I like him already!!
Take care and feel well! Peace,
Momzilla*
MY CORRECTION ....
IT wasn't the bladder talk, it was the one of Daniel Kantor's talk on MS Focus and at the 16.30 mark or so he says don't take the low dose medrol dose packs - that its been shown that low dose oral steroids cause more relapses rather than help.
I always tell our folks that the low dose regimen is ineffective and you need the big gun doses given with IVSM or Decadron, but had never heard that this can cause relapses.
his talk can be retrieved at
http://msfocus.org/audios/March-13th-Teleconference-Dr.-Daniel-Kantor.mp3
IT wasn't the bladder talk, it was the one of Daniel Kantor's talk on MS Focus and at the 16.30 mark or so he says don't take the low dose medrol dose packs - that its been shown that low dose oral steroids cause more relapses rather than help.
I always tell our folks that the low dose regimen is ineffective and you need the big gun doses given with IVSM or Decadron, but had never heard that this can cause relapses.
his talk can be retrieved at
http://msfocus.org/audios/March-13th-Teleconference-Dr.-Daniel-Kantor.mp3
Hey, welcome back!
I think you would really benefit from an optical coherence tomography test, and a visual field acuity test. Both measure exactly what you're talking about - dark spots in your field of vision. The OCT actually measures the thickness of the retina, and the acuity test measures your perception of your visual field. (Basically you put your head in this hood, look at a mark in front of you, and click whenever you see a blinky light.
Mine showed a very thin retina in my left eye - in some places it's almost non-existent.
I think you would really benefit from an optical coherence tomography test, and a visual field acuity test. Both measure exactly what you're talking about - dark spots in your field of vision. The OCT actually measures the thickness of the retina, and the acuity test measures your perception of your visual field. (Basically you put your head in this hood, look at a mark in front of you, and click whenever you see a blinky light.
Mine showed a very thin retina in my left eye - in some places it's almost non-existent.
Zil, in case you didn't see it yesterday I posted the link to the MS Foundation talk on bladder/bowel/sexual disfunction talk and he specifically mentioned that prolonged use of low dose steroids can bring on an MS exacerbation. Something to consider................
Thanks, Jersey Girl!
I keep looking for the 'Like' button -- where the heck is it?! LOL!
Love ya!
Z*
I keep looking for the 'Like' button -- where the heck is it?! LOL!
Love ya!
Z*
Thank you, Tammy! It's nice to meet you, too!
:-)
:-)
Hey Z!
Nice to see you here! Your good humor, and excellent advice is certainly missed!
I hope there is no damage to that eye girl.
Hope you stick around,
Miss ya
Nice to see you here! Your good humor, and excellent advice is certainly missed!
I hope there is no damage to that eye girl.
Hope you stick around,
Miss ya
Hello and nice to meet you!
I hope you get good news from the ophthalmologist. I hope you stick around!
Tammy
I hope you get good news from the ophthalmologist. I hope you stick around!
Tammy
Thank you, Lulu!
I am eager to see what a doc says. I looked up a neuro-ophthalmologist near me. I'll "see" if he has any time available soon. If not, I'll go to a regular ophth. Thoundth like i have a lithp!
I'll keep you in the loop!
Hugs,
Zil*
I am eager to see what a doc says. I looked up a neuro-ophthalmologist near me. I'll "see" if he has any time available soon. If not, I'll go to a regular ophth. Thoundth like i have a lithp!
I'll keep you in the loop!
Hugs,
Zil*
Very interesting to know! Thank you for your input, Ojibajo.
Zilla*
Zilla*
WOW! is right on the money, girl. You've been away a long, long time and it's about time you come back home, here.
For everyone who doesn't know you, that is their loss and I hope you will stick around and share more of your experiences, common sense and wit. Chris was a very early CL here on Medhelp, when this forum was just starting to take off and has continued to be in limbo.
Back to you, Chris. That optometry exam is worthless unless you just need to check your rx for the glasses or contacts. An opthamologist is the gold standard when it comes to looking at eyes and I am glad you are getting a better exam. Maybe this will be the final piece of your diagnostic puzzle?
hugs and don't be a stranger,
L
For everyone who doesn't know you, that is their loss and I hope you will stick around and share more of your experiences, common sense and wit. Chris was a very early CL here on Medhelp, when this forum was just starting to take off and has continued to be in limbo.
Back to you, Chris. That optometry exam is worthless unless you just need to check your rx for the glasses or contacts. An opthamologist is the gold standard when it comes to looking at eyes and I am glad you are getting a better exam. Maybe this will be the final piece of your diagnostic puzzle?
hugs and don't be a stranger,
L
One of my co-workers has been on a steady course of steroids for his asthma and he said he it is having a negative effect on his vision.
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