Loss of Peripheral Vision/Digestive Issues

[Mikkie2876]

Hi there,

I am hoping someone can shed some light on my problems. About a year ago or so I started to notice a change in my Peripheral vision. I found myself having to completely look to my right while driving because of a blind spot and I also noticed when I shaved my underarms I could no longer see them (very blurry) if that makes any sense. I didn't have and insurance so I had to wait. Fast forward to last month. I saw an Ophthalmologist thinking it was vision problems of some sort. Well, I miserably failed the test that checks for peripheral vision. He then looked at the optic nerve and didn't see anything that would suggest normal vision loss. He said I have lost almost all Peripheral vision in my right eye and a good amount on my left. He referred me to a neurologist that I will see this Monday. I was glad because I had also been having some issues with what seems like pinched nerves in the neck and shoulders, I thought it could be related to some nerve issues. So my other issue which I didn't correlate as being possibly related until today is that I have been having some major digestive problems that have flared up on and off since February. I am having a lot of indigestion, gas and constipation.. The constipation is pretty bad, sometimes I can't go and I resort to taking laxatives for relief. And I have this really annoying muscle twitching in my lower abdomen! It feels like a vibration, I have been having that for a couple of weeks now. I have been so miserable that I made an appt for next week to see a gastro doctor. But then tonight I Googled the vibrating issue and was noticing that there were many people on MS boards with similar problems. And then it hit me that there seems to be a lot of coincidences between my issues and MS. Now I am worried. Did any of you experience similarities before a diagnosis? And how are people diagnosed?

[HVAC]

The two visual problems in MS are Optic Neuritis and Double Vision. Both deal with inflammation or damage to the Optic Nerve. A neurologist will be able to tell if you have Optic Neuritis. If you have ever had it it shows up on the optic nerve. Sometimes they do a MRI of the brain and it shows up there.

Alex

[immisceo]

People are diagnosed by a neurologist, generally after all testing rules out other causes for their symptoms. This includes a clinical exam, MRIs, sometimes a lumbar puncture, taking the patient history, sometimes visual evoked potentials, sometimes EMGs, and blood work to rule out other potentials causes. All of this can, and usually does, take time. There is no clear-cut test for MS.

Perhaps consider bringing a list of your major issues and a general timeline with you to your appointment on Monday. Sometimes these appointments can be quite brief, so it pays to be prepared.

[mrmultiple]

Hi
So do you have tunnel vision ? I mean you see things in a pointed fashion rather than relaxed ? Do u have trouble comprehending what u read or hear?
What dobu mean by loss of  peripheral vision?