optic neuritis? chances of getting better

[Laurieinwa]

I was diagnosed with optic neuritis in May 2007. Now here in December I still have visual loss, flashing lights in blind spot. The spot is smaller than when i started. Is there still a possibility it will get better?

I have not been diagnosed with MS but according to first MRI I do have lesions on my brain.
Since the optic neuritis episode i have had
buzzing like cell phone vibration in trunk
swallowing difficulties
vertigo
See doc again in January for another MRI

[Laurieinwa]

I forgot I posted this here and Sandy i was tested and received a diagnosis of AZOOR in January. I am still having other neurological symptoms that are rather debilitating though and still have no answers in that area. I have had off balance, dizziness and rest tremors. Going to see another neurologist in September to see what is up with that.

There is a support group for azoor on yahoo groups.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZOOR/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=1

I will ask doctor about having the CAR test thank you so much for telling me that.

How are your eyes now?

[pennst8r]

I was Dx'd with ON in February. Doc chose not to treat it...was never sure why (nor did I ask, so my fault). Was it so the new neuro would see it????

Long story short  - for once - when I saw the new neuro a few weeks ago, he said my ON is "looking good". Apparently it can resolve to some degree on its own. And given all the meds I've already been put on over the past 18months, the fewer meds I take , the BETTER;)

Penn

[sandysandy]

Years ago I was tested and told I had optic neuritis.  I had visually evoked response testing and there was latency in both eyes.  I was told to get an MRI.  Because recorver was obviously in the process of happening, I wasn't disabled by it, and, if they did the MRI, there really wasn't much they could do for me if it was MS.  So, fast forward, 15 years.  Obviously, I have not developed MS.  However, my eyes started acting up on me and so it needed to be looked into.  My left eye was always very bad but one morning it was notably worse with a bigger blind spot.

This new doctor ignored previous optic neuritis and dx's AZOOR.  He doesn't think I have optic neuritis.  

No matter what, I have some inflammatory process going on in body.  I have allergies, had cancer, which are all both involved inflammatory process as AZOOR does.  I suspect that the optic neuritis and AZOOR are due to the same thing.

I suspect, Laurie, that you may need to get a second opinion on what is going on for you mainly because there is no definitive blood test for it.  I went on for quite a few years expected to develop MS.  In fact, I began to understand aches and funny occurrences in my body through this lens of MS...............when it really wasn't.  So be careful.... the dx is made by a differential diagnosis (making sure it isn't something else).

Laurie, I sent a direct note to you about another test you should have before being Dx'd with AZOOR.  But I had trouble with my computer so I don't know if it reached you.  You need a CAR (cancer associated retinopathy) test.  Your case is bilateral.  In my case, my doctors thought it was AZOOR because my problem was unilateral...... AZOOR is usually unilateral while CAR is usually bilateral.  They are both retinopathies that look similar except that AZOOR is idiopather... hence the need to make sure it isn't something else.  

If you were to do a CAR test, even if it comes back negative, a chest CT scan would be prudent.  The most likely cancer associated with CAR i slung follwoed by breast and ovary.  

[Heather3418]

Laurie,

I didn't mean to tell you the ON didn't cause visual loss, it does.

[Laurieinwa]

I didn't have any treatment as my symptoms are/were not debilitating. I had a typical optic neuritis because no pain i guess. I went to a neuro ophthalmologist who is a specialist in this area. He said i could have taken steriods but as i am/was nursing and he said the long term outcome wouldn't be affected I opted not to take them. I did see him again and the spot had lessened but is not gone.

The first MRI was in May of this year. He wants to repeat the MRI in January to see if I have any more lesions. Is that a bad idea? Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

[Heather3418]

Oh my gosh...you poor thing.  Did you have any treatment with Solumedrol when you had your Optic Neuritis?  And does your doctor know that you are still having these eye symptoms?

This is nothing to fool around with.  Visual loss and flashing lights are not always caused by Optic Neuritis.  Please contact your doctor today and tell him what is going on, if you haven't already done so.

May I ask a qeustion, when did you have your previous MRI?  And why are they repeating a MRI in January?

Be well dear and know that your "cyber" family is with you and supporting you, Heather