blurry vision, fog

[pgonk]

hi, for about 4 months i have had some really bad issues.  First off my eyes seem blurry, like they can't focus as quickly and i am having trouble reading things.....feels like im 'staring into space' all day when i look at anything  Also, it feels like im in a fog and that nothing around me is real and i can't think straight some times. My alertness the most seems to be off and i find i am really jumpy at pretty much everything.  I've also been getting some headaches and then my eyes feel crossed.  I'm 21yrs old and i can't do anything i ever did anymore b/c im so out of it.  Sometimes i get the feeling im going to pass out and it feels like my head is spinning.  I've been to the doc's and my blood tests are all perfect and they put me on wellbutrin for depression.  Right now it feels like im a body without a mind and am getting to the point of desperation now that the pills aren't working.  Do you think it's depression, or something else?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH]

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
   The symptoms that you describe could be due to depression, but they could also be explained by migraine headaches.  A sense of confusion and feeling "spaced out" is common in migraine sufferers.  Also the symptoms of feeling like you may pass out and "head spinning" are common in a migraine varient called basilar migraine.  That being said, the symptom of depersonalization is often due to depression.  I would recommend an MRI of the brain (to evaluate for a structural cause of your headaches) and an EEG (electroenecephalogram-brain wave test) to evaluate for seizure activity (that can also leave you confused).  I would recommend that you start a daily headache preventative medication like Elavil, zanaflex, topamax, etc.  I would also recommend that you see a mental health care professional, treating depression is more than just starting a drug, it requires a team of supporters inculding therapist, counselors, social work and drugs.
I hope this has been helpful.

[John_Madison CT]

Are you up to therapeutic levels on the anti-depressant?  These take time to work properly, so if its only been a week or two, you aren't quite where you need to be.

[pgonk]

it's probably been about a month on anti-depressants and i really can't notice any difference yet......

[allela]

I don't know how bad is your vision loss, but depression should not cause blurry vision.  my neuro problem started with visual symptoms, right now i'm going through the diagnosis process.  I would recommend that you are checked out by a good optometrist, and be persistent about your care. also blood tests are usually not used to diagnose neuro problems.  Good luck, and hang in there.

[allela]

also, you say your eyes feel crossed, are you seeing double?

[pgonk]

it just sort of feels like my right eye doesnt see clearly with both eyes.  I'm wondering if this is related to something new currently, or if it's possibly related to the fact i had bad eye muscle problems when i was very young.  I went to the eye doctor about a month ago and they didn't see anything....maybe ill have to go again....it just kind of feels crossed and double vision sometimes

[allela]

see another optometrist.  I will tell you a about my experience with this.  My vision got blurry about 5 months ago. i saw an optometrist, the idiot prescribed me glasses.  My vision did not improve and glasses did not help. i waited. then got frustrated and went to another optometrist.  she was a better listener.  Here were my symptoms.  Only my right eye is affected.  It is 20/40(before 20/20). When I close my left eye and look with my right eye, it is as if I'm looking through a fog.  Colors are less vivid(the clinical term is color desaturation), and things are blurry.  When i run the vision in affected eye decreases dramatically to the point of not being able to recognize people I know(clinical term for this is Uhthoff's syndrome).  The problem with my eye is called optic neuritis (lots of info about it on the net).  The optometrist reffered me to a neurologist.  An mri was done which showed white matter lesions typical of ms.
Don't depend on a single doctor, be persistent, and if you feel something is wrong, trust yourself, and be persistent about your care.      

[pgonk]

thanks a lot....that actually sounds eerily like what i feel like...having problem recognizing people and can't exercise b/c my eyes can't see straight...colors also seem slightly off.  I have an appt. with a opthmamologist tomorrow so hopefully it's nothing serious nor a relapse of my lazy eye problems from when i was younger.  If i learn anything new,  ill post, thanks!

[pgonk]

i was just wondering if optical neuritis would be picked up in eye exam.  I went to a eye specialist and did tons of test and they said they didnt notice anything..except possible astigmatism..would it be something would be able to see or is it stricly diagnosed through neurological data?

[allela]

look up optic neuritis on the net, there is a lot of info(and a lot of signs and symptoms).  My optomologist determined that I had a neuro problem using a flashlight.  The flashlight test showed what is called afferent pupillary defect.  The pupil in the affected eye does not react normally to light.  When I try to do the test I don't notice any difference, but she did.  Besides that my exam did not show any other abnormality.  Look up the signs and symptoms I have written about now and earlier for better descriptions and see if any are simialar to what you are experiencing. Good luck to you.

[NURSELPN]

pgonk,

Have the doctora checked your thyroid levels?  If not you need a free T-3, free T-4, TSH, & thryoid antibodies, which are TSI & TPO.
  
I have Grave's disease & thyroid eye disease & the symptoms you mentioned in your post are much like what I experienced.

Good Luck & God Bless, TJ

[pgonk]

i had my thyroid levels tested three times since theres a history of problems in my family, but everything is fine.....hope you feel better with your problems!

[abill]

Hi Everyone, I'm glad I found this post.  My problem is not as bad as you guys are having, but I wondered if anybody here had a clue as to where I should go for help. I have blurry spots or clouds throughout my vision. My eyes feel extremely dry and sometimes there is pain coming from the very back of my eyes. Some days are better than others. Some days I can't see thru the blurred spots to read the computer or books... while other days it eases up, but the dry feeling remains regardless.  This all started happening within the past 6 months to a year, but it has gotten much worse the past 2 months.  The eye doctors say I do not have a problem with my vision, so I am clueless to be taken seriously. I drops aren't a help either and I'm not on any meds.  But in addition to the vision problem, I have a TON of other health issues.  For some reason, my doctors only want to treat one symptom at a time and not see if the whole picture is connected to something else.  I appreciate any insight you all might have.  And my best wishes to you who are experiencing health problems.

[pgonk]

hey,  if you have major health problems in other areas, maybe you should write down everything that you believe is occurring and possibly find a doctor that would listen and perhaps diagnose the complete picture.  What other health problems are you having?  Maybe someobody who reads these can help diagnose the whole.  Hope you will get well!

[pgonk]

thanks for all your help.  I have reccently started to talk to a counselor and now she is charge of medication instead of the general practitioner.  A few weeks ago the med's were switched from wellbutrin to zoloft and i feel like there has been a slight difference and have at least been able to do most things and once again feel 'with it' in social situations. Also went to a eye doctor over weekend and turned out i had astigmatism which explained some of the blurriness Im going to therapy again everyy now and then.......hopefully things will continue to improve.....almost amazing how one or two 'good' days and you feel like the last 8 month of misery never happened.

[Benny123]

Hi im 18 and have had a similar feeling to some of you for about 4 years. I beleive i have a condition called "Brain Fog" this gives me slightly blured vision and very bad short term memory. I feel like im in a dream world every day of my life, like a body with no mind, a living dead. Its horrible. I take alot of vitamins and brain boosters everyday but they don't work. Brain fog is not recognised very well within medical history, therefor there is not a persific cure. I have been to the doctors but they thought I was depressed and stressed so in the end i gave up with them. I have my bad days and good days but unfortunatly it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

[dnysmom]

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