Demiguise - Should I still be wearing these glasses?

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Hi Demi - here I am again - hope you don't mind yet another question, but I really could use your help on this one. I've been pretty ill since we talked last with more and more pain in my face esp. round the eyes - this is unusual for me. I have had 2 severe migraines which were felt mostly at the back of the eyes (both) and have taken days for the eye pain to go away. I'm now wondering if I should be wearing these glasses as I notice when I take them off, my vision is not as bad as it used to be. Everything used to swim and now its not so bad - just weird when theres movement and I can feel my eyes trying to adjust. I'm wondering if they have changed again and the prism is now straining my eyes? do you think thats possible?.
I saw my Neuro last week and asked him if he would refer me to an ophthalmologist (my doc refused when I asked her - said it was just migraines - her answer to everything now)- he said he felt an orthoptist would be more appropriate & would look at a referal when I see him next in 2 weeks. I'm wondering if I should wait that long as referal will take a while - other option is to go to see optometrists again - very expensive and I'm rather cash-strapped at right now. I think the prism is 4-5 diopters.
In case you're interested, the MRI came out normal again. Lovely Neuro gave me Imitrex injections for those real bad episodes and 900mg Neurontin /day to try. He says he still doesn't have a dx for me, but he's going to try to treat symptoms in the mean time.

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Thanks again Demi - and thanks for your help with my mum. Interesting comment about menopause - why? She is probably about over it now, but never really had symptoms. Its not flushing in the skin - she feels it through her brain. My mother never gets sick so this is a suprise to her - she really doesn't know how to deal with me being ill as she can't relate at all. but I guess she does OK.
Anyway, I was down at the Optometrists today - getting some fit-over sunglasses to give eyes a break and they told me they would put new prism into left lense (current is in right) to balance it up and lessen pull on right eye. Does this sound like a good idea? I will get exact Rx info off them - I'll tell them Neuro is sending me to orthoptist & I need it for the appointment.
I don't know when the appointment will be - Neuro said he would refer when I saw him last week - he is well known for his slackness on paperwork, so it may be some time before its recieved at the orthoptists end - think I will ring and put pressure on for early appointment - not sure it'll help, but heres hoping. Know the ortho is good - my daughter has same convergence problem and sees her - ortho has same problem herself which is why she chose that feild, so one can be sure she knows all there is to know.
I was going to order the lenses - I have had severe pain in my eyes in the last 3 days & today was more than I could stand, but when they said about the laeft lense, I really did start to wonder again if I was doing the right thing. It'll be 2 weeks before they can get it anyway and I may have ortho appointment by then. Still. it is a good idea about the test pair, and I don't see why they can't do it - although I know they won't want to - they make it pretty obvious I'm a difficult customer they'd rather not have because I do unusual things like ask for a report for my doctor etc. Still, it sounds quite reasonable to me. Sorry about the rant yesterday - was feeling really low and fed up. Thanks for sticking in there.  :)

[Demiguise]

Re: Mom, hormones have many types. Female/thyroid are just 2.
She would have to have a FSH+LH blood-ck to see. Some women
have started menapause abt 40 & then it stops. Then 5 yrs later,
can come back as peri-menapause that resembles some symptoms.
Stress hormones can affect CSF 'spinal fluid pressure'. If she
has hypertension from heart or other problems, the CSF can make
too much off/on & cause what some can describe as head prssr.
I've heard `flushing'. I asked someone what that meant to them.
1 said feeling of warm prssr, other said like a toilet was
pushing too much water prssr till it stopped. I don't know what
it means in NZ or w/ Mom. Hypertension is just an idea that's
easier to dx. There's also sitting hypertension from CSF build-
up & then a rush to head ocurrs. Prssr here is best at 120/80.
If daily #'s are aprx 140/90, meds are needed. They widen the
arteries/vessels & control CSF. If excess vessels fluid is keep-
ing BP up, a diuretic is added. CSF is made 3-4xDay evryday.
Just my thought. Get her to describe more clearly or ck BP.
As for you, wish I could send you some of my brain to explain
better. Don't know how NZ wks. w/ refractions but think it's
close to ours. When you mentioned 5 D-prism, didn't want to get
you more confused since I don't know full power of lenses &
whether prism is 'base in or out' or base up or down.' It is
the way rx is needed along w/ reg-lens rx. If eye is a muscle-
pull or a wanderer = 2 diff. situations. Say I need to put 3D
in a vertical type curve of a rx, if it's there 1st prism rx,
I might try a 3 base-up 1 lens. Or I have option of doing 1 +
1/2 up in rt & 1+1/2 down in left to create soft convergence.
In horizontal, it's easier. If prism was 4, I'd split 2 & 2.
Yes, I think it should be split for comfort.  I hope they are
giving you discount &/or returning previous lenses you paid
for. Always make request for old rx to be returned & then save.
You can put them in a back-up pair later as spare. Are they
glass or plastic lens? Clear or tinted? And who cares if Dr
doesn't like you having script. They are afraid you'll take it
elsewhere later & get a better cost. Get old & new scripts.
Need a break. Talk later.

[Demiguise]

In US on difficult rx's, after exam they can do a trial set-up
of combined disks put in an ugly metal holder frame. I thought
the trial kit was universal? It's not a lens they make. They
drop in & you can where in ofc for 1/2 hr while Dr sees next pt.
Sometimes there are 3 disks in one side to equal your rx. Ask
Dr to atleast re-create the rx he has in mind for another quick
look & see if you can focus while in chair for 5 min. That's
why most have trial kit set-ups. It's like a try before buy in
ofc. Many Opticians/Oculists whatever called there that are
independents w/ practice that sell glasses, use these kits. Can
you buy/price out script anywhere or need to stay w/ Dr. ofc?
The hi-prism seems to match cost quoted. It is a very special
grind lens. One of my many careers. Maybe Orthoptist has it.
It saves making multiple lenses. Once I had to grind 6 lenses
over a yr for a guy. I knew problem, alot prism, & found med was
altering eye. I didn't mind the work but he was mad abt costs.
1 lens w/ 5 D can get $500 here. Is Dr planning on changing
both or just prism rx? I thought Orth. appt was coming up soon?
Some day I'm going to research this NHS care in detail. US was
lied to. Told almost all was free care etc. It didn't pass bill
for vote so was shelved for later. Now I know how I'd vote! Too
much pull to muscle may trip hdaches. Knowing your rx would help
me to guild you. I have know idea of amt of astig. or in a + or
- power wk'g w/ prism. Hope you get help soon. Maybe pymt.plan?

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Hi Demi - Sorry took so long to get back to you. Brother has finally vacated the computer room, but eyes have been bugging me so much, I haven't wanted to look at the screen.  Also have to admit I've been in a bad space for a while as I try to get my head round things. Yes I know I should wait for the Orthoptist to advise - it is the best way, but Who knows when I'll get an appointment and my eyes are DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!!! (Oh please excuse the outburst - not like me at all - usually so controlled.) No really, the lenses will cost $300 and although I really can't afford it, I am so tempted to go do it anyway - even if the Orthoptist has me take them off. The one thing thats kept me sane through all this, is my beloved work - I'm finding my eyes are had it by 10am this week and I struggle to keep working. Nothing really helps - even popped an Imitrex but no relief.Computer screen is horrible - even on the dullest setting.
Sorry I'm ranting. I guess I've just had enough.
I will keep the same frames - can't afford others anyway. Never did have a trial lense - not sure if you can do that here - they certainly didn't offer it, but then I doubt they would anyway. I'll ask about it. Neuro says no nystagmus, but I'm not so sure - having trouble focusing with left eye when covering or closing right - which I do quite alot at the moment. Don't think he did much of a test - told me to follow his finger & I had to shut my eyes as he moved it way too fast for me, so not sure how he saw that it was OK.
Better go rest eyes.
As always, thankyou Demi - you've been a wonderful spport during this crazy time and it is hugely appreciated.

[Demiguise]

Sorry appt went very wrong. Wouldn't have mattered if you did
have my pre-notes. I'm glad we have the reg-ins. system & not
NHS. They still try to bring it up at voting time off/on. If I'm
paying, that gives me the right to say my stuff! How many times have you seen the Dr wash his hands from the last patient? They
know their spreading germs from the last. I always ask before they can touch me. I joke & say: 'Are we using clean hands or gloves today?' Somehow they think while washing & then listen to me while drying. I'm polite but I like clean hands & it is a
trick I found wk'd sometimes. Hope you use the same frame I suggested & request old Rx back ALWAYS. Get copies of scripts to compare #'s. You don't have to understand what they mean, just the part where it went up or down. If you travel, no fuss
replacing w/ a copy. As for waiting to get worse symptoms, the
Dr is a jerk & his brain was probably on dinner! This is so
depressing to hear but the norm I guess. You take time to get
showered/dressed/drive/wait. If he ch'd nystagmus, atleast that was time. Did he have opinion on new lens? Still say not MS but
you can always lesson Neurontin over few days & stop to see if
glasses lesson hdaches. If not, ask to do the trial lens set
again & then decide. Hope they'll comply. Just say want to be
sure. I'm thinking orthoptist is worth going to before getting
since they will be one to one w/ you & may pick up something &
suggestion would help decide. They should notice triggers that
cause reflexes by certain clinical observation. Talk later.

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Back again. This time I wrote a couple of pages of medical history to give the neuro a general overview - also wrote stuff about response to meds because I always seem to be unwell on the days that aAI see him & always come away with much unsaid. He asked about meds - I told him about Neurontin - clear head, but little else. Think he was a little taken aback that I was'nt singing from the rooftops about the clear head - I'd got past that by then - yeah cool, but dissapointed no pain relief. He said give it more time - early days yet (3.5 weeks so far). He asked me to ring him in 4 weeks, then made it obvious the appntmnt was over. I said hold on - I've got this stuff I wrote. He read it, said hmmmmm, asked what head rolling was!!!!! then put it on my file. I asked what about pain management? I'm really struggling to cope. He said wait and see what the neurontin does. And then he said "we can't do anything until you develope new symptoms Sheila".
I just stared at him - He was standing up I guess, so I felt I had to leave. I would love to have asked him to explain himself. What I think he means, is that he is limited by the NHS. I'm being treated as an outpatient and so he is very restricted as to tests he can order, and when they'll be done. However, if I was to have another "attack like last year, I could be hospitalised and he could do alot more for me - you don't have to wait for tests when you're an inpatient, and they don't like to release you until they have a diagnosis.
From the various comments hes made over the times I've seen him, (e.g "I don't have enough to diagnose MS yet") I think hes expecting me to develope MS.
He has refered me to the orthoptist - that should take a few weeks to come through. He checked for nystagmus when I said I was concerned about side effects, but said he couldn't see any problem. Really the eyestain started about four weeks before starting the neurontin, so I doubt its the cause, but maybe isn't helping.
I'd love to get that extra prism now, but feel I should wait for the orthoptist.
Have to go again for now - talk later.