Weird symptoms...

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

We just got back from a week holiday, but I almost ended up visiting the ER...

I had an episode that lasted about an hour where I had a very bright light in my vision (even though I closed my eyes it would not disappear and it was in both eyes!) it started off as a short line and then a 180 degree circle!

The first thing I thought is that I must have what they call a silent migrane?  or TIA?  I have been battling with irregular heartrate at times and could not get to a doctor yet.

Am I just paranoid due to a bit of a heart history?  should I wait for it to happen again?

I am sure if I tell a Doc about this they would think I am nuts!

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

You are so right about the bruising!  I have a bleeding tendency and have had a vasculitis removed out of my right leg after a clot from having Infective Endocarditis traveled there!  God loves me very much as I've had so many ops and complications that I should actually not even be here... so I am searching for my purpose in life, every day.

I am not very keen on the Asprin treatment as I bruise from eating fish!  allergic to Iodine!  I hate the bruises, but I love fish :)

[ireneo]

Good luck with the aspirin regimen. My doctor kept asking me if I was taking my aspirin each day; I was a smarty pants and told her no one said I was supposed to.  But I did try it and within a week was bruising after every little bump or bit of pressure. I stopped taking them. I'm so terrible about taking pills. I will take an aspirin if my heart is being extra bratty and erratic.

It's nice to have the migraine meds just in case.

And I agree with Ed, see the eye doctor. That's what I had to do. They can see if there was any small hemorrhaging in the back of the eye.

[ed34]

Thank goodness your heart is fine, I was on tender hooks there for a moment. Did anyone check your clotting factor? I was thinking about your problem last night and looked through a few optician forums. This seems to be something not so uncommon which did surprise me. Most of the opticians say there are several possible reasons but a thorough eye test is recommended. They also say that the nausea etc can be caused by eye problems because of disorientation, just like when you get ear issues. Perhaps just as an extra precaution, it might be worth having your eyes looked at, just to make sure there isn't a retina problem occurring or something.
I am so relieved that your heart is fine though. PHEW :)

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

ps:  the above word is s u c ks.  not a swear word :)

I had an ECG this morning - during the test resting HR of 73 and normal sinus rhythm and very thankful that it is not A fib.  During my consult with the Doc he took my pulse and it was irregular, but after the ECG ruled out A Fib it is harmless - just extrasystoles PAC/PVC.

I explained the symptoms from earlier the week to the Doc.  Because of heart history it could be bloodclots but on a normal person it could be silent migraines!  So I have instructions to take 300mg Asprin a day (he wanted to start Warfarin but really - that is the reason why I opted for a mitral repair and not replacement as I did not want to be on anticaugulants and INR level checker, etc.) and I now have Maxalt for migraines, to take immediately when I get another vision disturbance.  If the Maxalt works, then it confirms migraine.

I am really glad I had it checked out and I am hoping and confident that it was a once-off silent migraine and it will not happen again!  But atleast now I have some meds to test if it does happen and I'll take the Asprin as prevention for clots.

Have a great New Year everyone!

[Smiley2000]

I am going to see GP at 2 today.  Had a terrible night and did not get much sleep.  The timing ***** big time!  it is almost New Year!

[ed34]

that's the beauty of this forum, bounce ideas and learn from each others experiences. I really hope everything goes well for you and there are no serious complications.

[Smiley2000]

Thanks dear friends,

I have not felt myself for a few weeks now.  At first it started off with the dysrythmia (not sure if I go into A-fib at times) and I can remember the day of the vision problem, I felt weird - a bit clumpsy and dizzy and nauseous for a while...

After reading your posts and reading up on TIA's, I am a bit worried and will make an appointment with the GP.

Will keep you guys updated and we'll all learn from each other's experiences :)

[ed34]

I had something very similar a couple of weeks ago. I got to a stage where I couldn't get a good nights sleep and went to play snooker with my brother. I was lining up for a shot, then I had a blurry line down the middle of my vision. I did the usual thing, shut my eyes for a few seconds, wiped my eyes, kept blinking fast but nothing worked. Then the blur was a large circle, always in the middle of my vision. I've never had that before, but after about 20 mins it went away. I got some sleeping pills from the Doc and it hasn't occurred since. I have no idea if it was due to sleep, but I had no other symptoms. I also remember drinking pepsi that night, and I normally avoid high sugar levels.

[ireneo]

Do mention it to the doctor. They can check for a TIA. I had to be checked once because I lost vision in my left eye for about 10 minutes. It just grayed out and gradually came back. They never found the reason for it and it hasn't happened again. But for peace of mind, do get checked. The only time I've had bright lights were during what I assume were the silent migraines. I would get a halo of bright flickering light interfering with my sight.

Please let us know what they say.