Vision problems and Fatigue...are they related?

[Zacksmomi]

Hello MS family,
I am stopping in again to gain some knowledge from all of you wonderfully helpful people.  I have been experiencing some strange symptoms with my eyes since I was dx'd in Feb of 09.  Basically my vision in both eyes goes blurry and I almost feel like the muscles that focus my eyes are exhausted.  A couple of times I have thought it was a migrane due to the headache that came with it.  My VEP was normal and so were my MRI's and eye exam.  I am thinking I have MS fatigue because the overall fatigue I am experiencing is not just your typical tired.  I call it pregnancy tired because that is the only thing I can compare it to.  

So I am currently tapering off of my zanaflex to see if the med is causing my fatigue...now I am tired and in alot of pain.  Anyway, I know meds can effect vision and I don't think I have ON.  Does anyone else have "vision fatigue" as a result of their MS? Could this be something else? Could I have had ON in the past and these vision problems are just pseudo flare ups?  UGH...this is frustrating.  I am trying to come to grips with all of these limitations.

Thanks
Danielle

[Zacksmomi]

Thank you for your replies, and for the prayers.
  I was on 4mg of Zanaflex 3x a day.  I am taking 2mg till Thurs then off it for a day or 2.  If it is the Zanaflex causing the fatigue then Dr says I have to go back up to 4mg or he would prefer 6 due to my spasticity and spasms.  But then he said I may not b able to drive and I am not ready for that.  I will be 34 on Sat with a 5 year old and not driving would be a huge challange.  Is there a similar drug out there with less side effects?  I have tried Baclofen and Zanaflex works better on my muscles.
The feeling I get in my eyes is almost like a drooping feeling but it is not my eyelids.  It is more in the back of my eyes.  My eyes go really fuzzy, so it sounds right that it would be tired muscles.  
My Dr didn't mention tapering off the Lyrica (200mg 2x daily) for my fatigue, but I didn't mention the eyes specifically.  I am gonna look into that.  I do not want to stop that one though as missing just one dose causes my parasthesia to get out of control.
UGH!!! Challanges, challenges :)

Love you all
D

[ShadowsSister]

Where ever you have a muscle there are nerves, so of course MS can effect them. My understanding is that eye problems are Not that rare with MS usually it comes and goes but not in every case. As I have said we can't really compare ourselves to each other it is very difficult to fine two cases exactly a like..That is why it is so very difficult to treat.

I am also on Zanaflex, and it hasn't bother my eyes, I take 12 MG 4X a day which is a very high dose. The eye problems I have been having is due to the MS not the Cymbalta as I once thought.. I tend to blame my medications because I HATE to Blame the MS... With me most likely it will be the MS.. DARN IT !!

What is bothering each of you I hope  will settle down soon  and you will all start to feel better for the Holidays..
Just remember that the Holidays can be stressful for many reasons, so remember to get extra rest, time to relax and Breathe. In other words Take special good care of yourselves.

Sending you love filled hugs {{{{~!~}}}} DJ

[Sarahsmom46]

I think the muscles aof the eyes can be fatigued just like the muscles in the rest of our body.  It would be unusual, but probably not unheard of.  

You ,may be on the right track though with tapering a med to see if that is the culprit.  Some of our medications can cause blurry vision.  What dose of zanaflex are you taking.  I take it too, but haven't noticed vision problems.  

Is there anything that helps the eye fatigue?

Julie

[ShadowsSister]

Hi, I have had vision problems almost since day one, thank goodness they come and go.  They are numerous from the tatter veil as I call it. This isn't the same as floaters, those pesky little black spots that float with in the vision field. The tattered veil looks like a thin black curtain with holes scattered though out. Than there is the double and triple vision and some times every thing just fades in & out. My Optic Nerve at times becomes inflamed, The eye Doctor said there isn't any way to predict if or when it might become a permanent problem, most times this happens when I am stressed out more than usual.

Like Lulu has said, none of us are the same and MS doesn't effect us all the same way Fatigue is almost always the one sure thing in common most of us share. It feels like our legs and arms are weighted down with five or ten pounds of potatoes. Most times the symptoms will slow down or fade away over time, but for some reason the fatigue will be there, and it gets bad enough where it is difficult to move let a lone work a job.

I don't know if this information helps or just adds to your confusion.. I sure didn't want to confuse any one... But lets face it even after 23 almost 24 years of living with PP MS, I still get surprised and am not always sure what is happening to my body.
Danielle, Sweetie, I will continue to  keep you in my Daily Prayers, I am praying that the MS will go into remission and you will feel stronger with each passing day.
Sending you Love & Hugs on the wind, take care and be kind to yourself {{{{{~!~}}}}} DJ

[Lulu54]

Hi Danielle,
ON hasn't hit me yet, so I can't speak to your specific quesitons about that.

But the vision problems and fatigue can definitely be connected.  When you are having vision difficulties - blurry, out of focus, obscure sight, etc - you brain has to work overtime to process the signals it is getting.  

When we work our brain too hard, even if we don't have MS, it tires us.  With the MS we tire even quicker.  Our CNS is already working overtime, and this extra strain from the eyes would definitely wear you down.

I hope something in my rambling made sense!

be well,
Lulu