help!

[wheeler641]

I have just got out of the hospital, was there from thursday, all of a sudden I lost all vision in my left eye, all kind of thing were ruled out, no stroke (had mri with contrast, no retina deatchment, also had all kinds of test to see if I am throwing clots from other places, all negative, I can see shadows in my left eye, but not much more, so far my right eye in uneffected. I know this is probably not als realated, I am just terrified as I do not know what this is, I am home know and told to see my own doc in the morning. Just hoping someone could have some insight as to what this could be, thanks margaret

 

[Moonmark]

Hi Margaret-- Yikes! How scary. I have not read all of your posts, but I am wondering if you have been evaluated for multiple sclerosis. In addition to abnormal sensations, muscle problems, urinary urgency, etc., etc. MS can cause optic neuritis, which can lead to vision loss. Optic neuritis typically affects only one eye, from my understanding. were you seen by a neuro in the hospital? Did the MRI show any lesions in the white matter?

If it is optic neuritis, I think your vision will eventually return. Hopefully this will happen soon.

while this is a horrible turn of events, perhaps it will help your neurologist to pinpoint the cause of your health problems.

wishing you well--

Sandra

 

[wheeler641]

does your vision usually return,? I am sooo scared, My mri was looked over by a nuero, said there was nothing life threatning, they said they saw some old injuries?, but nothing that could effect the seeing loss in my left eye. I was sitting at the computer go up, felt like a head rush than boom , could not see out of one eye, I now can see shadows and I have peripheal vision but not center vision, was also given an ultasound of the cartoid arteries and heart all fine there, the eye doctor could not find a problem, does this sound like it will come back. Geez I don't kmow what would happen to me if it effects my other eye, thanks for answering so quickly, excuse any typos only have one eye,lol, margaret

 

[rose]

Margaret,

Wow! you're going through the ringer. I really feel for you!

Didn't we talk about narrow angle glaucoma before? (I have it) it seems like we did. Are they sure your retina looks intact? I think you need to see a glaucoma specialist. Make sure whoever you see understands that you're a diabetic, and that you've been on prednisone for a while. Please let us know what you find out, and try not to worry. Easier said than done. Its encouraging you can see shadows. That's a start.

 

[Moonmark]

Margaret- you cannot see out of one eye, with the exception of shadows, and the eye doctor did not find a problem?! huh? if it was optic neuritis, I think they would have seen swelling of your optic nerve. but I am not a medical professional of any kind.

are you being seen at a major medical center? If you have diabetes and, as Rose said, have some form of glaucoma, then you should definitely see a specialist in that area, and soon.

do you have someone in your family helping you with all of this and helping to advocate for you at the hospital?

good luck--

Sandra

 

[wheeler641]

when I was in the hospital they gave me high doses of prednisone Iv, did not seem to make it any better, they also ruled out giant cell enteritis through a biopsy so I am not even sure I should be taking the prednisone at all any more, I go to see my own doc in the morning, while at the hospital I saw a retina specialist, who said no torn retina or no damage from diabetes?, really confused just want to be able to see again, thanks rose and sandra, margaret

 

[Moonmark]

Hi again--

Margaret- took a brief look at some of your previous posts-- are you seeing a Lyme disease specialist?

Sandra

 

[wheeler641]

nope, my rheumy does not think I have an active case, also doctors in hospital did not seem concerned over it, margaret

 

[wheeler641]

also have had this problem for a few months started out as just kind of wavy vision saw a retina specialist said he saw no problem, continued to have these wavy vision attacks just kind of ignored them after that, everytime I would have the attacks it would seem to be precipitated by flourescent lights and everytime my blood sugar was a little on the low side and they would go away after about 15 minutes, well to make a long story short, this last one on thurday only got worse, margaret

 

[rhythman]

A good friend of mine woke up one day completely blind in one eye. She had no previous episodes of anything neurological ever. All tests (including mri) were clear, but follow up mri 2 months later showed MS lesions. She has had several other mri's over the years, but the really interesting thing is that there are often no lesions and mri is clean while she is having symptoms. Last mri showed several lesions, but she was asymtomatic...felt no MS effects at that time.

Get another mri 'down the road' and continue to be monitored. It wouldn't surprise me if this is MS related.

 

[wheeler641]

did they ever recover any eyesight in the affected eye?

 

[rhythman]

Some came back, but another episode a few years later reduced it to practically none. That has been her most significant MS symptom for 10 years.

BTW, the MS diagnosis was (still is?) debated by 3 doctors-her general neuro, an MS specialist neuro and a neuro-opthamologist at a teaching hospital. The last one had seen this same thing, and the pattern of lesions showing up later, a few times before. He gave the MS diagnosis. It goes to show that even the experts disagree and diagnoses are often not straightforward.

 

[wheeler641]

what is so scary, they did a zillion tests and I still don't know why this happenned, going to see my regular doc tomorrow, probably off for more tests, this happeneed at the worst possble time, I am the caregiver of my spouse who had a massive stroke 4 years ago and broke his knee about 2 weeks ago and cannot walk at all, having my son come over tomorrow, while my cousin drives me, I just hope I can keep my one good eye, thanks everbody for your responses I know most of you are dealing with your own issues and it says alot about this forum and the caring members on it, thanks margaret

 

[wheeler641]

well more tests today, well I found out what happenned I had a stroke in my eye, they think some of my vision in the eye might return I sure hope so, margaret

 

[lydia]

Wow, Margaret that sounds so scary. Why do things like that happen, and can you do anything to prevent it from happening again? I hope your vision returns soon-

Lydia