my CAT scan came out clear so this is a mystery. i didn't take any different medications or OTC meds.

LLMD is looking at CAT scan today.

Anyone else ever have this? When i called him friday he told me to go straight to the ER. Kinda freaked me out!

Never experienced that but, have noticed for the last couple of weeks, my 14 y/o lyme child has had "dialated" pupils. First I thought it was related to cold medicine we were giving her but, she hasn't taken any for about 5 days and they still look BIG!!

Wonder what would cause that?

------------------

 

i've had a horrendous head and neck ache for about 3 weeks now.

other than that i can't think of why this might happen!?
 

Lymiecanuck
 

Unequal pupils CAN indicate brain involvement. (trauma, infection, etc)

I had this "unequal pupil" thing first happen many years ago. When it happened I would feel a bit of a "duh" feeling (more so than normal... kind of a duh and light buzz too)... and it got happening so often that I could tell when the pupils were unequal just by the "duh" feeling I would get.

My eyes also became slow to react to light. One side was slow.. and the other even slower. Sometimes the left pupil would get "stuck" open and stay that way for days.

Although MANY doctors noted this situation by seeing it on their own... NEVER did they do anything about it.. and they refused me treatment for Lyme... and refused to listen when I said I was having trouble with my brain/head/neck. They labeled it Addie Robertson's pupil at one point.. and a few other fancy names.. but they all noted it in the charts and did nothing about it. And they called it several fancy names.. all meaning the one pupil was bigger than the other.

The bad news is.. it was happening when I got what I call... "irreversible brain damage".

That is when all the really bad things happened to my brain and the brain sort of "fried".

I lost many skills at that time... and I have never gotten back what I lost.

I have been able to re-train my brain for a number of basic functions... but never was able to retrieve my old memory and do simple things again with out re-learning them from the beginning.. like figure out how to get dressed, how to drive... how to cook an egg... etc.

I also still have no memory of highschool (going to classes, events, etc.)... friends and events from various time periods in my life, and whole years or segments of my life are still "missing".

I am unable to recognise someone's "face" anymore.. even my own family members. Sounds weird... but true. I go by other things to identify them now... their walk.. their voice, etc.

Much of the cognitive stuff (damage/problems) happened then also.

I am now at a 2nd or 3rd grade level for certain skills.. and my IQ dropped over 20 points at that time.

Luckily I could afford the drop in points! HA!

The way they knew the brain was affected.. besides the fact I was a bumbling idiot.. was the difference in scores on my cognative testing, over time.

In one area I did well... and had learned to compensate for many things I had lost.. in other areas I was REALLY bad.

The big difference in points from one set of tests to the other (on the same day) indicated my problem was due to an "organic brain syndrome." Over time... the total scores also became worse when I was untreated for the infections.

I was classified as moderately mentally retarded from the damage done and the scores.

Prior to Lyme, I was in the "normal" range.

Well, as normal as a Tincup can be! hehehe

The good news is...

With proper treatment I think the down hill progress has basically stopped or slowed down... IF I stay on the antibiotics.

I still have problems with the eyes acting up here and there.. and I am usually quite physically "bad" when the eyes start looking unequal again.

BUT..

The neuro chiro works specifically with this situation.. and is able to "adjust the brain" and kick it in gear (stimulate it) so the eyes no longer do this... and the brain and eyes work together so I function better and feel better.

It also kicks in brain functioning so my temperature regulates, my mental status improves, my hormones start working again.. or it kick-starts the organs that are suppose to produce the hormones so they work... etc.

He insists though that I take my antibiotics because he can NOT undo the infection in the brain or anywhere else.. which is the CAUSE of the problem.

Most neuro chiro's don't like "drugs".. but he has made an exception for Lyme because he has seen first hand what it does to my brain.. and my body... and documents how much better I am when ON meds.. and how bad I slide backwards when off them.

He actually can tell when I am on my antibiotics and when I have stopped them... because my eyes tell on me!!! I don't say a word.. and he KNOWS!!!

And he jumps on me for stopping them!! He also can tell when I am herxing... but that could be because of my "lovely" personality at the time... HA! EVIL Tincup!

My eyes have been acting up again recently... and I had stopped going there for the summer... and had stopped my meds on/off too.

He said after I returned recently that he had not seen my pupils this bad since I first started going to him... and maybe they are even worse now than then.

And yes.. while I was going there regularly.. my pupils never did that unequal thing... or if they did.. it was so mild I couldn't tell.

The point to all this rambling...

Consider the fact the brain may be "infected" or "affected" at this time.

I want you to know what happened to me.. so it won't happen to you if at all possible.

I can't and WON'T say this is happening to you.... it could be other things just as easily. And remember.. I am NOT a doctor.

I just want to throw this in here so you are aware it can happen.

Otay?

i am sorry to hear about all of the nasty crap that has happened to you. you're right, i don't want that to happen to me!!

i'm having quite the horrible time with the lyme right now. i've been going downhill for months. i've gotten new symptoms and scary ones at that - chest pains, wobbly legs, drunk feeling, etc.

And then the pupils!

I've been EXTREMELY stressed - wedding in 3 weeks, new job where I am very stressed, father-in-law just diagnosed with cancer, etc.

i want to crawl under a rock and hide for about 5 months.

i am SURE now that i have neuro involvement. i can't complete sentences and get that DUH feeling quite a lot!

i feel drunk most of the time!

i really hope i don't do permanent damage. i always thought that it was all reversible. now i'm a bit more concerned!

anwway, thanks for sharing. I was seeing a chiro but not a neuro chiro. not sure how to find one.

i'm getting a massage tomorrow to try and fix my neck which is causing me agony.

goodnight!

Jess
 

It is very important to have a doctor that actually believes what you say and not pass you off from doctor to doctor!

My hubby was missed diagnosed several times in the beginning. Hes has been sent to so many different doctors for so many things he didnt even have.

Hes been treated for several different things and I would hate to see the same happen to you.

They even was going to drain an absess on his toncils that he didnt even have!! Talk about scary!

Well no need to go on about symptoms he has had im sure you have heard them all or even had them yourself.

But he has had several MRI's and cat scans. and all came back normal. He lost total use of his right leg and they found nothing and did nothig.

He had no reflex in that knee for a while. He actually just recently got it back.

Well I hope you find out what you need to find out. Good luck and best of health.

Joyce
 

Sounds more like SUPER STRESS!!!!

Just ONE of those things going on would knock ME down. You sound like a tuff one.. for sure.

You said..

"i want to crawl under a rock and hide for about 5 months."

I have just such a rock!

I use it all the time myself!

You are welcome to join me down there.. but warning.

It gets pretty dark and moldy under that rock!

Now.. quick question...

Are you pigging out on sugar and carbs?

NO.. I won't give you a lecture... but that WILL make you get that "drunk" feeling.

So will a case of Miller Lite's... so I hope you are refraining from that stuff too.
You said..

"i really hope i don't do permanent damage. i always thought that it was all reversible. now i'm a bit more concerned!"

Not to be more stressed!!!

My OPINION is that some of what happened to me is NOT reversible... and has not improved over the past 15 years or so.

Some of the other things were better.. but this was a time when I had 7 tick borne infections that were "raging". It doesn't mean YOU will have the same thing.. but I want you to know it could happen.. and to be careful.

Are you paying attention to your doctors orders?

I hope so.

Now.. tell us more about the "wedding"!!!

Sounds nice!!!

[This message has been edited by treepatrol (edited 21 September 2004).]
 

Tincup - I don't think I'm tough! I just really have no choice... that's my life right now! I am in NY - where is your rock? hee hee.

I am managing to keep exercising throughout the ickiness and I do eat healthy and no, I don't drink.

I must admit I do eat a few carbs here and there but usually complex carbs like bran flakes. I'm pretty lean as it is so the fiancee is always trying to stuff food in me.

When you're in treatment for this long it's hard to stick to a really strict diet. If i really crave something I have just a little bit of it.

You have SEVEN infections??? I can't even name seven infections - i had Bartonella and bb. That's plenty! you poor thing!

thanks for the help, 'tis appreciated.

Jessie