I'm having a harder and harder time working on the computer, especially trying to do any intensive work with spreadsheets due to eye pressure/focusing issues. I'm getting devastated as this is how I make a living. It's especially hard to work on the computer, talk on the telephone,etc.
I just had an annual eye exam and my doc said all was fine less than 2 months ago. I'm wearing the prescription given. Nothing is helping. WTH do I do? The more I stare at the screen, the more head pressure/squeezing I get in the back left side of my head starting right under the left ear to the top left side of my head. It's like a band of pressure.
Yeah, Bb treatment is really helping me. NOT. I'm not happy w/my progress and actually feel like I'm regressing in some respects, especially with vision. Why pump oral Abx down my mouth for this?
I'm sitting mid-afternoon feeling somewhat OK and boom - dizzy, head pressure, eye issues, etc. All in 5 minutes. This ain't sezuires? How could it all come apart like this. All of a sudden I was so fatigued I had to lie down. Three hours later, back to somewhat functional. The bottom line is I CANNOT work on a computer for 8 hours like I used to and I can't convince my disasbility insurer I have a problem as nothing shows up. DARN.
Posted by Piegirl (Member # 14786) on :
Seek, I don't have any answers for you but, I know exactly how you feel. I have the same problem. It makes working very hard.
It gives me all the same symptoms you describe. I feel like someone is squeezing my head very tight and it makes me very dizzy, and my eyes won't focus.
I get like this when working on the computer and also when I'm in a situation where I'm trying to take in alot of info at once (not on the computer). So, for me it's not always computer related.
If I stop what I'm doing it will start to clear up. But, the more I try to ignore it and keep working...the worse it gets. I find it very frustrating too.
I try to explain it to my family but, they just don't get it. They tell me that everyone gets like this. I know I never felt anything like that before I got sick. I hate it when you try to explain a symptom and people think that you are just exagerating a commom symptom that everyone has.
Mary
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
what i did when i was still working were these things:
had a roof of white sign stuff put OVER my cubicle to keep light out....
adjusted my brightness/contrast down to ZERO or almost there.
had all overhead lights turned OFF in my cubicle..
biggest thing, keep moving your head left and right instead of FOCUSING in on things ....
my chiro told me that's why my neck is so bad...
also when my AXIS was off even a smidgen, it would give me migraines since i have a HIGH RX! good luck.
i wander if a eye specialist could help you and complete a RESIDUAL FUNCTION CAPACITY sheet for you ....
copying info below for you on that ...
GOOD documentation is:
.. your medical drs. medical dictation AGREEING with what you are telling DSS/SSDI staff that you are unable to PHYSICALLY do this/that:
. limited sitting
. limited typing or USE YOUR FINGERS/HANDS TO GRASP THINGS;
.... also is having the special forms that CONNIE MC supplied us with that i talked about above:
..RFC; residual function capacity;
.. MFC .. mental function capacity;
there were 2-4 more; been so long i can't remember what they are called!
example, RFC, it asks questions and your DR/PCP/LLMD must answer for each one with these guidelines.
0 to 2 hrs.
2 - 4 hrs.
4 - 6 hrs.
6 - 8 hrs.
in the shape you are TODAY, NOT THE DAY YOU LEFT WORK, etc.
how long can you:
walk, stand, lift, bend, crawl, use your fingers, ...the things mentioned above.
YOUR DR/PCP/LLMD's comments hold MORE weight than their "on staff" mds/psychologists/psychiatrists, etc.
hope that explains that one.
yes MINOUCAT has the disability post shown at the top of GENERAL SUPPORT!
my/connie mc's info is there plus lots of hers, and others!! *****************************
use MINOUCAT'S info link at top of SUPPORT!!
Posted by yanivnaced (Member # 13212) on :
do you have floaters?
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Not that I ean tell yanivaced. Basically, my eyes feel very, very strained. They feel dry, but lubricant drops don't help.
Maybe I don't even know what I'm looking for though. Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
My eyes feel this same way, but it leads to pain in the eyes like the eye muscles are sore. Then behind the eyes hurts and I can barely look at the light at times.
Posted by Nicole_Denise (Member # 20620) on :
Hi seekhelp
The optometrist couldn't see anything wrong with my eyes, either- but I'm having a very similar problem.
There are days where I cannot read anything on my computer screen unless I blow it up huge. And my vision has gotten much worse since I started treatment.
I'm still trying to figure out what it is- I'm pretty sure it's more a problem with the communication between my eye and my brain than my actual eye function.
Which is probably why the optometrist couldn't find anything.
I heard something about some optometrists being able to look at the function of the optic nerve- have you tried that? Or even a neurologist?
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
There is a LL Neuro-Opthalmologist in Warren. PM me for info if you need it.
I have the same thing.....with the eyes and pressure. And yes, everything with this disease can change in an instant!
One minute I can feel semi-functional and ready to attempt the store and after getting ready I have to lay down....fun, fullfilling life.
Just gotta look to our belssings I guess. Sometimes it is SO hard.
Posted by gemofnj (Member # 15551) on :
seek,
i too had vision problems start up mid way through my treatment when i didnt have any in the beginning. It scared the crap out of me!
my ophthalmologist said that lyme can hop onto the optic nerve. He was very sympathetic about lyme and agreed it can be very nasty.
He didnt prescribe anything, but he knew I was under treatment.
I know its infuriating that there isnt a single area of our bodies it doesnt reach.. aaagghh!
My problems were intermittent and it did clear up eventually, but currently my eyes do enjoy reading text that is broken up.
At one point I had a hard time comprehending anything I read.
Hopefully your issues are fleeting and will clear up shortly.
I feel so bad that you are having such a tough time. Posted by nessa143143 (Member # 20340) on :
My vision seems fine but I do have a lot of pressure behind my left eye. This is something very new, within a month. I never thought my eyes would be effected. I agree with the person that said we don't have a part of our bodies left!
I find myself really irritated at my eye thing. I can understand how irritating it might be when you can't see well. I'm irritated just because of the pressure. It's kind of scary.
I've always had perfect vision, but I guess I'll be investigating WHY this is happening....just to make sure it's nothing else.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
The tough part is so many here know/sympathize with the symptom as always, but I do not read people GOT BETTER. The same issues with endless Bb symptoms. It's like why bother? Know what I mena? Why do these tough treatments help no one even after months/years? I don't know how you'll can't feel like going through the roof.
Eye doctor assured me I have no issues with my optic nerve and even said unlikely I have Bb due to this. Another strike in the coffin. lol.
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
I've beenn having issues off and on with my eyes too.
I have a lazy eye that has never been very useful at all.
My good eye has definitely been actibg weird--lots of floaters and sometimes just can't focus.
Now I can even tell that something is up with my bad eye--and that has to be bad!
I feel that I'm losing vision in that eye, and I sometimes feel like I'm loooking through gauze.
Yet the eye doctors can find nothing, NOTHING!
It is maddening!
Other symptoms seem to be getting better, but this just hangs on and gets worse.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I don't know if any of this applies to anyone else but I think the head pressure can be caused by inflammation. Die-off = inflammation. Consider taking natural anti-inflammatories. One thing that helps is enteric coated enzymes on an empty stomach 2X per day.
Some other things you can take for inflammation: Avea - Mood, Liquid Extract, NutraMedix Boswellia Bromelain Evening Primrose Oil Feverfew Fish Oil Mangosteen Nattokinase Noni, NutraMedix Quercitin Rutin Serraflazyme (www.Serrapeptase.info) Turmeric
I don't know if this is the same thing that any of you are experiencing but I find that my vision is constantly changing. Sometimes it is very blurry and difficult to see the computer screen. This often gives me headaches.
I believe this is related to toxins in the brain. I get considerable relief with wheat grass. I ran out of wheat grass recently and found that nettle helps somewhat. This may fit with Dr. S's work regarding his VCS (visual contrast sensitivity) test for toxins. Not sure about that though.
Seek wrote: Why do these tough treatments help no one even after months/years?
They do help many people. It takes time and it is frustrating and difficult to wait. Patience is your best friend when it comes to lyme treatment.
I know I keep repeating this and I"m sorry if some find it annoying but detox, detox, detox. Don't forget heavy metal binders either since killing bugs releases heavy metals. That alone can be responsible for worsening symptoms. Then you have borrelia toxins to deal with too.
Terry
Posted by EyeBob (Member # 12572) on :
I'm convinced that there is more to the ocular involvement than is reported. It would seem that there may be a component to the Bb disease that affects either the coordination of the focusing within the eye or within the brain or both. If this were the case, it'd be very tricky to pick up during an ordinary eye exam. What you're describing probably isn't affected by Bb affecting the optic nerve, not in a gross sense at least.
A better question is whether the focusing issue is due to infection or die-off. If it's part of a herx (remember, they don't have to be obvious) then you might kind of consider this a good thing.
I do know that most people find that as their treatment progresses, this focusing symptom gets better too.
Keep at it and report back. Oh, and keep on the artificial tears. Systane is excellent. Doing it 3-4 times daily can only help and cannot hurt.
bt
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Mine has gotten a lot better in treatment. Plus
antibiotic eye drops. It had gotten so bad I could
not even read with a magnifying glass. No matter
how hard I tried to focus it would not. Now it is
a muscular thing as well. When I try to see
something in my side vision when head turned my
eyes blur out like I am going to pass out and
have to turn head forward. It feels like it may
be a spasm thing. Things are changing so
I do believe in treatment.
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
Last night and this morning, my bad eye has been so bad that it's affecting my ability to see even with my good eye.
I'm having to shut my bad eye to get a little relief.
I hate this.
I can handle my other symptoms, but the vision thing I can't deal with.
And how do you know if it's something with the abx?
I've been on Doxy and Rifampin for months, and I know there's something on the info sheet about reporting blurred vision immediately.
Well, the vision issues have been there even before tx, so how do I know if I'm developing somethng?
My LLMD is one of those that doesn't take calls unless it's an emergency (I hate that, and believe me if there was another one nearby, I'd switch), or else I'd call him.
I'm trying to get my husband to let me make an appt. with a LL opthamologist--I know of one about 2 hours away.
It's just an insurance and a child care issue for us.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I agree its bologna to charge for patient phone
care. If you have to pay exorbitant out of pocket
expenses for care when they will not accept
insurance and still get cut out of treatment it is
wrong. I recently called my LLMD for something
and the message on the machine said I would be
charged for phone call. If they cannot afford a
800 number after what they charge something is
wrong.
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
It's especially hard to work on the computer, talk on the telephone,etc.