I tested IGM positive to Lyme back in november of last year. I didnt have any symptoms yet. I was put on doxycycline for like 5 months and felt fine. i went off doxycycline in april. this past september all the weird symptoms started up again
first I felt light headed then my eyes felt heavy and kinda filmy (almost like a light light case of conjunctivitis)
I had two eye exams with dialation in the past three months as well as a regular eye exam (without dialtion) last week. the eye doctor said everything looks fine
is everything really fine? are they able to see the stuff lyme can do to the eyes?
its just weird that my eyelid can feel puffy and my eyes feel kinda sory filmy yet everything is fine with the eyes.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Be glad the eye doctor says all looks fine but be sure to follow the advice of your LLMD and keep your LLMD apprised of all symptoms, including your vision.
A lot happens in the brain - and in the ears - that affects our vision. And, yes, there are some lyme changes that a regular eye doctor can miss. However, your LLMD should be able to guide you and symptoms should get better with treatment.
Anti-oxidants are key for your eyes, too. Vital.
Anti-inflammatory supplements (&/or acupuncture) can help that puffiness. "Filmy" can mean different things to different people. If you mean hard to focus, that can get better.
If filmy from the tear composition, try a preservative-free liquid tears formula.
Liver support is essential as is moving lymph tissue. I'm out of steam, others can expound upon why that matters. -
Posted by lymegal23 (Member # 28573) on :
my llmd told me to stay on the doxy but to take adaptocrine for adrenal suuport, detox factor to support detox and zen a few times a day for the anxiety
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
Yes.
They told me my eyes were very dry.
I got eye drops!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Sounds like you are on track. Not sure what "zen" is but sounds like a relaxation / breathing exercise - always good.
I love Adaptocrine (by Apex). It's one of the best formulas I've found (well, my ND found it for me). Adrenal support can help lessen dry eyes.
[ 10-20-2010, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
I just took my daughter to a neuro opthamologist. He could tell that she didn't have any nerve damage from the lyme. BTW he is lyme literate.
Posted by tick battler (Member # 21113) on :
In my experience, some eye issues will be detectable and others not. Like Keebler says, I think vision problems can stem from the brain or inner ears or somewhere that the eye doc can't see. For example, one of my boys with lyme was tested by a lyme literate neuro opthamologist b/c he was hallucinating orange spots. His eye exam was completely normal even though he had lyme, bart, babesia, etc. The doc thought the hallucinations were coming from the brain.
This same doc looked at my other son a year before this when I was trying to figure out if he had lyme. He told me his eyes were fine on the exam even though he was having serious light sensitivity. He thought because he was fair, my son could be sensitive to light. I made the mistake of thinking the light sensitivity was not lyme related and was normal, and delayed my pursuit of a diagnosis for 6 months.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I saw a neuro-opthalmologist for my Lyme eye symptoms, and passed all the tests.
Then my chiropractor suggested I try drinking mangosteen juice, and within one hour of starting it, my blurred vision and eye muscle pain diminished, and 24 hours later, no more Lyme symptoms, including floaters and light sensitivity!
I drink the Ultra mangosteen blend from Trace Minerals with 70 minerals added. There are lots of brands out there. If you try it, go slowly and drink a lot of water too, as it can be powerful.
Posted by PainFighter (Member # 28444) on :
For me my eye doctor was my savior. He was the one who diagnosed me with Optic Neuritis. I had visited several doctors for two years and everything was fine. The only diagnosis I received was CFS and Fibromylagia.
Without my eye doctor knowing my symptons, he was caring to ask about my health without telling me what he saw in his checkup.
He called my husband in and told him your wife's symptoms are real. You need to run more lab work and have more tests done.
This was the beginning of how I was tested and came back with 4 bands on the IGM and 1 band on the IGG.
Posted by PainFighter (Member # 28444) on :
Sorry 4 bands on the IGG and one band on the IGM
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Wow, pain fighter! That is a great story!!
Hope you have an LLMD now!!
Posted by TX Lyme Mom (Member # 3162) on :
Bartonella is notorious for causing eye symptoms. Unfortunately, the lab tests for Bartonella aren't all that reliable -- mainly because there are so many different strains of Bartonella, but the lab tests can detect only a couple of strains. Nevertheless, do keep Bartonella in mind if your main symptoms concern the eyes.
Posted by TX Lyme Mom (Member # 3162) on :
I forgot to mention that one of the symptoms of "neuro-Lyme" is Adie Holmes Syndrome, which is tested for by a simple neurological test in the office. The patient is placed in a dark room (no outside windows) until the eyes adjust to the darkness. Then the doctor shines a little penlight into the eyes from the side (not directly in front of the eyes). The pupils will not contract properly. One pupil might contract but the other won't, or else one or both pupils might go into spasm -- contricting and opening rapidly.
These patients will complain that driving at night is very difficult or even impossible because of problems seeing against on-coming headlights. Well, as you can imagine, if there are neurological symptoms with trouble managing the constriction of the pupils under bright lights, then this symptom could be diagnostic of neuro-Lyme.
Another eye test is the "visual contrast sensitivity" (VCS) test which you can read about at Dr. Shoemaker's website on neurotoxins. (Click on VCS testing in the scroll bar on the left side of the homepage.)
Currently, I am not seeing an LLMD but am seing Dr. R from the list I received from Siciliano which is taking my insurance. He has given me 30 Days of Ceftin while we wait for my Igenex results. Currently he is diagnosing me with an "Infectious Disease" and will be speaking to my eye doctor because the Optic Neuritis is the biggest "red flag" in my file along with all my symptoms.
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