posted
I'm back! Unfortunately. My daughter who is now 19 has had her lyme return. She was diagnosed at 14, treated for about 4 years, was way better and now 1 1/2 years later it has returned.
And returned with a vengeance. It seemed to start out as a Virus but then escalated quickly and her neurological issues have returned. But worse.
She is experiencing tunnel vision - floaters, brain fog and just plain blurriness. It's making her crazy and fearful of her vision. I have an appt next week to see a very notable Opthalmologist. Hopefully they can rule out any harmful eye conditions and then I can 100% blame Lyme.
Does anyone else have these issues that can share their experiences? Do we need to fear vision loss?
I really think it's pressure in her brain causing the vision issues. She has ice-pick headaches daily and always suffered from migraines.
We are also seeing neuro specialist tomorrow and will request an MRI to be safe.
Her LLMD is out of service for a couple of months and we can't get in to see him until late October so we are going crazy.
Please if anyone has eye issues I would love to hear from you! Best, Laurie
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(Breaking up your post for easier reading for many here)
[ 09-15-2015, 02:08 PM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posts: 163 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
Here's my experience: I had floaters and light sensitivity for years, from undiagnosed Lyme. Then I developed eye muscle pain, and finally blurred vision.
It was that last symptom that got my attention, to go see a neuro-opthalmologist for testing. I had just been diagnosed with Lyme so at least I knew about that.
I passed all the eye tests, but the doctor had to anesthetize my eyes for me to be able to look at light. It's interesting that it was yet another medical experience in which I passed the tests fine. Just letting you know.
The doctor wanted to give me steroid eye drops. I knew that wasn't a good idea for Lyme. I told my chiropractor the next day. He said why don't you try drinking mangosteen juice, an anti-inflammatory juice.
So I got a bottle and started drinking it.
Results:
1) ALL eye symptoms disappeared overnight!!
2) My sinuses ran for 48 hours, and I didn't even have any sinus symptoms!
3) My intestines emptied for 72 hours, and ever since, I have used the juice to prevent constipation - keeps my intestines regular, like a baby's.
4) My gums didn't bleed anymore after 96 hours.
Not bad for an anti-inflammatory juice, eh? Mangosteen is a tropical fruit from SE Asia - for the juice production, they grind up the rind, which has 43 xanthone compounds which scarf up free radicals created by inflammation.
I now prefer the Mango-Xan juice version, as it has the least sugar of all the juice blends. You can find it in health food stores and online.
There is a stronger pure version, Xango, which many drink, but it's too strong for me.
Btw, I never had the headaches and migraines you're mentioning.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
I want to make a separate post for the brainfog issue. I don't think it's connected to the eye symptoms.
We're all different in what may be causing our symptoms and what our remedies are.
For me, it was low thyroid. I tested low in T3 and went on Armour thyroid, and that cleared up my brainfog. I felt present again.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Hi Robin, I have seen your posts regarding the Juice.. My daughter actually picked up a bottle last night and started the protocol. I have not seen other posters on this site discuss it at all. Does anyone else have positive results from using Mangosteen Juice with vision issues?
She has Low Iron, which she is taking a supplement for now. Not sure if that could cause the Brain Fog or not.
Thank you for your response.
Posts: 163 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
I have had floaters for as long as I can remember. And for about the past 7 years or so I occasionally see white flashes. Especially when I feel 'inflamed' in the head.
Finally last year I went to have it checked out by an opthamologist. He did a full workup including retina scan. He said that he cannot see anything out of the ordinary and my eyes look perfectly normal for my age.
I think many Lyme patients do see strange visual phenomena but it is caused by inflammation in the brain and/or optic nerve rather than a physiological impairment of the eye itself.
So I wouldn't be surprised if they don't find anything unusual in your daughter's eyes. With Lyme related eye issues, decreasing inflammation usually reduces weird visual issues.
Also for me personally, my brain inflammation and visual inflammation increase when I have not been eating right and I become irregular. Keeping the bowels moving with lots of fiber and taking alkalizing agents like green juices really help.
Posts: 655 | From USA | Registered: Sep 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- For MRI tomorrow, it's too late to call now but first thing in the morning see if you can call that department and ask if they have a
special kind of EARMUFF for the MRI. It should have a decibel rating and have no metal.
If she has ear plugs, take those, of course, either way. If she does not have ear plugs, they should have at the MRI place but I'd not count on it. Stop by a drug store or hunting dept. and pick up the best ear plugs they have.
I suggest the hard white dense foam kind. The orange ones that looks like those old Circus Peanuts Halloween candies are not good enough.
Hearing protection during MRI is very important.
If this is the same daughter about whom you just posted a different thread about anxiety, then it's all the more important that the noise level be minimized. An MRI can be just violent noise and banging.
Afterward, plan to be very still . . . and do something soothing where you can be there for her if she needs you - or just let her be quiet and still. Be sure to have a healthy snack for afterward as such a sound assault can be very hard on the adrenals - and that can cause blood sugar to crash.
Best of luck with this. My heart is with you both. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Oh, I see the MRI is not scheduled for tomorrow (I think), only the neurologist appointment and you plan to request an MRI.
If the MRI is necessary, of course, go for it. But, if there is any other way to determine, I'd back off as the sound assault can be so intense and damaging to the ears, even with ear plugs. But the adrenals take such a hit.
The last MRI damaged me in so many ways. I'll never have another again.
A CT Scan is much quieter.
The Mango-Xan juice that Robin suggest is what I'd recommend first. Floaters are due to a lot of oxidation and mangosteen is such a good anti-oxidant.
And, yes, all the symptoms described can certainly be due to lyme. I'd sure weigh in with a LLMD about this before going into such an potentially damaging MRI.
Tunnel Vision is the most serious concern so, of course, the best experts' advice matters.
The nervous and adrenal systems of those with lyme is just so very tender that an MRI can shake us to the core and it can take a long time to come back from that. If needed, precautions listed above can help. There may be better diagnostics that don't clobber.
Good luck to you all. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- "Tunnel Vision" is something I've not encountered and, of course, expert advice is vital . . . yet for the other symptoms, some of this may be of help.
Book & website: THE EYE CARE REVOLUTION - by Robert Abel, Jr. M.D. (Ophthalmologist) -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
ASTAXANTHIN - an antioxidant that has great promise for the eyes
Also be sure to get your FISH OIL - Many here really like OmegaBrite - just Google.
TAURINE is an essential amino acid for the eyes. Be sure your diet includes plenty. Vegetarians MUST supplement as it's primarily in muscle meat, fish and eggs. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Topic: what do STEROIDS actually do to those with lyme? Risks, long term damage discussed. Links -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Brain Fog - absolutely can be caused by Low Iron / anemia. But so many things about lyme and other TBD can cause brain fog, too. So many. When the body is overwhelmed, it just can't think as it is trying to take care of all the other issues that require "its" attention and energy.
Thinking is not on the top of the list. Thinking does take a lot of energy and if the body is so overwhelmed, thinking just has to go low key.
Low Iron / anemia can be a sign of Babesia.
Not sure what supplement she is taking for low iron but keep this one in mind:
posted
Keebler, thank you so much for all this information. I got some reading to do and catching up on all this lyme related stuff. It's been a few years and I've forgotten a lot and these symptoms are different from the last time around. Our biggest issue right now is the headaches. She is having terrible sharp-pain headaches that come and go and last for about 15 minutes. The pain is unbearable and she is completely unable to move. The intensity and frequency has increased over the last few days. We wound up in the ER last night, got a Cat Scan, nothing showed up on it thank god. But something is still causing this pain. I'm so afraid she will be driving and get one of these attacks. Anyhow, we have the neuro appt today, and thank you for the advice on the MRI, but it may be the only way to really see what's going on in her head. She had one before (maybe 4 years ago) and she didn't have any affect from it. Hopefully not this time also. I'll keep you posted.....
Posts: 163 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2010
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