posted
Could Bartonella cause optical migraines? I know Bart is responsible for many eye problems, but I haven't seen this one listed.
Thankfully, there's no pain, but it does affect the vision somewhat for 10 or 15 minutes. They don't come very often, so my eye doctor is not worried.
Mine are half a circle of zigzag lines with shimmering colors. It starts off small in the center of my vision and gradually gets larger. Looks as if it's getting closer and then goes past me. Actually, it's pretty neat, but I keep wondering what causes it and wish it would stop.
Of the things I've read about possible causes, nothing seems to fit my situation. TBDs can do most anything to the body (except hangnails) so naturally, I was wondering if this could be one more thing they cause.
Does anyone else have this happen?
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
You should go to a retinal specialist ASAP (meaning get your eye doctor to refer you and get you squeezed in Monday) to make sure that it isn't a detached retina, which is a medical emergency. Only a retinal specialist can check this adequately.
It also could be a detached vitreous, which isn't serious. The retinal specialist could tell if that's what it is.
Otherwise, it could be an aura from a migraine, whether or not you get the headache.
I don't know the answer to whether Bart can cause it. Certainly Lyme and Babesia can cause migraines and eye problems (Lyme for the latter anyway). Bart can cause headaches, but not usually migraines to my knowledge.
Please go get it checked out by a retinal specialist. Truthfully, it is negligent of your eye doctor to not insist on this. Hopefully, it isn't a detached retina, but don't mess around with your vision.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
That's all news to me. I appreciate your taking time to send the information. Eyesight is too valuable to not take seriously.
Thanks again, Rumigirl.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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dbpei
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posted
I have had several ocular migraines in the past. The vitreous detachment is much different than the ocular migraine, which you describe well. Mine were very similar to your description.
I have also been to a retinal specialist, and since the last ocular migraine (which was probably a year ago), I have developed a vitreous detachment. I don't know if TBI can cause any of these things, but both are scary.
The vitreous detachment, for me, was like a huge floater that actually blocked my vision at times and with flashes of light in my peripheral vision that are more noticeable in the dark. I have had floaters for many years, but this floater was really bothersome and much larger.
It has since gotten less intrusive, although I think it will be with me forever. The retinal specialist told me that I could expect something similar in my other eye in the next year. He said if it ever causes my vision to become blocked, to contact his office asap.
The ocular migraine lasts 15-30 minutes and is much like you describe. My sensation was like a ferris wheel or kaleidoscope in upper right field of vision after experiencing area of blocked vision for a few minutes first. Very frightening, but so grateful it gets better over time. I never got head aches with mine either.
I hope this helps!
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
My wife's gets these too, ever since she was in her teens. They are very similar to what you describe.
She usually takes ibuprofen when the spots appear in her eyes though, because for her an intense headache usually follows.
She was just diagnosed with Lyme too. I don't know if they're related, but I'd say anything is possible.
Posts: 748 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2015
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posted
A friend has had these ocular migraines (called "Classic Migraines") for many years and was seen by a Neurologist who said they don't know what causes them.
Btw - this person does not have Lyme.
I agree, though, you should get this checked out by an eye specialist.
Posts: 8981 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Thanks for the additional information, dbpei and SickSam.
I have a list of ways Bart can affect the eyes, so that's why I thought it may be responsible. It helps to know others are experiencing the same thing and understand.
Thanks to all three of you.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I have Chronic Lyme and Bartonella and those symptoms eventually went away for me with treatment. I am pretty much better now and I don't have those symptoms anymore. Ask your LLMD about this and see what they say. Best wishes to you Posts: 241 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2015
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I have Chronic Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia. Recently, my LLMD in NYC put me back on treatment.
I'd been off for a good while, but symptoms started coming back gradually after my neighborhood was flooded Oct 2015. I asked if he thought the stress and trauma triggered it and he said most probably yes.
You've given me hope. Maybe the Ocular Migraines will clear up with the treatment.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I have the same thing. I've not been diagnosed with lyme but possible mold. However, your migraines are probably linked to hormones. Never had one until after I started birth control pills. After five years of thinking it was my ear, my endocrinologist said his wife's was related to her menstrual cycle, so he suggested I watch my cycle in relation to when I got the migraines. So I learned that I got the migraine about three days before my cycle started. It would start with the aura/visual, just like you described, then I would be out of it with pain and nausea for about three days after.
When I stopped the birth controlpills, the migraines almost completely stopped and as time went on, I might get one short one a year.
Now that I'm getting close to perimenopause, I've started getting the auras only with an overall bad feeling for that day but really no headache. And it is related to my cycle. I may get one before my cycle and one after my cycle starts.
What I have found helps stop the auras is, believe it or not... hot sauce. I just shake the texas pete on my tongue and rub it into the roof of my mouth. And I hate hot sauce.
Hope this helps.
Posts: 2 | From 24502 | Registered: Jul 2017
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posted
cbb, I have other eye problems, and you mentioned you have a list of eye problems related to bartonella. Would you mind posting them or email them to me? Thanks
Posts: 2 | From 24502 | Registered: Jul 2017
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
I get migraines with auras also.
Sometimes I have visual change like described, typically lasts less than 15 secs, then get slammed with extreme nausea & then have immediate violent projectile vomiting. The migraine headache appears while vomiting.
So not fun, I have essentially no warning & no time to act.
For most part Topamax helps prevent my migraines. Zofran oral dissolving tablet & Imitrex helps reduce severity & time with the migraine.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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sammy
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posted
I agree with Rumigirl though, what you describe can also be a sign of serious Retina problems. So I agree that you should see an Eye MD that is also a Retinal Specialist.
My Eye doc is a Retinal Specialist for very well renowned Eye Institute. I get to see him though at a small local office.
He has found thinning of my retinas. Always takes pics of back of eye, uses hand held lights & magnifying glasses to see details of retina clearly, then hand draws detailed shetches of current condition of each eye/ retina.
So get full evaluation of eyes & work- up for migraines. Don't try to diagnose self with these conditions.
Also, don't ignore symptoms as serious complications can arise.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
cbb I had this exact issue, slowly going blind and deaf while mostly bedbound with awful migraines. Turns out I had high levels of cadmium in my blood, a $15 test revealed that. It took three weeks to fix in June 2009 and I haven't had a headache or migraine since then.
I can send you a book I wrote, or simply direct you to the test and a slow but safe way to fix the problem.
Posts: 289 | From Montreal, Canada | Registered: Mar 2017
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I've said this before on LN, but for years now I've gone to a big deal Eye Institute and seen MD, PhD doctors who are tops in their field, due to a multitude of eye issues. They took a lot of pictures of my
eyes, which showed that the retinas are filled with black squiggles, showing a ton of damage from the Lyme. Once when I saw this top retinal specialist, along with a very top retinal specialist from London, who was there to teach, they both said that they had never seen
anything like it before---and he is up there in his 80's. What?? Why do I always have to be the worst case ever in so many departments??
And no fixes for my issues either. Except that I now need cataract surgery, which is now put off, due to the cancer & the CRPS/RSD!!
One other issue, which is big. Anyone who has migraines should be seeing a neurologist, who specializes in migraines. For 2 reasons: they can offer the best meds, etc. for the condition, but also very importantly, migraines are NOT benign.
That is, they have been shown to create brain damage. We, as people with Lyme & co, often already have too much of that, so . . . we need to have the best help to prevent them and treat them----along with treatment for the infections, which are the start of the
migraines anyway IMO. Does it ever end??!!
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
I went to the most respected place where I live, The Montreal Neuro. No blood tests, no diagnostics beyond a negative cat scan / MRI, just a file clerk dispensing ergot drugs that made me sleep.
Posts: 289 | From Montreal, Canada | Registered: Mar 2017
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dbpei
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posted
That is amazing Rumigirl, and so scary. Scans of both of my eyes showed jagged edges on macula that should have been smooth. But the retinal specialist had no explanation and just wanted me to monitor my vision weekly with a special chart to check for changes. He knew I had Lyme disease and long term treatment for it.
I might want to investigate finding a lyme literate ophthalmologist. I would not be surprised at all if this is somehow connected to tick borne illness. I am now deaf in one ear and vitreous detachment and worse symptoms are on the same side. Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
I appreciate all the great responses since I was on yesterday. For those of you who have such serious, sometimes multiple, eye issues, I hope that your situation will improve soon.
From what you've written and what I've read, I get the feeling there are two issues using the word migraine - Ocular migraine and Migraine headache with aura (which can have an abundance of other issues). I guess I should have titled this "Ocular migraines" instead of optical. Lyme brain here.
I am lucky enough to just have the shimmering lights with absolutely no other symptoms. It only slightly affects the center of my vision for a short time and is a rare occurrence. I'll discuss it again with my eye doctor.
I appreciate all the concern and information!!
volens, I'm sorry you're having eye problems and I certainly hope they resolve soon. You asked for the list of eye symptoms, so I'm sending them.
I have a one page handout that I believe was given on here some years ago. I think Tincup may have shared the info. I'll give her credit since she shares so much.
"EYES: Conjunctivitis, Bartonella Neuroretinitis, Loss of Vision, Flame Shaped Hemorrhages, Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion with Vision Loss, Cotton Wool Exudates, Parinaud's Oculoglandular Syndrome, and Papilledema."
Book: "Checklists for Bartonella, Babesia, and Lyme Disease 2012 Edition" by Dr. S (on Amazon) page 6: "EYE - Retina infection, Retina infarct or dead tissue in the back of the eye, Neuroretinitis or inflammation of the retina and optic nerve in the back of the eye, Uveitis or inflammation of the middle layer of the eye or the interior eye, Papilledema or swelling of the optic nerve as it enters the back of the eye due to raised intracranial pressure, Stellate maculopathy, Acute blurred vision, Sudden and/or significant change in vision."
(I didn't try to eliminate the repetition.)
About 15 years ago, my grandson had major change in his vision in one year. That was one of the key symptoms of his diagnosis of Bartonella and LD by the wonderful Dr. J. in CT. Thankfully, he was cured and is now in college!!!
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