I have been on meds for about 3 years now, even made it off for 6 months before a relapse occurred. After the relapse I started again with with Tetracicline and Diflucin. This combination seems to help me a lot.
The first month of meds I had amazing pain / pressure in both eyes. This is a symptom that I never had before. My LLMD called that 'sucky' since it is a new symptom. I am now pulsing (2 weeks on / 2 weeks off) and the symptoms come and go. My LLMD told me to have my eye pressure measured if the pressure continued but presently the pain / pressure is not bad but my eyes, especially left eye, is twitching all the time.
Question: does anyone have experience with or information about these symptoms and/or effect of Lyme on eyes? I know about light sensitivity (I have that as well). I worry that the twitching is the onset of Bell's Palsy? Could that be?
Thanks,
Tim
Posts: 147 | From Westborough, MA, USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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lymeinhell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4622
posted
Sounds eerily like Bartonella.
-------------------- Julie _ _ ___ _ _ lymeinhell
Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed. Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
hi tim, your name is new to me!
in past i had eye twitching really bad; it was nerves and eventually went away!
eye pressure; have you been to an eye SPECIALIST to have your eyes checked for lyme, diabetes, and measuring eye pressure? highly recommend it.
i go yearly and it's reassuring to know NONE is found.
even though you've been around for 3 yrs., i'm going to send you my newbie links/advise ... i've got lots of personal stuff there on eye sensitivity and recommendations!
something else might help you as well! who knows?
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posted
my daughter developed a strong eye twitch; it started to go away when I got her to an LLMD. However, depending on the treatment she is under or if she is starting a new med, the twitch has come back AND she has a terrible pain on the same side of her head as the eye that twitches.
She did get her eyes checked and there was no problem found, and this pain+twitch business does come & go. Right now she pulses Tindamax: every time she gets in 2 consecutive doses, she gets the twitch & pain, but it is lessening now as she continues on the Tindamax.
When she first started on Minocin (a change in meds), same thing happened. So, hopefully for you this will get better as you get treated for Lyme.
Posts: 424 | From Connecticut, USA | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
I've had the same problem over the past few years. I get yearly eye exams. Doc did glaucoma tests as well -but all comes out normal.
Just another lovely side effect from this disease - in my case anyway.
Posts: 298 | From Maine | Registered: Jan 2004
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Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
Hi Tim,
I have had eye problems for a long time prior to being treated/diagnosed for lyme, it can be very scary.
I had eye lid twitching, light sensitivity, pain, double vision, blurry vision etc, but I had the worst eye symptoms while taking Doxy and Mino.
The light sensitivity got worse, pain, blurry vision, twitching, floaters, and my night vision got very bad. If I go back on Mino, that is the first thing I notice now, my eyes get worse.
I also think seeing an eye specialist is a good idea, just to make sure everything is okay.
I don't have the eye-lid twitching as much nowdays, so it gets better with treatment. However, I do get a droopy eye-lid.
Hang in there. Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
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Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
Hi again Tim,
Here is some interesting information about the Cranial Nerves, by Tincup. It talks about Bell's Palsy.
"Sometimes during research you may find reference to a specific cranial nerve that has been affected by the Lyme, such as with Bells palsy. Since I can't remember all of the individual nerves and their individual functions, I found this site and cut and pasted them all together from different areas and pages so we could have an easy reference list here.
1. Check the list and match it with your symptoms if neuro Lyme is your problem. It will indicate which nerve has been affected. This hopefully will explain symptoms and problems better for you! It does for me.
Cranial nerves: Nerves that emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. Cranial nerves come directly from the brain through the skull. There are 12 cranial nerves each of which is accorded a Roman numeral and a name:
Cranial nerve I: The olfactory nerve, Cranial nerve II: the optic nerve, Cranial nerve III: the occulomotor nerve, Cranial nerve IV: the trochlear nerve, Cranial nerve V: the trigeminal nerve, Cranial nerve VI: the abducent nerve, Cranial nerve VII: the facial nerve,
Cranial nerve VIII: the vestibulocochlear nerve, Cranial nerve IX: the glossopharyngeal nerve, Cranial nerve X:the vagus nerve, Cranial nerve XI: the accessory nerve, and
Cranial nerve XII: the hypoglossal nerve. The cranial nerves are nerves of the brain. Cranial nerve I: The cranial nerves emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. There are twelve cranial nerves.
The first cranial nerve is the olfactory nerve which carries impulses for the sense of smell from the nose to the brain. The word "olfactory" comes from the Latin "olfactare", to sniff at and "olfacere", to smell.
Cranial nerve II: The second cranial is the optic nerve, the nerve that connects the eye to the brain and carries the impulses formed by the retina -- the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light and creates the impulses -- to the brain which interprets them as images.
In terms of its embryonic development, the optic nerve is a part of the central nervous system (CNS) rather than a peripheral nerve. The word "optic" comes from the Greek "optikos", pertaining to sight.
Aside from the optic nerve, the eye has a number of other components. These include the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, macula, and vitreous.
Cranial nerve III: The third cranial nerve is the oculomotor nerve. The oculomotor nerve is responsible for the nerve supply to muscles about the eye: The upper eyelid muscle which raises the eyelid; The extraocular muscle which moves the eye inward; and The pupillary muscle which constricts the pupil.Paralysis of the oculomotor nerve results in drooping eyelid (ptosis), deviation of the eyeball outward (and therefore double vision) and a dilated (wide-open) pupil.
Cranial nerve IV: The fourth cranial nerve, the trochlear nerve, is the nerve supply to the superior oblique muscle of the eye, one of the muscles that moves the eye. Paralysis of the trochlear nerve results in rotation of the eyeball upward and outward (and, therefore, double vision).
The trochlear nerve is the only cranial nerve that arises from the back of the brain stem and it follows the longest course within the skull of any of the cranial nerves. Cranial nerve V: The fifth cranial nerve is the trigeminal nerve.
The trigeminal nerve is quite complex. It functions both as the chief nerve of sensation for the face and the motor nerve controlling the muscles of mastication (chewing). Problems with the sensory part of the trigeminal nerve result in pain or loss of sensation in the face. Problems with the motor root of the trigeminal nerve result in deviation of the jaw toward the affected side and trouble chewing. The term "trigeminal" comes from the Latin "trigeminus" meaning "threefold," referring to the three divisions (ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular) of this nerve.
Cranial nerve VI: The sixth cranial nerve is the abducent nerve. It is a small motor nerve that has one task: to supply a muscle called the lateral rectus muscle that moves the eye outward. Paralysis of the abducent nerve causes inward turning of the eye (internal strabismus) leading to double vision. The word "abducent" comes from the Latin "ab-", away from + "ducere", to draw = to draw away. The abducent (or abducens) operates the lateral rectus muscle that draws the eye toward the side of the head. The abducent nerve is also called the abducens nerve. Cranial nerve VII: The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve.
The facial nerve supplies the muscles of facial expression. Paralysis of the facial nerve causes a characteristic picture with drooping of one side of the face, inability to wrinkle the forehead, inability to whistle, inability to close the eye and deviation of the mouth toward the other side of the face. Paralysis of the facial nerve is called Bell's palsy.
Cranial nerve VIII: The eighth cranial nerve is the vestibulocochlear nerve. The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for the sense of hearing and it is also pertinent to balance, to the body position sense. Problems with the vestibulocochlear nerve may result in , (ringing or noise in the ears), vertigo and vomiting.
Cranial nerve IX: The ninth cranial nerve is the glossopharyngeal nerve. The 12 cranial nerves, the glossopharyngeal nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. The glossopharyngeal nerve supplies the tongue, throat, and one of the salivary glands (the parotid gland). Problems with the glossopharyngeal nerve result in trouble with taste and swallowing.
"Glosso-" comes from the Greek "glossa", the tongue and "pharynx" is the Greek for throat. So the glossopharyngeal nerve is the nerve that serves the tongue and throat. Cranial nerve X: The tenth cranial nerve, and one of the most important, is the vagus nerve. All twelve of the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. The vagus nerve originates in the medulla oblongata, a part of the brain stem.
The vagus nerve is a remarkable nerve that relates to the function of numerous structures in the body. The vagus nerve supplies nerve fibers to the pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), lungs, heart, esophagus and most of the intestinal tract (as far as the transverse portion of the colon). And the vagus nerve brings sensory information back from the ear, tongue, pharynx and larynx. The term "vagus" (Latin for "wandering") is apt because the vagus nerve wanders all the way down from the brainstem to the colon, a long wandering trek. Complete interruption of the vagus nerve causes a characteristic syndrome.
The back part of the palate (the soft palate) droops on that side. The capacity to gag (the gag reflex) is also lost on that side. The voice is hoarse and nasal. The vocal cord on the affected side is immobile. The result is dysphagia and dysphonia (trouble swallowing and trouble speaking).
One of the best known branches of the vagus nerve is the recurrent laryngeal nerve. After leaving the vagus nerve, the recurrent laryngeal nerve goes down into the chest and then loops back up to supply the larynx (the voice box).
Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve can result from diseases inside the chest (intrathoracic diseases) such as a tumor or an aneurysm (ballooning) of the arch of the aorta or of the left atrium of the heart. The consequence is laryngeal palsy, paralysis of the larynx (the voice box), on the affected side. Laryngeal palsy can also be caused by damage to the vagus nerve before it gives off the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Cranial nerve XI: The eleventh cranial nerve is the accessory nerve. The accessory is so-called because, although it arises in the brain, it receives an additional (accessory) root from the upper part of the spinal cord. The accessory nerve supplies the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles. The sternocleidomastoid muscle is in the front of the neck and turns the head. The trapezius muscle moves the scapula (the wingbone), turns the face to the opposite side, and helps pull the head back.
Damage to the accessory nerve can be isolated (confined to the accesssory nerve) or it may also involve the ninth and tenth cranial nerves which exit through the same opening (foramen) from the skull . Accessory neuropathy (nerve disease) can sometimes occur and recur for unknown reasons. Most patients recover. Paralysis of the accessory nerve prevents rotation of the head away from that side and causes drooping of the shoulder.
Cranial nerve XII: The twelfth cranial nerve is the hypoglossal nerve. The hypoglossal nerve supplies the muscles of the tongue. (The Greek "hypo-", under and "-glossal" from "glossa", the tongue = under the tongue).
Paralysis of the hypoglossal nerve affects the tongue. It impairs speech (it sounds thick) and causes the tongue to deviate toward the paralyzed side. In time, the tongue diminishes in size (atrophies). "
-------------------- God Bless You! Everything..is just my opinion. Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Tim weve mostly all had your problems,the constant twitching was the big one for me,at times it was scary,but it has mostly gone away with treatment. good luck,and stick with what works.
Posts: 510 | From NEVERLAND.USA | Registered: Jul 2005
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