posted
I don't know what it is, but can anyone relate? When I'm having bad episodes like tonight everything looks so OFF. It's almost as if I'm hallucinating. I catch a glance of a regular houseplant and it looks so alien and menacing it scares the **** out of me, I thought it was alive for a moment. I see roadkill at the side of the road and my system almost goes into shock. This is beyond belief the reaction I'm having to just looking at things. Then there is all the peripheral stuff moving around.
Anyone get this? I'm having it right now and completely geeked out please help.
Posts: 501 | From Cleveland Ohio | Registered: Apr 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Many with lyme have what you describe - the peripheral stuff moving around can be nystagmus. It gets better but you might have your eye doctor take a look just to be sure.
Beyond that, a vestibular specialist such as an ENT (doctor of ears, nose and throat) or, better, a LL neurotologist.
The vestibular symptoms involving vision are VERY, VERY common with lyme and other tick borne infections. Other than treatment for infection, magnesium can really calm down nystagmus.
For more about how to help the inner/ middle ear functions:
posted
Hi.I was just flicking through the messages and noticed your message.This is the first time I have heard anyone describe the visual effects the way I describe them.I have unfortunately had continual strange vision for years..Different degrees of.Nobody in the medical field have ever had a clue what I was talking about and even since I hav been diagnosed with lyme and have talked to people whose vision has been affected but not in the same way as I have described.I have always said it has felt like it is coming from the brain rather than the eyes and this was before knowing about Lyme. I dont actually have any information to help you but I wanted to join this group just to say that you are not alone.I have these symptoms too.Take care.Jennifer.
Posts: 1 | From UK | Registered: May 2009
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Toppers, are you on any medications right now? Some of them can have such a side effect.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
No I'm not on any meds yet, I will see someone who is supposed to be an llmd on Monday.
Posts: 501 | From Cleveland Ohio | Registered: Apr 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Jennifer,
If you feel like it's "coming from the brain rather than the eyes" that could also be connected to the vestibular matters addressed above.
No one is ingesting even a trace of aspartame, right?
posted
In case this might help you, all my eye symptoms cleared up when I started drinking mangosteen juice. Available in healthfood stores and online. If you try it, go slowly and drink a lot of water with it too.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Heh this isn't an "eye" issue so to speak like floaters or white spots I have those constantly.
It's very different and comes from something in the brain. It comes at the same time as the sensation of my face melting off, dementia and amnesia waves. Whatever processing unit tells my brain I am looking at a car or a dog, is very distorted and I can't tell what I'm seeing. Hallucinations but not in the literal sense, just far, far away somewhere and there is tons of fear as I can't tell what I'm looking at during these times or if it is alive, etc. A houseplant can have me jump 10 feet backwards.
good times. Posts: 501 | From Cleveland Ohio | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
I have horrible visual stuff too. I also have floaters, snowy vision, or where the room looks smokey. But, the worst stuff is the things you are talking about. I can deal the stuff listed above.
It's the things moving around, seeing things and it totally scaring me, vision bouncing and swaying, etc that really are most bothersome. It feels like I'm on some horrible acid trip (I've never done drugs in my life, but I could imagine).
When I'm really bad things will look like they are moving (even though they are not) and it will send me into a total panic attack. Then it just keeps happening almost every minute and I feel paranoid the whole time.
I don't have any answers except that I think Keebler could be right. I too feel like it's coming from my brain and not my eyes.
Hang in there. This has improved for me over time. I used to be like this every second of every day for about a year. It was pure torture! It now comes and goes and even though I'm used to it by now it is still bothersome. I hope someday it completely goes away. I hope you find some relief.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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There were (are) times when a whole paragraph will just fly off the page but then spring right back where it was and the same sort of thing with objects at times - if the light contrast is too harsh for my eyes.
If this is what you mean by "jumpy eyes" look up nystagmus at the Vestibular sight above. That will describe it but it is frequently seen with lyme patients due to the inner ear involvement and also the inflammation of the brain does not help.
Nystagmus can take many turns and twists, like a severe dyslexia but sometimes it may be okay and other times, everything is the field of vision jittery, sometimes just stuff at a certain distance. The intensity of light, pattern and contrast will also change this.
Sometimes, just the way the eyes move will set off a "jump" in the field of vision. Actually, the eyes spasm but may not be noticeable by looking in a mirror.
Stripes, checks, houndstooth patterns all weird out the eyes.
If any of this rings true, it could be nystagnus. If so, magnesium can help, but more at the thread above.
I never had fear or dread with this at described above at all but it sure is a very disorienting experience, to say the least. I can say I felt shock - and still do - when this happens. Now, I know what to do, though.
Any fear or panic from this could be adrenal exhaustion - that fight or flight surge of stress hormones that can create a feeling of anxiety but due to physiological reasons.
Getting checked out by a LL ENT would be a good idea. IRLEN glasses may help, too. That link is in the TINNITUS thread. There are many suggestions there, too, of what can help.
You might try increasing magnesium to bowel tolerance and see if this eases up a bit. Fish oil, too.
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