posted
The last two days I've been noticing something I've never felt before. It's really hard to explain, but i'll try.
If you were to think about how you feel when you get really tired and your eyes feel heavy and your focus can tend to feel like you are going cross-eyed until you catch yourself nodding off and you blink hard to readjust your vision, this is the feeling I'm having.
It is weird, though, because it's the middle of the day and I am not really very tired. Last night when it first started happening I just laid down in bed, but don't have that option now, because i am at work.
My current treatment is two teaspoons mepron daily and 500 mg zithromax daily, which i've been taking for about two week. I'm waiting on insurance to go through for the iv and the rocephin so my doctor put me on this combo just until i can get on teh rocephin.
could this be a herx? Or has anyone ever heard of this symptom? it's very unnerving!
-------------------- Misdiagnosed and untreated from 1993-2008. - iGenex positive western blot for LD: 9/08 - Clinical diagnosis for Babesia: 2/09 - Positive blood smear for Bartonella: 3/09
Started treatment: 1/09 Posts: 91 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Jan 2009
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LisaS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10581
posted
Welcome to what we call brain fog! It's unfortunately one of the many symptoms of Lyme! When people are talking to me I feel like I can't focus on them visually or even mentally comprehend what they're saying.
Others will be along to tell you more. Hope you're treatment starts helping you soon. I'm on Zith too.
Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
I've been having vision problems all along, and they seem to be getting worse, even with treatment.
I have everything from floaters to flashing lights to tearing, to just general focus problems. And now I seem to be losing vision in my left eye.
The eye doctor can find nothing (actual several, both optometrists and opthamologists), and my Lyme doctor is stumped.
I've heard the suggestion to try mangosteen juice, which is a bit out of my price range right now. I'm trying to find a less expensive alternative, or at least a less expensive brand than Xango.
It's very unnerving, to say the least.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Yes. Its horrible to not be able to focus and have 2 eye docs tell you nothing is wrong with you.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
well this isn't good news. almost 12 months of treatment with no improvements (except for not having night sweats any more) and now i have this to look forward to? should i expect it to be with me for some time to come? those of you suffering with this symptom has it been a primary symptom or something that happened while getting treatment?
seems to me the cure is worse than the disease. especially since there is no known cure.
sorry to be such a bummer. venting to those of you who can relate, will help me to accept and move on.
thanks!
-------------------- Misdiagnosed and untreated from 1993-2008. - iGenex positive western blot for LD: 9/08 - Clinical diagnosis for Babesia: 2/09 - Positive blood smear for Bartonella: 3/09
Started treatment: 1/09 Posts: 91 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
Re the mangosteen juice, I order the Ultra brand from Vitacost.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Mine has been sneaking up for over 2 years. In treatment sometimes worse sometimes better. All I have is theory to cause.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
One doctor (LLND) I saw knew right away what this was...convergence insufficiency. The eyes don't quite work together. It does seem to come with the Lyme territory.
If this is a new problem, you might be able to help correct it with some eye exercises (pencil push-ups and something with string that I will come back and describe later, if you're interested).
I have this problem, which is very distressing to me. Makes it hard to go from close to distance vision, and anything in between, compounded by having several pairs of glasses for different uses. Reading is often a challenge, even with reading glasses.
I asked my eye doctor a couple of years ago if the string exercises might help me, but he said it was probably too late (too far gone). I do hope it reverses once I am better.
Mine does seem to be worse when I need more detox supplements. You might try taking extra fiber and binders when you notice this problem and see if it helps.
Take care, Nutmeg
Posts: 386 | From WA state | Registered: May 2005
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2roads
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4409
posted
Nutmeg, please elaborate on exercises.
Thanks,
2roads
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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I guess I didn't realize that not all eye doctors test for this.
As part of the eye tests, mine has me tell him the location of a red line (light) relative to a bright dot, and also has me use my eyes to separate and bring together a binocular image of a hot-air balloon. Sometimes he says to me "Oh really?" which I guess is not a good sign!
I found these exercises online.
One is called pencil pushups, where you focus on a pencil while bringing it towards your nose. One of the links I posted says that this is not a helpful exercise, so keep that in mind.
Also, please be very careful not to strain your eyes while doing this, because with Lyme patients' delicate nervous systems, this could cause some discomfort and possibly eyestrain or muscle strain. I just tried this and found it very uncomfortable.
The string exercise involves two 24-inch lengths of string (or one 48-inch length folded in half). Starting from one end, tie 3 knot, one each at 6 inches, 12 inches, and 18 inches.
Leave the ends free.
To exercise with the string, hold one end on your nose and anchor the other end underneath something, like a book or close it in a drawer. I put the end under my computer keyboard.
Look down the string and focus on the first knot 6 inches down. Then the second one at 12 inches, then the one at 18.
Reverse direction and look at 18, 12, then 6. Again, be careful not to strain your eyes.
If you are under the care of an eye doctor or LLMD who is familiar with eye issues with Lyme, you might want to get their OK before you do these.
Wishing you the best, Nutmeg
Posts: 386 | From WA state | Registered: May 2005
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posted
i'd be willing to bet the Mepron is playing a role in some of your vision problems.
Posts: 59 | From Arizona | Registered: May 2008
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2roads
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4409
posted
Thanks Nutmeg-
2roads
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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