Optic Neuritis and Uhthoff's

[elapie1879]

Has anyone experienced Uhthoff's syndrome with Optic neuritis? I have had optic neuritis before but never with Uhthoff's... this last episode started in January and its April and still bothering me. I had 5 days of IV steroids (Decadron) but I haven't seen any improvement. The steroids were about 3 weeks ago. I don't know what to do.

Everytime I exercise I start to see darkness when I get overheated...I exercise a few times a week and I know when to turn it down when the darkness starts. The only thing is it is getting annoying to this point.

Any responses will be so appreciated !! Thanks again.

[freedom1]

Hi Emily,

After my first bout of ON 5 years ago I noticed that my vision would get blurry in that eye if I was warm. With each successive bout I have noticed that when my body warms up the eye and every other symptom has reacted. Now it is not just blurry vision, but holes in my visual field. I just live with it at this point and accept it for what it is, knowing that when I cool down it will go away.

[0485c10]

Me too i was diagnosed on friday the 13th too. Friday, August 13, 2004 for me. i went to a walk in clinic because of stroke like symptoms that had started on thursday, august 12. i waited until friday to go see what it was all about...some times i think i should have waited unti saturday aug14? might not endeded up with a chronic illness on saturday the 14th theyu might have been able to fix it with a shot of pencillen? if i had just waited until the 14th?

i had a scary episode of uthoffs symptom. it was the year i was diagnosed. my ms was unstable that year. i walked to a A&W to get a hamburger--it was a mile away...as i walked i had more and more difficulty in seeing the side walk. and one scary part was over a bridge--jeez if i couldn't see the side walk i might walk right off the bridge. my vision was decreasing as i walked. so i turned around and walked home--then i wouldn't leave my apartmnent for about a month. if i could not gaurenttee that i would have vision when i left my apartment, i did not want to leave my apartment...i got over the fear & now i do leave my appartment & it hasn't happened again--i'm just more sensative to ms symptoms that build and give me time to get out of the situation that i am in.

have you though of a cooling vest or a cooler excersize like swimming? if you get that uthoffs. it only happened that 1x for me. maybe my vision decreases but not being able to see something i needed to only has happened 1x.

i have a/c in my car & apartment.

[Justsayyes]

Yes, and unfortunately although it has improved, it is still a problem when I get hot, sometimes even when I eat spicy food. Anything that increases my core temperature even a little. Being out in the direct sun is impossible for me.

Hope yours is temporary. I can say that the fastest way to regain my vision is to drink a very icy cold drink like a slushy. Cold packs to my head and back of neck work well too.