Limbo land optic nueritis

[hestrella9]

Hello all. I am having a really hard day in limbo today. I have been in tears all day. I had a classic ms attack with all the classic symptoms 6 weeks ago. Clean MRI. Nuero says seems like MS, so let's wait and see if there is another attack and we will re-run the MRIs again.

I mentioned to her that I am still having a lot of eye pain and in the last week I have had floaters and flashes of light in my right eye. 6 weeks ago I had two weeks of stabbing pain straight through my left eye. That has since stopped but for the past 4 weeks I have had a very soar right eye, like I have a bruised eye ball. I still have pain with movement during certain times of the day and some blurry vision. When I mentioned the floaters and the flashes of light she referred me immeadiately to a retina specialist in fear of retina detachment.

I spent 4 hours today at a retina specialist and he told me my retina is in tact. Great! I asked about optic nueritis and he said that the nerves did not seem inflammed and he is not sure if they could have been 6 weeks ago. ??? He stated that my eyes are dry. Ok, so having dry eyes will make only my right eye have stabbing pain, bruised pain, floaters, blurry vision, and flashes of light? Is a retina specialist a valid person to diagnose optic nueritis? I would have thought so but he didn't even consider it. ???

Is life kidding me with this? I am really sad and thinking again that this is all in my head. My mother called and said that maybe all of the past 6 weeks of my body revolting against me is just stress. I really believe that this is early onset MS and I am beyond the point of frustration that I can't get answers. I am ok with the waiting for it to really show up, but I feel like no one is validating my concerns, which makes me think I am going crazy.

Trying to be positive but today was really hard when you know inside that there is something really wrong with your body and no one understands.

Thx for listening...

Ella

[Oceangirl4]

See a neuro-op if you can and hang in there!

I can completely relate to people telling you "it's all in your head." Unfortunately, I think we all can. I still don't understand why that's the go to for people when patients complain of symptoms, especially serious ones like this. Makes me very frustrated too.

If you can, I would go see a neuro-opthalmalogist for the eye issues. They may be able to run more sophisticated tests (pictures of the optic nerve for example, blood vessels in/around the nerve, etc.) if you have concerns about optic neuritis.

Keep us posted on your journey and what you find out! Most of all - hang in there, and stick to your guns. Only you know your body. If you think something is wrong, and you aren't getting the care you need, try to find a doc who will listen to you.

[PeacheyPie]

I'm sorry you're having such a rough day

I know sometimes they wait until you have your second bout of optic neuritis before giving you an MS diagnosis. According to wikipedia only 50% of people go on to develop MS. So that's good right? You have a 50% chance of not having MS!

I recently had my second episode of ON and boom, now I have lesions on my brain and my neuro said they are "new" and gave me the MS dx.

So maybe you don't have MS!

[SNOOPY]

Hi hestrella,

You should see an Optometrist or Opthamologist for vision problems, not a Neurologist.

I had a classic ms attack with all the classic symptoms 6 weeks ago.

I'm not sure what classic symptoms of MS you are referring to but there are no symptoms that are unique to MS. Many conditions can cause Neurological type symptoms.

Even if you had Optic Neuritis (ON) that would not necessarily indicate MS. There are people who have had ON and never develop MS and those with MS who never develop ON. Did anyone diagnose ON? Were you treated for ON?

Information about Optic Neuritis:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/condit...c-neuritis.htm

Information about floaters/flashes:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/condit...potsfloats.htm

[PeacheyPie]

Just to clarify, on my second round of Optic Neuritis, I went to my optometrist first, who sent me to an ophthalmologist who DX's me with Optic Neuritis and ordered the MRI. He saw the spots on my brain, and that's when he told me to find a Neurologist to look into things further and that's when I got my MS DX after he tested me and found that my left side is less sensitive than my right. My left arm also went numb a couple of times.

[hestrella9]

Thank you all for your replies. No I have not been diagnoised with ON. My apologies for mis-speaking about my classic attack of MS 6 weeks ago. I know from what I have learned there is nothing classic about it. I just meant that they have ruled everything else out but all of my symptoms mimic MS.

It is just frustrating having your symptoms dismissed as nothing or stress. I was just looking for some validation.

Thx,

Ella

[henrysmom]

I know what you mean when you say "classic" ms symptoms--no worries! I take it to mean numbness, tingling, heat intolerance, the whole kit and kaboodle. Obviously we all have varied symptoms...but yes, there are some pretty classic ms symptoms, so much that GP's refer you to see neuro's based on them.

Hang in there kiddo. I hope things get better for you.

[SNOOPY]

I know what you mean when you say "classic" ms symptoms--no worries! I take it to mean numbness, tingling, heat intolerance, the whole kit and kaboodle.

Unfortunately henrysmom, those "classic" symptoms are also "classic" symptoms for other health conditions as well as anxiety and medications.

MS is one of many, many conditions where those symptoms are seen and the reason numerous other things need to be ruled out before MS can be ruled in.

[Cat Mom]

Ella, I hope you start feeling better soon. We understand you dont have to be dx with MS to suffer 'classic MS symptoms'. Neurological diseases are so hard to dx, hope you get some answers soon.
Jen

[SonnyC]

Try to relax a little.. I had.. and still have ON.. very mild in my left eye.. MRI's clean.. MRI's clean a year later.. No other symptoms.. I didn't have pain though.. But don't get toooooo freaked out....

The only sad thing for me is my left eye is permantly damaged..But God is great.. My right eye took over and I only notice the effects if I close my right eye.