What Is That I'm Seeing!?!
I have always had some slight issues with my eyes. I have an astigmatism. I am nearsighted, which means that I have problems and need glasses or corrective contacts (that I don't have the courage to touch my eye so I don't wear them) to be able to see distances. The problem is that with advanced multiple sclerosis is that it wrecks havoc on your eyesight. I am now wearing glasses just to see our big screen TV because without them everybody is blurry. Such a shame.
I have noticed that when I was off of Tysabri, back on Rebif, before I was put back on Tysabri (I had reached that grey area of Tysabri treatment of being on it for 2 years plus and my neurologist a little concerned because the study timelines stopped at 2 years and he was concerned regarding PML), I at this time started having not only debilitating pain, but problems with my eyes, especially after having a relapse. I have discovered that I have developed what my opthamalogist has called iritis. Iritis is an inflammation in the eye which causes eye pain, especially when exposed to bright light. It includes blurred vision and redness in the eye, especially around the iris.
My last relapse, this past September, resulted in another all day trip to ER, and followed a long trip to the opthamalogist to confirm, yet again, that I had irisitis. I have noticed that with my advancing MS that my eyes are in fact, getting weaker and I am having more problems. People with MS have to be diligent with keeping their eyesight and vision healthy. In fact, vision problems are usually one of the first symptoms of relapsing MS, which is usually temporary. But, persons with MS will find out that as your disease progresses, problems with your vision will persist i.e. double or blurred vision, eye pain, and at times, spots or floaters in the eye.
So, what it is that I am seeing is now...a floater. Since I have a MS diagnosis, I will be having yet another eye exam, and a peripheral eye exam to make sure that there is not something else that is lurking behind the annoying black dot that swims in in front of my pupil. Although I am really over seeing doctors, sometime, seemingly daily. I know that health encompasses many different faculties. Regular physicals and eye exams are needed, especially for MS patients due to the side effects of the many medications that we take. Dealing with MS is chore enough, but, it will be more of a chore is something else in your health fails i.e. vision.
So, I may complain. I may hate going to doctor after doctor. But, I have a choice. I could refuse all treatment and let the proverbial chips fall where they may, or try to maintain my current level of health and catch something early before it becomes an issue. The choice, really, has already been made for me. I look at my two children and know that I want to continue being able to be a "seeing" mom. I take physicals to know that my cholesterol is high due to the many, many, many relapses treated with steroids and that is an issue to which I am addressing through a change to a low fat, almost vegetarian diet. (Don't hate me because I still eat meat...I'm trying). And regular exercise, definitely on the days when I am having a good day. And, I am taking supplements for added health i.e. Vitamin B12, Fish Oil, Vitamin D, Multvitamins, Kelp, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Evening Primrose, and whatever else my mother, after watching Dr. Oz. brings over.
Look, I know dealing seemingly almost daily with doctors and nurses can be a bit much. But in the long run, it will all work out. I am determined that I will be preventative and proactive in my health because I definitely want to see more birthdays. And not just more birthdays, healthy birthdays. So, I am closing now, with my floater in my eye, I will make my appointment for yet more eye exams and I will grin and bear it because...seeing....is believing.
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