I am slightly concerned today and wonder if you good people can offer a view.
Diagnosed with PMR in July and currently down to 11 mg pred. Been feeling ok most of the time and any pain or stiffness when it occurs has been exclusively in my upper arms.
Started to feel a bit iffy one week ago. Fuzzy headed might best describe it. Not a headache per se.
Last Saturday was walking the dog and had a strange case of some kind of double vision / flashing lights. Never experienced anything like that before. Lasted about a minute or two. Slightly overheated as well. Bit like feeling v dehydrated perhaps.
Had the same thing happen this morning. Popped into a shop after a short dog walk and had a few minutes where I couldn’t focus on anything on the shelves and had a flashing lights across my peripheral vision.
Feeling washed out now.
Maybe a slight shimmer in my eyesight every now and then but just think I am getting a bit panicked
No chance of talking to a GP now. 4 o’clock on Christmas Eve and really not keen to try and get to an A and E obviously.
Might it be this GCA that I am reading about on line. Seems unlikely as I have none of the other symptoms that are referenced.
Or is this a normal PMR reaction to something
Should be feeling calm as have packed up work for two weeks. But actually have been feeling v tense about Christmas. Odd.
Sorry to trouble you at this time but your thoughts would be welcome
Thanks
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NickWarwick
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It is not just contact sports that cause detached /torn retina. My wife has had this in both eyes. The first came on whilst we were just sitting and the other after a fall. Some people are prone to this. I hope it is not this but it really does need urgently checking. Wishing you well.
I think a call to 111 really because yes it could be GCA which needs urgent attention, also other eye problems that need the same speed of treatment or it could be just a migraine pattern, or something entirely different. GCA eye problems often present intermittently and can be fairly unremarkable to start with but shouldn’t be ignored. Anyway, you only have one set of peepers so I’d give them a call. Sorry.
Oh dear Nick I am sorry. I agree with you. This could be the brief warning that the fortunate get before the onset of GCA. Christmas Eve or not, I would get to A&E and have this checked out as a matter of urgency. Make sure that reception know what is at stake. You will be met by the kindness and dedication these wonderful people will not fail you. Please let us know what happens. Eyesight once lost cannot be regained. Unless Prof. Dasgupta has changed our landscape, forever.
I don't care what it is - I'm sorry but it needs to be checked out because there are several things it could be and leaving it could be something you regret.
A&E really good. My brother went for a painful ear infection yesterday... Deserted. I went for dexa scan. No-one around. Fast and immediate service. If in doubt don't hesitate. My pmr was diagnosed 22nd Dec. Good luck
Hi. I had something very similar and went to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, as I couldn't see anything for a couple of minutes, it turned out it was ocular migraine. No pain at all but was advised to take painkillers. Since being diagnosed with LVV and having eye issues, blurry vision randomly, eye infections etc, I have had them more often. It may be that, but you can't afford to mess with eyesight as many people on here know.
It's a worry, but now I understand what it is, I am OK with it.
An eye hospital will check you out thoroughly with your diagnosis. Hope you manage to enjoy your day today, it's all worry at this time of year needing medical attention and with Covid on top it's a double whammy. But your GP should have an out of hours contact at least so someone can ring you.
I too have recently been diagnosed with ocular/visual migraines, no headache just vision issues and felt unwell, lightheaded, for a couple of days after. An ophthalmologist diagnosed them. I would get immediate medical help for flashes of light. Merry Christmas
NICK MERRY XMAS.I just wanted to let you know same thing happened to me with my vision and it happened twice saw Gp who whisked me into hospital because she thought it was a mini stroke got test done and ended up being GCA and was put on 40mg so good luck HARRY W .
Nick, I have had similar eye episodes since PMR diagnosed in 2011. Mine lasts 30 minutes. It will start with a portion of my vision to go blurry then the flashing lights. Like lightning bolts. And after 30 minutes it’s gone. My eye dr. Called it an ocular or visual migraine. Mine is painless just inconvenient especially when driving. I certainly would get it checked out. I haven’t had one in a while. Not sure if it is when I’m above 5mg prednisone because I’ve been 5 or below for a while. Geo.
Nick, I hope you got it sorted out and got some peace of mind. I also hope you had a good Christmas Day with lots of love in it. Do let us know, we are your PMR family.
Hoping you are OK, Nick. I was also going to say be sure to have it checked right away just in case -- while also adding I get something more limited as an ocular migraine. So surprised to see several here mentioning them as well! Mine only last a minute or two at most. And I see a kind of yellow spot which can develop into a blazing circle I see with both eyes, vision can go slightly fuzzy but that passes quickly. No pain. I had a head MRI a couple of years back because of them, and the neurologist said I have spots on the scan that are typical for people who get migraines. No other neurological effects. I have never in my life had a migraine, just these ocular ones, and they only started a few years after I had PMR. I might get a couple a year at most. I am very intrigued that several other people experience the same as I'd understood this type of migraine to be quite rare, more common in people who have actual migraines when younger but when they get older, they sometimes only get the ocular effects. Given that a number of us with PMR are reporting these, might be of interest to one of the PMR/GCA researchers (not least as ocular migraines seem to be very poorly understood!).
Years ago my brother-in-law was having episodes where he couldn't speak. After investigation for stroke, etc, it was determined he was having what I think they referred to a "silent" migraine, as there weren't any other symptoms! Migraine is really weird. It must be in the brain, not the eyes, because we see the aura with both eyes, even if it appears to originate somewhere over to one side. I don't think any kind of migraine is really understood.
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