Double Trouble

General Blog
1

Tuesday night I was watching the TV when all of a sudden
my sight changed and I was seeing in "Double Vision".
I knew what it was because I had suffered this vision
problem just after my AVM removal operation in 2002, and
I had not had it since that time. Having double vision means that it is very difficult to see with two eyes, and to read at all or to see to walk that one must close one eye so that one may see with the other. I knew it was a bad sign and that I might be in big trouble. I called my HMO and got an appointment at "Urgent Care". I had only had it for a few minutes and while my eyes were closed my normal vision returned.

My son-in-law brought me to the clinic and the doctors
scrambled to get me tested and figure out just where
I was medically speaking. They talked me into staying the
night and the next AM I was given an MRI and an MRA which
lasted a couple hours. That evening a doctor gave me the
news that was not as bad as they had feared. There was no sign of any aneurysm or any cerebral bleeding or any stroke. I was told to take a small aspirin dose every day and they told me that should take care of any more double
vision. They found some other problems in me that were
not related to any fatal problems, but were things that
need to be addressed and they will be. The worst was
a large goiter, all internal, and that may call for an
operation, but I am told that it should not be that
dangerous. We will see.

I could not believe that after almost 13 yrs. that
something related to my AVM removal operation has come
to surface again.

More people prayed for me to survive this problem, and
I am thankful that so far it appears that it could have
been much much worse!

2

So scary, John - you did the right thing and got it checked out straight away. A rehab doctor "scolded" me (in a mom sort of way) for not insisting on seeing my neuro or going to the ER after an acute vision change. I'm glad things are settling down and do hope the aspirin does its thing. :)atnt

3

I am glad you are okay, John. I hope your vision remains normal.

4

Thanks so much for sharing this unsettling experience, John. One time during the early stage of this recovery, I said to a friend that if I'm ever fully recovered, I will just be old so my husband will already be used to my limitations. So, hopefully, your vision experience was just part of the aging cycle. Oh, I have said that aging s*cks and I still espouse that thought.

5

Thanks to Ann Ning, and dancermom and Susan T.
I was always told to stay away from aspirin because it thins the blood, and
after a huge bleed it is only hurtful, but the MD told me that now it will
not hurt but only help...but only take a reduced dose, that is a small dose pill!

6

John - Similar to you, I had developed double vision 11 years after I had a bleed. Mine never went away, but my neuro optometrist put prisms in my glasses and my vision is as good as every. So don't worry too much if it returns - but please double check the reason why.

7

Stan,

Thanks for the advice! I appreciate it. Why is the big thing to me.
The Drs. are happy that it is not what they thought...an aneurysm,
but I would like to know what started it.