[Kitty]

I've had what I believe to be a sinus infection for the past several days. My left eye has felt swollen and it hurts to move it up and down and from side to side. My head is congested and my left eye is a little "weepy". I've been taking Advil Cold & Sinus and it helps as long as I take it repeatedly.

This morning I'm having trouble seeing out of my left eye. When I cover my right eye up, and only look through the left, it looks sort of like I'm looking through wax paper. It's not as noticeable when I'm using both eyes as I guess the right one is compensating for the left.

I have a Neuro appointment on Monday afternoon so I'll take this up with him then but I'm wondering if I should take Prednisone (I have 20mg. tablets) now. I hate taking that stuff, but when it comes to my vision I don't want any permanent damage if I can help it.

Has anyone had this problem before? I don't think I should take the Pred and the Advil Cold meds together. Merry Christmas!

[AfterMyNap]

Kell, my considered opinion is that this is not a time to self-medicate. My guess is that you're heading into or in a bout of ON and your neuro will probably want you on IVSM first. They don't like us to take too much in the way of roids and it's risky to make these assumptions.

If you feel it's too long a wait for your appointment, put a call in to your neuro's answering service and ask for the proper advice.

In the meantime, concentrate on taking it easy, your boys are grown men and need to help you now, not expect their mommy to make everything perfect for their Christmas.

[mrsD]

Awww.. how awful.

I can't address the MS... but I do have an idea.

If you have congestion, you really need to be taking Mucinex every 12 hours or
3 teaspoonfuls of plain Robitussin every 4 hours to help liquify the congestion and get it out. The decongestants tend to be drying and counterproductive. You need to drink alot of water too.

If this does not relieve you in say, 2 days, then you really need a doctor. Infections from the sinus may move to the cavernous sinus which is where the cranial nerves pass thru.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavernous_sinus
This is sort of a worst case scenario, but may happen with infections.

Most congestion can be relieved by using guaifenesin when you have colds, etc. I think this is the most useful intervention.
I use it myself..sometimes every day if my ears feel plugged.
Keeping stuff moving out, prevents sinus infections and further nasty issues.

[Kitty]

Yes, the Neuro does think it's ON (I called and left a message). He said I could do IVSM (after he confirms the dx) or wait it out and let it clear up on it's own. I'm still going to my appointment on Monday.

I did a little research and the majority of the information says that ON will clear up on it's own (most of the time) with no permanent sx.

It's tolerable right now.....uncomfortable but tolerable......and I HATE to take IVSM. It's just so hard on my body. I'll wait till Monday and if it's noticeably worse I'll consider the IVSM. If it's the same or better I'll wait it out. I'm a tough cookie.......I've handled worse than this. Plus, I have no insurance so the decision is really sort of made for me.

Merry Christmas!

[Erin524]

definately dont take oral prednisone for a vision problem. The Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT) says that oral pred can actually make you get optic neuritis more often or something like that, if I understood what I read in the ONTT.

I did IVSM last summer for a really bad case of double vision. Only reason I insisted on meds for that was because having double vision was even worse than having a blind spot in my eye like I did the first time I had ON.

First time I had ON tho, I waited it out. No meds.

[Kitty]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll probably just wait it out. I've been taking Ibuprofen in the hopes it will alleviate some of the inflammation. The pain is down to a dull ache now so it's tolerable.

I can still see, walk, hear and talk so I'm good! And it's Christmas Eve!

[Debbie D]

Rest up, dear one...I'm glad you called the dr. Take it easy! Act like a queen (minus the big purses and ugly hats).

[Erin524]

If it's optic neuritis, my eye doctor has told me that the pain only usually lasts about a week, and the pain is variable. I had good luck taking prescription migraine medication when it hurt really bad.

Sometimes going into places with certain types of light (grocery stores with fluorescent light) made things worse for me...it would trigger optic nerve pain.

Staying in dim light, or if you have lights on a dimmer switch, turning the light down to where it's comfortable but you can still see to get around might help the pain. TV made my eyes hurt too.

[Kitty]

Well, I was hoping it would be better this morning but it's not. The loss of vision in my left eye is playing tricks with my balance. I nearly fell onto DS26's girlfriend when I went to hug her today when they stopped by! I'll get used to it. Just like I got used to double vision. I'm so thankful this isn't double vision. That was the pits!

Our Christmas dinner tomorrow has grown into 7 people! DS22's new love interest told him today that she can come and there is someone DS26 works with that doesn't have any family here so he's coming, too. I'm excited! I love having a full table.

DS26 and his GF are having dinner with her family today but they stopped by here first to see us and to exchange gifts. Everyone only had one gift each but we all loved what we got and were just so thankful to be together. I would have been happy with nothing. It's just not important to me anymore.

I'm going to go try to take a nap and rest my eyes. Merry Christmas!

[lady_express_44]

DON'T do oral steroids, definitely.

ON will clear up on it's own, but it takes time. I have had symptoms of ON for several months at a time.

My Neuro-Opthalogist only recommeneds IV steroids if "all else fails", including letting nature take it's course.

The most important factor right now is treating the infection, Kelly. It might be too late though, as you need antibiotics for that ... cold and sinuse OTC meds don't cut it.

Cherie