[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).