Just wondered if this could be RSD.

I was shopping in a large store today. It was brightly lit. I was looking at some houseware items...actually a leakproof bottle I purchased to put liquids into my lunchbox. The strangest thing happened. I had the sensation that the lights in the store were being dimmed over about 10 to 15 seconds. It seemed to me that the store was perhaps 30% darker than it had been. I looked up to see if other people were noticing. No one else was acting any different. I didn't have the courage to ask anyone for fear a fuss would be raised, possibly resulting in someone thinking I was having a stroke or something. I went on shopping, and in a little while, perhaps 15 minutes, I had the sensation of the lights brightening over a 15 second period.. and all has been well since. When I got home, I took my blood pressure, was normal for me... 130/85.. not perfect but since I started clonadine as one of my bp meds it has not been as even as before when I was using norvasc, but norvasc does not help RSD like clonadine, so it's a tradeoff.

I have had some complications with my eyes since having RSD - blurring, dryness, unable to focus for long periods. My eye Dr. has checked with all the best people he knows at Ohio State, and all seem to think my symptoms relate to the RSD. Otherwise my eyes seem normal (for my eyes anyway.)

What do you think? Should I see someone about this? It was a bit scary. Nothing like this has ever happened. Other than starting the Trazodone 3-4 weeks ago, no med changes in a couple months (then it has been dose changes, not new meds).

Has anyone ever had this happen, being "dimmed" ?? Was very strange.

When someone said RSD stands for Realy Strange Disease they were NOT kidding.

Jules

Hi Jules

It happens to me more often than I can count. I finally went to a eye doctor since I always prided myself on 20/20 vision couldn't imagine what was going on. He as well as my regular doctor both feel it is directly related to RSD. He did not feel it was anything to get to worried about at that time (about 2 months ago) but said that if it gets worse than of course to come back to him. He gave no mention of what he could do about it.

I also mentioned to him that I have black spots going passed my eyes all the time. To me it makes me think there are bugs flyng around or crawling around. He told me that the filters in my eyes do not work very well as they use to but did not accredit it to RSD. The name for the black spots is called Floaters.

I get pain behind my eyes accredited to the MS. And now I have to wear reading glasses. But all in all its not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Hang in there. Chin Up!! xoxo

Mark

I too have had the lights go dim even outside on a clear sunny day. I also quite often lately have what appears to be a kaliedescope(sp?) effect going on. It scares me when this happens. Sometimes this lasts for hours. I've told my doctors about it, they've check my eyes and but don't have an answer for this. Has anyone else had the kaliedescope(sp?) vision or have any idea what might be causing this????

Did you see the thread below:
Can RSD effect the eyes and how?

Just wanted to add, eyes are so important - don't want to be alarmist and it may not apply to you, but all anti-epileptics like gabapentin (neurontin) and topomax, can cause eye problems, I get blurry vision and floaters.

But I *wish* I could remember (we don't have a database anymore from BT1), there's something more serious that can arise with vision, someone on the forum had to come off the meds because of that.

Probably better go see the doc anyway. And you can try to search the old archives through Google. Type in braintalk archives, then something like, RSD vision. Whatever you get back, click on the *cached* version - you won't get anything otherwise, because there's no database, but Google has it much of it (not all though) in archive.

A quick search for drug side-effects will show you that many meds cause eye problems. So maybe not the RSD directly causing it (but who knows, not me ) maybe the meds.

Sorry I can't help more, but this sounded a warning note in my brain...

Edit: just found a link at:
http://www.fda.gov/medWatch/SAFETY/2001/topamax.htm
all the best.

Hey

I have had the whole dimming/ black cloud/ double vision/ triple vision/ difficulty focusing/ blurring etc with the RSD. It really sucks and is so annyoing. I used to freak about it at first but nowadays realise its just another part of my brain being messed up by RSD. (i also have episodes of really severe photophobia.. even darkness hurts. LOL)

Also does anyone find similar stuff with hearing? some days you cant stand any sound because of pain and then suddelny its like the volume has been turned right down...

pr maybe I'm just genreally falling to pieces!!!

Rxxxx