Not sure if its related to the brain injury or not but...about a week ago I started seeing billions of specs. It looked like specs of dust or pollen floating in the air but it wasn't really there. That day, I started a new blood pressure medication and it had an adverse reaction on me...my heart was beating at 120 BPM. So, I thought the billions of specs were blood pressure related.

I ended up in the ER that night, they gave me new blood pressure medication and the spots were gone the next day.

I've been taking that medication twice a day, my blood pressure should be in check...and the billions of specs came back last night. This time they are accompanied by stars. When I'm in almost complete darkness I see things moving out of the corner of my eyes.

I figured it would be gone by this morning...and its not. So I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this and what you guys think its from? I never had visual disturbances like this before the injury.

Thanks,

Nick

Hi Nick,

Yeah, I call them "floaters" for lack of a better term. I didn't have them before the injury either... and I don't have as many as you do, but I think mine are somewhat larger than the ones you see... I used to see them a lot more frequently than recently... but still see them on occasion. There was a recent thread that talked about them that you might want to look for with some good advice in it (Especially from Mark - he says it has to do with brain filtering... if yours are even the same as the other people on this board experiencing it). Of course, mention them to your Dr.

"... adventures in brain injuries..." :P

Try this experiment the next time you are riding down the road in a car. Play Slug Bug for a minute or so, just don't slug, just call out, Slug Bug.

Then, watch to see how long in days or weeks it takes to stop noticing VW bugs.

Once the image is indexed in the brain, the brain will notice it unless there are other over-riding images to recognize.

The research shows that it only takes 3 repetitions to start a habit. It takes at least 7 corrections to over-ride the habit. Recognizing the floaters or stars becomes a habit.

As one who wears glasses, I can get stuck noticing a speck on my glasses. It I wipe the speck off, I can usually ignore the many other specks that did not catch my attention. Ignoring the image is a learned behavior.

What is interesting is how these images can start gradually and not be noticed. Then a critical mass is reached, either in count or attention. It takes much more effort to ignore that it takes to notice.

This same ignoring skill is in need when we need to "Stop to Think." The better we get at ignoring thoughts and objects, the easier it is to Stop to Think.

This is likely the most important life skill for the PCS community to learn.

LOL, thanks Mark...that is funny (and interesting) how you explained it.

Its so true, too.

They went away earlier...but I'm almost certain they aren't always there. I have floaters and I see stars occasionally (usually when I'm stressed or I just stand up)...these are different. They are a reddish/orange color and there is BILLIONS of them and they move in unison (is that the word?).

When they are there, I can try to look for them and I'll see them...but when they aren't there, I'll try to look and won't see them. Make sense?

When you think they are not there, they still are but your brain is doing a better job at filtering them out.

The brain has the ability to reallocate resources. At some times, it is using twice the processing power for visual and less for auditory or tactile.

This is why closing your eyes will help increase cognitive processing.

So, stop looking for trouble. You will usually find it.

btw, Closing your eyes is a good way to start to develop quicker "Stop and Think" skills. Later, you can work on those skills with eyes open.

It probably is nothing more than noticing what has been there, BUT...a sudden increase in floaters, a sudden change in floaters-color, size, number, etc--can be a warning sign. A sudden increase in "stars" is a warning sign. A consistent gradual increase in "stars" is a warning sign. You should have your eyes checked by an eye doctor pronto, just to be sure everything is okay. Probably is. But if it isn't, better to catch it early when it can be handled, changed, fixed, than to wait until the real problem has developed and now it's too late. Make an appointment. Much better safe than sorry.