flashing lights but BP ok - anyone else?

[glitterjo]

I'm just coming up to 32 weeks. Have been getting over a UTI that landed me in hospital for a couple of nights (couldn't stop throwing up so had to go on a drip as I was so dehydrated) and also have been diagnosed with an eye condition in my right eye which is basically fluid on the eye - I have a big dot that I can't see through in the middle of the eye. Very annoying, is quite rare but can be caused by the excess cortisol in pregnancy apparently (and is most common in male airline pilots!). I've had flashing lights and spots in my eyes on and off for about 6 weeks - my BP and urine are being checked quite a lot because of the eye condition and apart from the very start of that where my BP was pretty high, it's been ok. My pulse is often very fast, but that's about it.
Today the flashing lights are coming and going quite a lot more and I have some black shadows on my peripheral vision that are also coming and going. I've mentioned the flashing lights quite a lot but I think everyone is so pleased to have managed to diagnose the eye condition that they find it quite easy to ignore this other thing - which doesn't fit in with the eye condition.
I may be being a bit paranoid because the eye condition can be an early indicator of pre-eclampsia, apparently. But my BP is ok, so I feel like they will just dismiss me again if I bring it up.
Is this happening to anyone else?

Have you had your iron levels checked?

Hi Glitterjo
Is it central serous retinopathy? I was diagnosed with this at about 22 weeks, in my right eye, and I definitely felt it made my vision really freaky, especially in slightly darker environments like restaurants etc, and sometimes I felt I could see flashing lights, even when I had my eyes closed and was dropping off to sleep! I am now 37 weeks, and the CSR has improved significantly, and with it the lights etc. Had scan a bouple of weeks ago. I don't think it is linked to pre-eclampsia?

Olivetti yes! Gosh, I feel weirdly relieved that I'm not the only person with this in the world - in the hospital all the midwives and doctors kept coming to talk to me about it as they hadn't really come across it before. I have flashing lights that really seem to be connected with it - near the central spot - and then other kind of 'sparks' which make me feel like I'm watching the start of Star Wars. Both are very annoying!

I was told that it was only linked to pre-eclampsia because any build up of fluid in pregnancy could be a link - I think it's pretty rare but they were a bit concerned because my BP was high at the start (I rather think because I was terrified I was going blind!).

It was getting slightly better but really deteriorated last week - yesterday I saw the consultant at the eye clinic who gave me another scan and said it was probably because of all the stress of being sick.

So glad to hear yours has improved - I really, really hope mine will soon too, it's driving me nuts.

Could you have optical migraines on top of the eye problem? I have heard of people getting migraines for the first time in pregnancy and what you are decribing sounds similar to what I get with my migraines.

Glitterjo - you have my sympathy, I was totally feaking out when mine started, as was sent to A and E by optician, convinced myself I had a brain tumour or something! Anyway, my blood pressure was through the roof - like 150/90 or more, but has been normal ever since, it was just all the worry and stress. Nobody except opthalmologists know anything about CSR. Mine started back in July, and stayed quiet bad for a while, then started to get much better, but not until late September. Don't know if that makes you feel better or worse, but it does clear up, it's just a waiting game. It's a horrible thing, but my specialist said there is a link to pregnancy and it will get better.