Little bit scared for myself

[BeeMom]

Please send me some honks and happy thoughts...

Last night, while doing some paperwork for an upcoming arts show I am doing to help with the family finances I noticed an odd little "spot" in the paper that seemed almost like digital static. The thing is, when I looked up from the paper, the static spot came with me.

Long story short, I have suddenly developed a fully blind spot very close to the centre of my field of vision - when I am watching TV, for example, it blocks out the station identifier in the corner of the screen. I went to bed last night hoping against hope that I was going to wake up with a crushing migraine or something - no such luck :(. It is definitely my eye, and not just the lead up to a beast of a headache.

I am going to try and get in to see a doctor today, but an ophthalmology consultant will be hard to come by on a week end. If it is actually a problem with my retina, this could be a game changer, and with no money for medication... a pretty bloody ugly one.

I want to get off this ride.

This sounds pretty scary and not what you need at the moment. I hope it turns out to be something transient or easily fixed. Sending positive thoughts your way. Let us know how you get on at doctor's.

Don't panic Bee, believe it or not, it could be a type of migraine, without the pain. Visual migraines often only cause blind spot type symptoms for only short periods of time, but in some people, myself included, the symptoms can last for several days.

Migraines are often worse and more frequent when people are stressed and considering the amount of stress you are under at the moment, I would say you are a prime candidate.

Migraines are horrible things, with a plethora of scary symptoms that can mimic other far scarier illnesses, so I completely understand your fear.

Hope you manage to see someone about it today and it does turn out to be something simple.

(hug)

Sorry, I don't know much about eyes but just wanted to tell you I'm thinking of you.

If you can't get to see a doctor today, do you wear glasses or contacts? If so, I'd get down to your opticians and ask them to look. Or do so anyway, I doubt very much that any optician would turn someone away.

Actually thinking about it, if I was you I'd go to A&E.

I'm sure Moosemama is right but I do know of one very nasty eye condition that resulted as a build up of pressure where it got worse by the hour. Don't know all the details but I know his sight was saved by early intervention.

Take care of yourself.

Bluebird is right, if you can't get to see your GP, do go to A&E. I was sent to the Eye Hospital's A&E department by my GP when I developed similar symptoms, accompanied by the worst eye-pain/headache I've ever had (and I've suffered from severe complex migraine all my adult life) and they gave me a thorough eye check there and then.

Bluebird, you're thinking about acute glaucoma. That's what they thought I might have when they sent me to A&E. The pain is caused by the pressure building up in the eye, and you're right, unlike chronic glaucoma, it's a medical emergency.

Hugs and honking for you beemom xxxx

Hope everything turns out well Beemom x

hugs and a honk, beemom, hope it resolves v soon xxxx

Thank you for all your concern. I did manage to get into an optometrist this morning, and have an emergency referral to get in to see a retinal surgeon on Monday morning.

Apparently, there is an area of macular swelling that may or may not be fluid escaping behind the retina in my right eye. I desperately wanted it to be an ocular migraine, and when I first told the doc about "sudden onset blind spot" she thought that, too. Until the part about it not moving and that it had been around for more than 12 hours by that time came up, that is. Those don't fir the bill for an ocular migraine at all.

I have distinct instructions to avoid any lifting, specific instructions for what degree of things getting worse would require me to go to A&E (but I would wait many, many hours to get care, particularly after hours AND on the weekend). I am (understandably) worried about the outcome - there is a VERY good chance this will lead to some degree of permanent vision loss. Not too thrilled about the testing I am going to have to face over the next little while, either, tbh.

Guess what - the doc told me that this sort of thing, while very uncommon, is frequently caused by stress. Gee, no stress around this house .

Oh Beemom, I'm so sorry to hear this. I was really hoping it would turn out to be a migraine, you have more than enough on your plate without this as well.

Good luck for your appointment on Monday. I will be thinking of you and sending lots of strength and ((hugs)).

Actually, let me clarify... the swelling is not very uncommon - it is not common, but it happens almost exclusively in men. I wouldn't pass the entrance exam for "male"

Just spotted this and came to wish you good luck!!

So glad you are holding on to your sense of humour.

Oh no bee, take it easy until you are seen at the hosp

Hope it goes ok for you today beemom xx

Hope it goes well for you also x

How did it go?