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sickagain
USA
27 Posts |
 Posted - 04/12/2011 : 16:00:23
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| I have had several physical problems over the years that are listed under the more-common TMS equivalents...I am stumped by a new thing-- I have very quick, flashbulblike flashes that occur several times per day over the past 3 weeks. My opthalmologist and optometrist have both conducted thorough exams with my eyes dilated, and see no physical reason for this. Because I have started seeing some floaters as well in the affected eye, they are assuming it is a normal part of aging eyes called posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD. Suspecting TMS right away, I asked my doctor if a brief lack of circulation or oxygen to the retina could cause the flashes. He said yes, but since I have no condition like diabetes that would disturb eye circulation, he felt that was irrelevant. I also read floaters can be related to retinal circulation. Hmm. Any thoughts? |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 16:23:38
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I would see a retinal specialist. Garden variety opthamologists can miss things. A slightly torn retina can cause flashes and floaters. Have you been hit in the eye recently? Even if not, I'd get it checked out as it can happen spontaneously
If a specialist can't find anything, you can safely forget it.
But in the meanwhile, I would go that extra step. If you do have something like a small tear, it's easily fixed with laser. But unaddressed it can cause more serious problems. Don't mess with your eyes. |
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sickagain
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 16:44:58
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| Thanks for your reply; my ophthalmologist is a retinal specialist. |
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Darko
Australia
387 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 17:37:24
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Sickagain,
I have had heaps of problems with my eyes....whilst I believe it is TMS related, sitting around and focusing on my emotional state while I go blind is just not gonna fly.
I would get a second opinion.....I have been told by a few doctors that I must let them know if I get any "flashes" as it could be part of something more serious.
Don't focus on it or freak out about it but make sure you have kicked over every possible stone cause life with eye problems or lack of sight isn't pleasant.......
Secondly....if there is even the smallest bit of doubt or uncertainty in your mind about your eye problems you can bet your butt your mind will hang on to that and play games with you.
D
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sickagain
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 18:01:14
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| Thanks...I have been reassured via three separate dilated-eyes and various tests that my occassional flashers are not due to a retinal tear or detachment. Flashes by themselves can be benign and just part of the normal posterior vitreous detachment process...I just wonder if my TMS is contributing to the experience. |
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Darko
Australia
387 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 20:00:32
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From my experience I would say yes....I've had many strange issues over the years ( that aren't traditional TMS symptoms ) and I have never "bought into" them.....after a while they go away and something else will surface.
Anything I did believe in stuck around for a long time, like my eye problems.
Sounds like you've done your homework and are confident that it's nothing serious....what else could it be BUT TMS?
Start to focus on what is going on in your life and how you feel about things and you might find it disappears in short time.....usually works for me.
D |
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Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 20:43:04
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| Hey sickagain, I've had vitrious detatchments in both eyes with one progressing to a retinal detatchment. I had the "bubble surgery" without any loss to my sight. I've got news for you, the flashers and floaters never go away. They are very alarming at first but they get fainter and you just get use to them. It sounds to me that you have been diligent and I'm sure your opthamologist has been having you come back periodically to make sure your detatchment doesn't develope into a tear. I initially went to a very crapy optometrist that didn't dialate my eye and sent me home. A week later I went back complaining and with the dialation she saw the detatchment and sent me same day to the surgeon. Being a tms true believer, I questioned the surgeon about cause and effect pertaining to stress. He said that age and the eye changing shape was the cause and I really believe him as the second eye had a pvd within 8 months of the first. My opthamologist explained to me that once you have a pvd, it tugs at your retina as you move your eye causing the flash. After the pvds I have giant floaters in both eyes. They are always worse on cloudy days. Relax, it just takes a while to Quit worring . |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 21:51:22
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quote:
Originally posted by sickagain
...I just wonder if my TMS is contributing to the experience.
YES! I had the same thing, a few months ago. As soon as my eye doctor told me it was part of the normal aging process, the floaters went away. TMS will seize on any symptom real or imagined to distract you from your emotional issues.
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6415
TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2011 : 06:31:33
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I do not believe that TMS causes floaters or flashers. I suspect what might happen in the case of floaters immediately disappearing after being reassured nothing serious is going on, is that the person stops paying attention to them. They're easy to overlook.
I had heavy duty floaters appear with my retinal tear, constant spots and a sort of floaty haze that would drift in and out of my peripheral vision. After a year or so I just kind of forgot about them. If someone had asked I'd have said they'd gone away. One day a couple of years after that...I guess the light and the background were just right...I suddenly noticed them again. I panicked, then realzed they were the same ones I'd had before, and that they hadn't gone away after all.
I'd just stopped worrying, hence stopped noticing.
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Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2011 : 07:57:44
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| Art, my experience exactly. You begin to look thru them and forget them unless the light is just right. As long as they look the same, you can be fairly sure nothing else has torn. Still a good idea to get a checkup each year. |
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sickagain
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2011 : 16:28:12
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Thanks everyone. I intend to have it checked perioically to make sure everything is still OK. My eye specialist said, "Quit worrying, and go live your life." Well, for a Great Worrier such as myself, it's hard to do, but your experiences help!
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2011 : 22:06:41
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I have to get checked twice a year now because I actually have spots on my retina. A few years ago I noticed some visual distortion and that was the diagnosis. Once a year I get a dye injected into my bloodstream which gives them a good clear picture of what's going on with my retina. I've a good doc whom I trust, and he says there's about a 70 percent chance it won't get any worse, so I try not to worry too much. Mostly I'm successful. Hell, I'm 60 years old, an age when just about evrybody has something...
I bring this up as a counter to the tendency on this forum to want to ascribe just about everything under the sun to TMS. This can be dangerous.
Never mess with your eyes people. Chances are you're going to need them :-) |
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Sam908
70 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2011 : 10:05:09
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| I had a retinal vein occlusion in my right eye three years ago, which I'm certain was TMS related. Nevertheless, retinal injuries/diseases, whatever their cause, are very serious and require the attention of a retinal specialist. |
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Eye Weirdness, TMS?
