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hottm8oh
USA
141 Posts |
 Posted - 06/03/2008 : 14:29:40
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Richie, can you describe the floaters in more detail? What do they look like? Are they black or white/clear/silver-ish? Do they move or take on other forms? Do they come with a headache? I occasionally experience floaters that are white, clear, or silver and they have kind of a wavy quality to them. They move across my field of vision. One of my coworkers had the same thing, and we were both diagnosed with ocular migraines. My floaters did not come with a migraine so I never considered it to be headache related, but I've since spoken to many other migraine sufferers who describe the same exact vision issues.
Incidentally, migraines are a TMS symptom. |
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Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2008 : 14:50:27
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| Richie, Since I am always sure that everything that befalls me is tms, I asked the retinal surgeon if they could possibly be caused by stress. He assured me that it was not not possible. The more you look and pay attention to the floaters, the more they will drive you nuts. They will fade and become less apparent with time. They usually appear as clouds or black spots. If you have already been checked out, I wouldn't worry about them. Just be sure that your checkup included dialating your eyes. My optomitrist originally gave me a checkup without dialation and totally missed the detachment. After complaining for a week, she did the dialation and sent me to the surgeon the next day. The floaters usually come with age but everyone is different. I ,too, was younger than most, but I have a friend in her 20's that had a detachment in each eye. BTW, my other eye had a vitrious detachment the next year. No retinal problems but I have to keep getting checkups. They told me if you have a vitrious detachment in one eye, the other usually does the same within 18 months. If you get new floaters be sure to have your eyes checked. |
Edited by - Susie on 06/03/2008 15:20:57 |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2008 : 19:36:29
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Enough with Lyme testing!!! Chronic Lyme is total bogus.
Best,
MK |
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richedie
27 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 20:41:24
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Chronic Lyme is not bogus, that is an arrogant and ignorant, childish thing to say. I wish that were true. Things are not that black and white in life. Anyway, I could say the same about TMS. See how that works? I have a relative wh had it for 7 years before finding the right doctor and medication. Now, she is actually off all meds and doing very well. Great in fact.
Anyway, enough of that....
I did have my eyes checked along with the dilation. I always have floaters so how do I know if I have new floaters?  
I feel my case is so complicated because I have the abnormal protein spike in the blood and the hand changing to a blotchy, almost blue color. |
Edited by - richedie on 06/04/2008 20:43:37 |
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Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 21:02:47
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Richie, I can only speak for myself but I have become very familiar with my floaters. You probably have too. If you have a major change, I'll bet you know it. It sounds like you have done your due dilligence and you seem to be fine, eye wise. |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 23:42:43
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quote:
Originally posted by richedie
I have a relative wh had it for 7 years before finding the right doctor and medication. Now, she is actually off all meds and doing very well.
I have a relative who swears by homeopathic medicine. It breaks my heart to tell him that he's taking sugar pills (not that there's anything wrong with that). There is, however, something very wrong with taking long courses of unnecessary antibiotics. Some very well reputed evidence-based studies have shown that chronic Lyme is essentially nonexistent. The intensive courses of antibiotics are only harmful. Not to mention all the NSAIDs and other stuff these patients are consuming. The first step towards proper treatment is a correct diagnosis. Remember, even if someone gets better after seeing a doctor and taking a medication, it still doesn't prove anything. Many people get better after seeing a shaman (again, not that there's anything wrong with that). Sorry if I came across the wrong way. Good luck!
Best,
MK |
Edited by - mk6283 on 06/04/2008 23:51:15 |
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richedie
27 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 09:36:47
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MK, I don't want to argue about Lyme, you are a good person so lets move on.
I guess it makes it hard for me to believe I have TMS because of the MGUS(protein spike in blood that was found this year after all this started) and the fact that my left hand not only hurts but gets blotchy and blue, purple, etc. Does that sound like TMS?
If all else fails, I will see this TMS doctor in Lancaster, PA.
Rich |
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richedie
27 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 09:42:13
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MK, I don't want to argue about Lyme, you are a good person so lets move on. I know what you are talking about with those studies, but they were very faulty. Just some basic understanding of the life of bacteria, and real world evidence is proof for me. I think just basic understanding of biology and bacteria is enough to show you how it can take a long, long time to eradicate. and I have a friend from Baltimore who did not get well till she took abx for over two years for Lyme. Now, she has been symptom free for 4 years. It took them months to determine which abx would work. show me those studies, I can explain how they are wrong. Anyway, don't want to argue.
I guess it makes it hard for me to believe I have TMS because of the MGUS(protein spike in blood that was found this year after all this started) and the fact that my left hand not only hurts but gets blotchy and blue, purple, etc. Does that sound like TMS?
If all else fails, I will see this TMS doctor in Lancaster, PA.
Rich |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 11:18:32
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I'd say seeing a TMS doctor is probably a good idea. In the meantime, try not to worry so much. No matter what the cause of your symptoms is, at the least there still seems to be some psychological overlay. Picking up meditation or some other relaxation technique may not be a bad idea. Let us know how it goes with the doctor. Good luck buddy!
Best,
MK |
Edited by - mk6283 on 06/18/2008 11:22:49 |
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richedie
27 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2008 : 12:26:18
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Hey all and thanks for caring and chatting.
I got a test back saying i have high levels of MSSA. I had surgery when all my symptoms started back in october. maybe I picked this up in surgery? Wish I knew the answer. My neighbor had MRSA and was hospitalized before intravenous abx got him well.
My floaters started with my other symptoms in October. Some are small dots, some web like, some blobs, some look like cells, most are dark or black but some are clear or opaque, and all of them move and float. Sometimes there are huge clusters and webs as I look to the sky. My wife and i sat outside last night and I noticed if I look at anything dark, it looks like it is snowing.
My hand has gotten bad, red, blue sometimes, blotchy, swollen. Can this all be TMS? One thing notable. My Myofascial release specialist found a huge mass of muscle/fascia above my left shoulder blade and I can easily feel it as well. She thinks this could be causing a restriction, hence the color and pain in that hand. it is very noticable...almost feels like a hard muscle or bone! She says it could have something to do with me having AC joint reconstruction on my oposite or right shoulder two years ago and being unbalanced now. I know my gate is off, I have arch issues and my right leg falls to the right when I lay down on my back so maybe a lot of this is mechanical? |
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simplyfree
20 Posts |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2008 : 08:54:30
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quote:
My Myofascial release specialist found a huge mass of muscle/fascia above my left shoulder blade and I can easily feel it as well. She thinks this could be causing a restriction, hence the color and pain in that hand. it is very noticable...almost feels like a hard muscle or bone! She says it could have something to do with me having AC joint reconstruction on my oposite or right shoulder two years ago and being unbalanced now. I know my gate is off, I have arch issues and my right leg falls to the right when I lay down on my back so maybe a lot of this is mechanical?
For the issues of gait & arches, please remember that the practitioners you have seen are structurally trained. They will likely attribute pain to any "abnormality". Likely there are lots of people walking around with the name "abnormality" and no pain.
Hard lumps of muscle that feel like bone can often be from tension ("tension myositis syndrome"!). I am suspicious whenever practitioners talk about being "unbalanced". Are we really that unbalanced, and does it even matter? They don't really know.
Your hand sx sound like something else to me, so I will not comment on that. Just wanted to note that you are still 'thinking physical' on many points, including many that have the hallmarks of TMS symptoms.
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It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
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mjwebb05
24 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2008 : 18:45:30
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Richedie,
If you do go to see Dr. Cohen, would you be willing to let us know what he charges for a visit? I live very close to his office and was considering going to see him...
Thanks! |
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stanfr
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2008 : 19:32:53
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| Richedie: I would not get too hung up on 'TMS' as a precise syndrome. TMS started out as a theory dealing primarily with back pain, mainly disc herniations and bulges. For better or worse, it's been expanded by Sarno and others to encompass a whole range of symptoms that may or may not be properly described by the TMS theory--but as those of us who have suffered from 'classic' TMS as well as a host of other conditions can attest: mind-body is a much, much broader subject. So , you may want to consider the possibility that even if these other things aren't 'TMS' in the classic sense, your psyche could be having a huge influence over them. For example, I've had deteriorating eyesight and excessive floaters for decades. They're much worse (eyesight and floaters) on the right side of my body, as is a host of other symptoms that ive dealt with over the years. Are they all "TMS"? Who can say, but i'd bet a large sum of money they are profoundly influenced by mind-body and partly if not wholly psychosomatic. As has been mentioned, probably the greatest influence on how much my floaters bother me is a factor of how much attention i pay to them, and that is part of a cycle that perpetuates due to the psyche's influence. Stress/anxiety itself can result in real physical problems, some problems that are not easily resolved by journaling or following a TMS treatment plan. Since as you probably know, the medical profession isn't about to offer you a magic bullet, the best thing you can do is come to the firm realization that you are going to be you're own best cure, not any antibiotics, diet, or medical intervention. It's changing your thought-process and making changes in your life that are going to be the most beneficial things you can do. It's a tough daily struggle, but this forum points out you are not alone in it. |
Edited by - stanfr on 06/29/2008 19:37:01 |
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positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2008 : 20:40:39
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So, your blood test shows that you have high levels of MSSA (Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus). Will this be treated with antibiotics?
Sounds like at least SOME of your problems do have an actual physical cause. What sorts of maladies could MSSA cause in your body, if it has been unchecked for a period of time? Could it be causing some of these problems? The mass in your shoulder -- could it be scar tissue from your surgery or calcium deposits, or even something that was left in your body after surgery like a sponge or something (don't laugh, it has happened!) Have you had your shoulder x-rayed or MRI'd do see what in the world that mass could be? Maybe it's just a knotted up muscle -- or maybe not.
From the way you speak about your perfectionism, etc you do have a bunch of TMS personality traits, and TMS and stress might very well be contributing to some of your problems.
However, IMO you should try to solve some of these problems with MDs before attibuting them all to TMS. I really don't think that TMS could make your hand turn blue and blotchy. And TMS wouldn't give you spike in blood proteins, or give you floaters. As for MGUS or Lyme, I don't know anything about that, but only a qualified doctor could tell you for sure. You mentioned that they found a 3 mm aneurysm of the proximal supraclinoid right internal Carotid artery on a CT scan. How does that tie into any of this? Is it significant or insignificant?
My cousin had Lyme disease when he was a child and he almost died. Now as an adult I know he has some health issues because of having had Lyme.
Regarding floaters -- several years ago I was continually sick with Strep Throat. My kids kept passing it around to me (it went on for MONTHS until one of my kids was put on the right antibiotic to knock it out of her system, because she was the carrier). Well anyway, after months of being sick on and off with Strep I got "cotton wool spots" in my eyes. (Not sure if that's the same as floaters). I'd never had them before and I was sure that my continual infection and continual flow of antibiotics had SOMETHING to do with it. After I was finally cured of the Strep the spots went away I've never had them since. So -- I suppose it's possible that an infection can cause problems in your eyes, even if the problems are not serious.
Anyway, I think that no matter what it will benefit you to read Dr. Sarno's books, because they have a lot of good information and may help you to feel better about things.
I really hope you find the answers to your problems, and if it is indeed an infection or some sort of blood disorder I hope you can cure it or control it easily, and get back to living a normal life again. Please keep us posted on what you find out!
**********
You are not your mind; you are not your thoughts. The incessant mental noise [of your thoughts] creates a false mind-made self that causes fear and suffering and prevents you from connecting with your true self and living in the Now. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now |
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richedie
27 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 09:06:24
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quote:
Originally posted by positivevibes
So, your blood test shows that you have high levels of MSSA (Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus). Will this be treated with antibiotics?
Sounds like at least SOME of your problems do have an actual physical cause. What sorts of maladies could MSSA cause in your body, if it has been unchecked for a period of time? Could it be causing some of these problems? The mass in your shoulder -- could it be scar tissue from your surgery or calcium deposits, or even something that was left in your body after surgery like a sponge or something (don't laugh, it has happened!) Have you had your shoulder x-rayed or MRI'd do see what in the world that mass could be? Maybe it's just a knotted up muscle -- or maybe not.
From the way you speak about your perfectionism, etc you do have a bunch of TMS personality traits, and TMS and stress might very well be contributing to some of your problems.
However, IMO you should try to solve some of these problems with MDs before attibuting them all to TMS. I really don't think that TMS could make your hand turn blue and blotchy. And TMS wouldn't give you spike in blood proteins, or give you floaters. As for MGUS or Lyme, I don't know anything about that, but only a qualified doctor could tell you for sure. You mentioned that they found a 3 mm aneurysm of the proximal supraclinoid right internal Carotid artery on a CT scan. How does that tie into any of this? Is it significant or insignificant?
My cousin had Lyme disease when he was a child and he almost died. Now as an adult I know he has some health issues because of having had Lyme.
Regarding floaters -- several years ago I was continually sick with Strep Throat. My kids kept passing it around to me (it went on for MONTHS until one of my kids was put on the right antibiotic to knock it out of her system, because she was the carrier). Well anyway, after months of being sick on and off with Strep I got "cotton wool spots" in my eyes. (Not sure if that's the same as floaters). I'd never had them before and I was sure that my continual infection and continual flow of antibiotics had SOMETHING to do with it. After I was finally cured of the Strep the spots went away I've never had them since. So -- I suppose it's possible that an infection can cause problems in your eyes, even if the problems are not serious.
Anyway, I think that no matter what it will benefit you to read Dr. Sarno's books, because they have a lot of good information and may help you to feel better about things.
I really hope you find the answers to your problems, and if it is indeed an infection or some sort of blood disorder I hope you can cure it or control it easily, and get back to living a normal life again. Please keep us posted on what you find out!
**********
You are not your mind; you are not your thoughts. The incessant mental noise [of your thoughts] creates a false mind-made self that causes fear and suffering and prevents you from connecting with your true self and living in the Now. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now
They said there isn't much to do about the MSSA other than some topical abx for my nose. I am done with it so I assume it cleared up.
I have seen the Ophalmologist and he confirmed I have way more floaters than the average person. My hand still turns color and blotchy and the right one is now starting to do this. My feet and toes are also starting to turn color and blotchy, almost dead looking at times. I just can't see TMS doing this. Maybe TMS contributes but I don't think it is the root cause. |
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richedie
27 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2008 : 09:07:23
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So the MSSA was basically nothing...just took some topical abx.
However, I recently got back some Lyme blood tests that were positive and my blood was sent to a better lab in california. Believe me, i want this to be TMS, but I have too many visible things going on that make it hard to believe. My hands and feet still turn dark red or blue no matter the temperature. It seems to be a vascular thing because I can get my hand back to normal color by holding it above my head and the mottling goes away, but still aches and feels tight. The pain is now in my shoulder and arm in general and the shoulder cracks and creaks now, never did that before!
To top it all off, I think something happened to my elbow. I had that ulnar entrapment surgery back in October. Well, I was working out the other day and I felt a pain in my elbow. Now the pain is always there when I bend my elbow. The pain comes right at about the 45 degree point and I can now feel the nerve or something moving over the bone when I move the joint. You can even see it jump right when it hurts. |
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richedie
27 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 08:31:17
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| I would still love to know if TMS can cause blood flow restrictions in the extremities and if it can cause your hands and fet to look mottled and dark/sick looking. |
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richedie
27 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 14:39:38
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Hi all, what about some other symptoms I have. I started to notice ringing in my right ear and then I had some loss of hearing, blurry/double vision as well. A scarier symtom is the inflammation of my left arm! It can swell so much I can't remove my wedding ring and with all my recent weight loss, that falls off in the shower normally! My temperature drops to 95-96 at times and my hands and feet will turn purple or mottled looking. Finally, I still have the MGUS or IgG antibody spike that the oncologist says most likely is caused by an underlying infection they can't find. I never had any of this till last fall.
One interesting note is I had some blood testing for Borrelia and Babesia infection. The Babesia test was a FISH test and that cam back positive. I talked to some scientists who said it is extremely rare to see a false positive with this highly sensitive test, but luckily they think I have a strain that was able to be detected this way. After 6 months of Babesia treatment the symptoms attributed to that went away like the trouble swallowing, air hunger, chills and shakes, nausea and I get my follow up test for this next month and hope it is negative!
I think we'd be ignorant to not believe chronic infections exist just as we would be to not believe in TMS. They both exist but it is so tough differentiating the two at times!
What if people had believed syphilis or malaria was fake, LOL.
Thanks. |
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New to the board but need help and advice...
