A symptom that i have a big problem with, but i haven’t heard much talk about is the vision problems that came with my chronic fatigue. I have constant blurred vision that improves when i feel better. I see spots that i would describe as similar to when you feel light headed or faint. At one point it was so bad that had trouble reading and driving.
One of things that helps me with this symptom, is the systemic enzyme complex vitalzyme. This clears my vision along with helping with my brain fog. I’m guessing this enzyme complex works for me because it thins the blood and may help to improve blood flow to the brain. My doctor explained it saying that the enzymes help to clear a blood clotting protein call fibrin. This can increase blood flow.
One thing that makes my think that these vision problems may be associated with low blood flow and oxygenation is that they improved greatly when i did hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Unfortunately it only lasted for about 2 hours after the treatment, so it wasnt a long term solution.
The best information i could find on this subject is an abstract about eye problems associated with cfs. It just states that they have found this to be a common symptom, and they believe that chronic fatigue may affect the ocular system.
I’ve found those enzymes helpful, I take one called
Wobenzyme. Another explanation for vision difficulties maybe heightened sensory perception.
…or, make that heightened sensory sensitivity.
I have not been diagnosed yet with CFS, but have had all of the tests for my many symptoms and have come up with nothing. Anyway, I have had major vision problems since I got mono last year. The opthamologist didn’t find anything weird. I’m going to get that enzyme TODAY and see if it helps!
hi alison,
just keep in mind that everyone is different. What helps me might no necessarily help you. But, i hope you feel better. Definately try to find a doctor to advise you with supplements. look for a doctor that does alternative treatments as well as convetional treatments and has the qualifications to treat you.
There are alot of chiropractor and natropathic that treat cfs and dont reallly know what they are doing. Its hrd to find someone that is good, but keep looking
good luck
I too have a lot of vision problems with my CFS. My vision will become very blurry and I also have a lot of problems with my eyes watering profusely. Anyone else?
its weird, i can still see, but i have trouble focusing on certain things. When i feel bad its really hard to read, its like the words are just swimming around on the page.
me too! trouble focusing vision on things, words swimming on page. sometimes even the walls seem to swirl. (and no, i’m not on drugs! just on brainfog!!)
when my fatigue/fibro/brainfog/hypoglycemia/hep (and possible ADD) is flared up, i have a real hard time processing sensory information appropriately. eye doctors say things are fine aside from some floaters. makes me wish i could get glasses for my BRAIN, haha.
one eye doc recommended staying more hydrated (i always forget to drink enough water) so improve bloodflow/oxygen delivery in my eyes’ vascular system.
true, sometimes just after i eat or drink, my vision clears a bit, or a lot!… glucose and water reaching brain, is my guess.
also, if i use earplugs to dampen sound, i can take in and make sense of visual information much better. works great in my classes that are conducted in sign language
.
I also have serious visual problems. This is the first time I have actually seen it in writting ! Focusing on some days is immoossible. Thank you
I have been diagnosed with CFS for 17 years. When I am in a flair, I have difficulty focusing, as well. Brain fog, digestive problems, confusion, short attention span, weight gain, headaches, sore throat, are some of my symptoms. I am going to try to find the enzymes you are suggesting. I want you to know that I have a friend who is as fair complected as anyone, who was finally diagnosed with FMF–Familial Mediterranean Fever. She had been diagnosed with CFS and other illnesses. She began to go into the family’s geneology, and found a LOT of ARABIC and JEWISH family, much to her surprise. She convinced her doctor to put her on COLCHICINE(for gout). Within two hours of taking the first pill, the brain fog lifted, and she felt energy she had not felt for many years. Her symptoms and mine are very similar. I am not saying that we all have it, but there may be a connection to it. I asked my doctor to put me on a round of Colchicine, and he allowed it for a few months, because it is hard on the liver. I had no results from it, but not all persons with FMF respond to it. All I know is that CFS has changed my life from going 90 miles and hour, to almost reverse! It is nice to see the information on your blog. Thanks!
I went to a doctor named jay goldstein about 6-7 years ago. He has since retired, but he would experiemnt on CFS patients with all kinds of drugs. One of the drugs he had me try was a gout medication.
I dont really remember the reasoning behind it. But i think he said it was a pretty effective drug for some of his patients.
I too had the eye problems. I even went to my eye Doc and had my retinas mapped; had the neuro do the eye tests for MS diagnosis, all of that. I personally think it is caused by the neural inflamation that accompanies CFS. In my case I have HHV6 but I would suspect that whatever the underlying trigger, CFS itself has multiple system involvement including CNS so….. I have tons of neural problems now and am going thru more tests and monitoring to ensure I do not have any MS type problems – just inflamation from the CFS. When you think about the fact that the world community is split on how to name this terrible scurge – ME vs CFS vs CFIDS vs CFS / ME. In my case it is ME all the way.
anyway eyes are MUCH better after 3 months on Valtrex but there are days when I feel my vision and even the nerves and muscles in my eyes get droopy and I know I need to lie flat and rest.
Had CFS for about 20 years. Used to have repetitive cold symptoms and headaches, they are mostly gone.
Over last few years started having the concentration, brain fog symptoms. Words swimming on the page sounds real familiar. Also have odd vision effects when I wake up in the morning, flicker of certain obects, blurry spots, brain filling in patterns wrong. One eye or other looks fine, two eyes together and some patterned objects are messed up first thing in the morning….
Hello Connie and others,
I am so glad to have found this site. Connie, it seems we have a lot of the same symptoms. The weight gain for one. Have you found anything to help loose it? My doctor is so upset with my weight he wants me to do “Lap-Band” surgery. Really. I keep telling him it’s not what I’m eating and if anyone should be upset it’s ME! Also I feel it would just add more stress to my system and I wouldn’t loose any weight.
Vision, now that’s something I have experienced since 1992. Light bothers me, I am unable to read like I want. Does anyone else have pain? When you try to explain your symptoms they look at you like you’ve gone off the deep end.I can see fine, I just can’t focus. Glasses don’t help. When I was first diagnoised an eye doctor told me it was the “cyliac”? muscle that that was weak. That is pretty much all I’ve heard. I’ve tried getting more info on this from books and on line. I have to tell you I’ve gotten more information just reading your coments. Has anyone else had the experience that everything was the “normal” blurry then all of a sudden everything is crystal clear? It is kind of scarry to see all that you have been missing. It doesn’t last long enough.
I am curious about Valtrex. How is that going for you. I just found out about it’s availability. My doctor won’t prescribe it and Dr. Montoya doesn’t take appointments. I’m on a waiting list.
Thanks to you all for your comments.
I have all of the classic conditions of chronic fatigue: an extremely stressful period of time before the fatigue (controlled anger at inner city school students who wouldn’t listen mixed with bouts of bronchitis), a bout of mono, and a Hodgkins lymphoma a few years later.
I don’t have any blurriness, but I wonder whether my problem with eye fatigue is related. Granted, programming is my new job (something I have energy to do), but even after taking it easy on my eyes for a while, my eyes are drooping all the time…
I was looking to see if electromagnetic fields can mess up vision and found this. Like many of you I have a DX of CFS/FM/MCS but what i found out last year, after 14 yrs of declining health is that I have mercury poisoing from old dental amalgams. The symptons are the same as CFS and can cause tons of other things. I feel horrible from the treatment, chelation with dmps but its the first clue I’ve had in years that there could be other things going on. But the vision thing, I can barely read this, look at a grocery store shelf and cant find what i’m looking right at.
The start for me was finding a really good doc who specializes in Environmental Medicine.
I agree that the visual symptomas with CFS may vary from one to other
I am an eye doctor ( concidentally) with cfs and visual problems , I see every thing moves not stable the same as an earth quick is happening all the time
I found that the base in prism changes my brain fog and decreases the blurred viison but not removal just decrease
as well I found the dark chocolate 70% works well with me
CFS with visual problem is disasterous
OMG, right now I am dealing with the bouncing shaking, visual symptoms and I am scared to death over them. I went my ophthalmologist who said there is nothing wrong with my eyes.. then why on earth do I have the flickering, moving, dancing words whenever I try to read? This is so scary to me. I wish there was an explanation at least.
I find vision to be a big deal for me as well. I find it is one of the final components of a flare up of symptoms. My symptoms start with tingling/numbness in my feet and then move upward like a snake coiling around me. When the tingling gets to my head I know that it is time to find a spot to close my eyes for a few hours to let it all pass. If I try to fight it, by keeping my eyes open, my headache gets much bigger and faster. I also start to have trouble breathing. It’s really like a snake in that it covers the eyes and then begins choking.
I find that 2 very different solutions work. 1. Lie down and close eyes for a few hours. I find the iPod with books or music great for this time. TV and Reading make it much worse.
The second solution is to go for a walk. The first 15 minutes of the walk are usually very uncomfortable with lack of breath, vision, balance etc. But at some point the fog seem to clear.