Eyes, leg cramps and tattoos

August 5, 2008

Everyone talking about optic neuritis got me to web searching to see

if what I have is that. Looks like it isn't.

A couple months ago I had my eyes examined. I had made my appointment

with the MS specialist and was waiting to get in to see him. My doc

said I have an " eye freckle " . I had never heard of this, looked it up

on the web and it didn't sound too serious. He also wanted me to come

back for more in depth testing. A week later I went back, he said I

had lost some of the periphral (sp?) vision in my left eye, that the

tests were consistant with a demyeliating disease.

My spinal tap results had stated something like " consistant with a

demyeliating disease such as MS " . (that made me think my eye doc was

psycic, lol).

The MS specialist diagnosed (INO) Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia in my

left eye (basically double vision when I look toward the left).

I've had leg cramps for many years and found it helped to eat more

bananas. I've read that drinking more water helps and wearing shoes

that are good support to the feet.

[Hmmmmm, since I have PPMS, wonder if it was my MS all those years

ago?]

I've noticed that about the only times I have leg cramps now is on

the occasions that I move to the recliner to sleep. If I have my legs

extended and my feet " hanging off " the end, the pressure of the

footrest against the back of my ankles will slow blood circulation.

That'll do it!

Speaking of recliner, my husband insisted we get leather recliners

because of his allergies (leather doesn't hold dust). One added

bounus is that on these warm nights, I can move to the recliner to

sleep and the leather is cool (almost cold). I put the insides of my

wrists against the coolness of the leather arms, it helps cool me

down and makes sleep easier.

The thread that talked about tattoos had me thinking. (I am 63, got

my tattoo when I was 45, I love it. I am not sorry and never think of

Popeye when I look at it).

Now, it was mentioned that the " stress " of the needles could (I

forget the words used) cause a flare up. I am thinking of having the

metal plate the doctor put in, when I broke my ankle 16 months ago,

removed. It bothers me, I can feel it. It's so hard to walk, I wonder

if it'll help 'loosen up' my ankle. I sometimes wonder if the break

and the surgery sped up the progression of my MS. Will removing it

make me even worse?

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