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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 19:04:36
Hi,
I've been on 30mg of Nardil for the past 3 days and when I look at the sky I see little spots the size of pindots kind of twinkle here and there. It's not a major problem but annoying. Just curious if anyone else has experience this?
Jon
Posted by IsoM on June 3, 2002, at 19:16:21
In reply to Anyone see SPOTS?, posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 19:04:36
Jon, this is going to sound pretty strange & I sure wish I had saved the source of the info but I can't remember where I read it. It's not something like the National Inquirer as my preferred reading is science journals.
The article stated that if you look up at a bright light background (like the sky) & pay attention, you can see little 'spots' of light (but not real bright spots), like small commas swimming about in your view.
These were supposedly caused by white blood cells passing through the capillaires in your retina, triggering these many small spots. Supposedly, the better your immune system, the more spots you could notice swarming about.
It sounded VERY weird to me, but when I stopped to look I could see them swarming about. Whether their origin is what is claimed, I'm not certain. I've asked others if they can see them, & most who pay attention to detail & look for them, can too. Maybe the Nardil has just triggered something that makes you more aware of them - that is, if these are the same spots we're talking about???
Posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 4, 2002, at 6:42:38
In reply to Re: Anyone see SPOTS? » JonW, posted by IsoM on June 3, 2002, at 19:16:21
I've noticed those spots too, both with and without medications. Also when standing up quickly, orthostatic hypotension, has caused them for me. Mainly with Paxil or Celexa. But it is possible to see very fine points without any medication. With the medication, and when about to pass out, the dots are larger.
Posted by beardedlady on June 4, 2002, at 14:04:54
In reply to Re: Anyone see SPOTS?, posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 4, 2002, at 6:42:38
Those little things swimming about are supposed to be floaters, which, I believe, are little pieces of the retina that break off. My husband has so many spots in his eyes (floaters) that he has trouble reading. I don't know if they're caused by medication, but my eye doctor says they are often stress-related. Once you get them, they don't go away, but they do become less noticeable with time. (I have them, too, and looking at the sky or a white background becomes especially troublesome.
beardy : )>
Posted by janejj on June 4, 2002, at 18:43:01
In reply to Anyone see SPOTS?, posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 19:04:36
Hello,
I think i know what you are talking about, I get this on Prozac, not just when I am looking at he sky. I also get tracers, it bothered me a first, but now I'm used to it, it can be cool sometimes when you're bored !! If you are really bothered though, maybe you could ask the doctor if s/he can recommend someting.
Good luck, Jane
Posted by wendy b. on June 4, 2002, at 21:31:09
In reply to Are you talking about floaters?, posted by beardedlady on June 4, 2002, at 14:04:54
Beardy,
(See? I do write to you!)
I get these floaters, also when sky-gazing. In order to supply your little tidbit of information for today, I will tell you that in French they are called "mouches volantes," or flying gnats, in translation.
The only reason I know this is that one of my ex's made a film named "Mouches Volantes," an experimental thing, which took a look at the phenomenon and expanded upon it...
More shit you didn't need to know...
Wendy
> Those little things swimming about are supposed to be floaters, which, I believe, are little pieces of the retina that break off. My husband has so many spots in his eyes (floaters) that he has trouble reading. I don't know if they're caused by medication, but my eye doctor says they are often stress-related. Once you get them, they don't go away, but they do become less noticeable with time. (I have them, too, and looking at the sky or a white background becomes especially troublesome.
>
> beardy : )>
Posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 4, 2002, at 23:15:57
In reply to Are you talking about floaters?, posted by beardedlady on June 4, 2002, at 14:04:54
What I was talking about are dots of light not shadows. Definately not floaters. They are like pin points of light.
Posted by IsoM on June 5, 2002, at 1:35:42
In reply to Re: Anyone see SPOTS?, posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 4, 2002, at 6:42:38
Thanks to an article I read in one of my science journal, the cause of seeing spots of light (not against the sky but just popping up here & there) is said to be random firings of neurons in our visual cortex. Ever see the vague filament of light when you close your eyes at night? Same thing. It's more noticed by some than others, but almost everyone has them. It's possible some meds increase the firings.
Posted by JonW on June 5, 2002, at 13:32:09
In reply to spots of light » Sleepy Lizard, posted by IsoM on June 5, 2002, at 1:35:42
Hi all,
Thank you all for your replies! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one! If floaters are shadows then it's not shadows, but definitely pin points of light like sleeply lizard said. That translation "flying gnats" would definitely be descriptive. Thanks again everyone!
Jon
Posted by beardedlady on June 5, 2002, at 13:48:01
In reply to Thanks everyone!, posted by JonW on June 5, 2002, at 13:32:09
Would "molecules" describe what you see? Floaters are technically shadows. They look like what mosquitoes look like when they float on the water. But they are also really dark spots and sometimes little sparkley things, too, I think. Anyway, I see what looks like molecules--little flashes against the sky. When I was little, I thought I was able to see in the sky what most people only saw in the microscope.
Good luck figuring it out. But the best thing to do is call your eye doctor. You can usually ask a question without needing an appointment.
beardy : )>
Posted by skills on June 5, 2002, at 17:27:06
In reply to Anyone see SPOTS?, posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 19:04:36
Those sound very much like they could be spots that are nothing but perfectly natural cone cell stimuli processing fluctuation responses to over-stimulatory excitation of that cell by electron depolarization resulting in lack of stimuli for a few nanoseconds, (still enough to register....they may well appear to move around)..if this is the case then its really nothing to worry about. They are natural and will have always been there and always will you may not have noticed them before....
Posted by doovie on June 6, 2002, at 8:34:36
In reply to ASKING FOR HELP -- PLEASE READ THIS (nm), posted by doovie on June 6, 2002, at 8:28:49
Hello, a first post for me.
Friends, I've been seeing points of light for years: It's like a very bright, pin-point flash of light. Usually white, but sometimes red, green, blue and twice it was purple.
Usually I see them on people's cheeks or forehead, and it generally happens when I'm in a discussion with someone on a very meaningful or spiritual topic. Before I read this I took it to be some sort of spiritual thing, never knowing the origin, and never being able to verify whether it was a gift from God or just a biological distraction.
Can anyone post here some online resources that explains the name and/or cause of this phenomenon?
Thanks to all
Posted by Hildi on June 30, 2002, at 19:21:45
In reply to Re: Anyone see SPOTS?, posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 4, 2002, at 6:42:38
> I've noticed those spots too, both with and without medications. Also when standing up quickly, orthostatic hypotension, has caused them for me. Mainly with Paxil or Celexa. But it is possible to see very fine points without any medication. With the medication, and when about to pass out, the dots are larger.
Just like you, Sleepy lizard, and Jon W, I see these things. I call them stars. Twinkles of light that flash and move like little gnats. This has been going on for me for years. Maybe even before meds. I have been comcerned about this, because sometimes this happens very often and sometimes things even seem to 'black out' before I see the stars. I have to brace myself at these times for fear of passing out.
I think heat/humidity might increase these occurances, also sometimes these occur more often if I am coming down with something-getting sick. But food does not seem to be a factor.
What is orthostatic hypotension? It was mentioned earlier that postural hypotension could be a cause- is this the same thing?
Hildi
Posted by wcfrench on June 30, 2002, at 21:16:27
In reply to Re: Anyone see SPOTS?, posted by Hildi on June 30, 2002, at 19:21:45
Hi
I'm taking an anti-psychotic called Zyprexa which is similar to Geodon and a little stronger than Seroquel. When I exercise, I run, and I run pretty far since I just graduated from college running cross-country. Lately, after getting about 15 to 20 minutes into my run, I'll notice like black spots and a sort of odd layer over reality with these black moving things. It's hard to explain, but my doc says that it could be because I'm burning up the medicine faster by exercising. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I have that and it's really frustrated. Heart goes out to you
-Charlie
Posted by Serio on July 3, 2002, at 16:27:22
In reply to Anyone see SPOTS?, posted by JonW on June 3, 2002, at 19:04:36
Seeing spots and blacking-out are the primary symptom of Hypoglycemia. If you had these syptoms and are not taking tricyclics or similar medications then that's almost certainly the cause. Hypoglycemia is fairly wide spread though many GP's don't acklowledge it, one even told me that was impossible for me to have the condition because it can only occur as a syptom of pancreatic cancer. It's usually worse in the morning especially if break-fast was only pastry and coffee or refined sugary cereal. Adelle Davis was one of the first nutritionists to promote awareness of the condition in her book "Let's eat right it keep fit", she was also the first to advocate a high protein diet to (especailly breakfast) control the condition. Other nutritionists have recommended a "frequent feeding" diet so that blood glucose levels are replenished continually. The main idea is that foods that are catalysed slowly such as proteins and complex starches are preferred over sugars which cause the pancreas to overreact. Important foods are juices, bananas and fruit as sources of potassium, lowfat protein sources such as lowfat cottage chesse yogurt etc, also whole grains nuts and wheat grem are good as sources of magnesium and zinc. Adelle Davis was ahead of her time in many respects, she advocated yogurt to replenish gut bacteria (source of biotin) and taking vegtable oils as supplements(such as flax and soy), and whole grains. Much of her advice (some was flakey)is only recently being rediscovered, her book was copyrighted in 1954. There are many books and web sites on the subject, still much ignorance esp. in the medical community. I had an EEG and other tests for my blackouts before I was correctly diagnosed. Good Luck!
Posted by hildi on July 3, 2002, at 18:56:08
In reply to Hypoglycemia or Hypotension are likely causes, posted by Serio on July 3, 2002, at 16:27:22
> Seeing spots and blacking-out are the primary symptom of Hypoglycemia. If you had these syptoms and are not taking tricyclics or similar medications then that's almost certainly the cause. Hypoglycemia is fairly wide spread though many GP's don't acklowledge it, one even told me that was impossible for me to have the condition because it can only occur as a syptom of pancreatic cancer. It's usually worse in the morning especially if break-fast was only pastry and coffee or refined sugary cereal. Adelle Davis was one of the first nutritionists to promote awareness of the condition in her book "Let's eat right it keep fit", she was also the first to advocate a high protein diet to (especailly breakfast) control the condition. Other nutritionists have recommended a "frequent feeding" diet so that blood glucose levels are replenished continually. The main idea is that foods that are catalysed slowly such as proteins and complex starches are preferred over sugars which cause the pancreas to overreact. Important foods are juices, bananas and fruit as sources of potassium, lowfat protein sources such as lowfat cottage chesse yogurt etc, also whole grains nuts and wheat grem are good as sources of magnesium and zinc. Adelle Davis was ahead of her time in many respects, she advocated yogurt to replenish gut bacteria (source of biotin) and taking vegtable oils as supplements(such as flax and soy), and whole grains. Much of her advice (some was flakey)is only recently being rediscovered, her book was copyrighted in 1954. There are many books and web sites on the subject, still much ignorance esp. in the medical community. I had an EEG and other tests for my blackouts before I was correctly diagnosed. Good Luck!
Thanks for the response! Hypoglycemia is definately something I should be learning more about- I have long suspected I have this condition. Thanks for the information on diet and the author you mentioned. . .
Is hypotension low blood pressure? My blood pressure was just checked, was OK. I know one of the 'rare' side effects of SSRI's is lowered blood sodium, so I am having a blood test for this at the end of the month. Thanks again, Hildi
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