Sudden inability to focus, dizziness, double vision: Is it a stroke?

@sb4ca Will you please call your doctor right away or go to an immediate care? The symptoms you are describing of sudden dizziness and double vision can be the first signs of a stroke. Is there someone there with you now? If you are alone, you can call 911 if you are in the US. I just read a story about a stroke that started like this and minutes count. Call a friend if you are alone.

@sb4ca, I agree with @jenniferhunter that this may be something that needs immediate medical attention. It sounds like this may have been happening for a few days. Have you been able to reach a medical professional?

To recognize the warning signs of stroke, Mayo Clinic's Dr. Meschia says remember the acronym, BE FAST:

B stands for balance. Watch for the sudden loss of balance.
E stands for eyes. Vision loss in one or both eyes is a warning sign.

F stands for face. Facial droop or if the face looks uneven is a sign of stroke.
A stands for arm, but it can be sudden weakness of an arm or leg.
S stands for speech, including trouble speaking, slurring words or difficulty understanding speech.
T stands for time. This represents both noting the time the symptoms occur and reducing the time it takes to receive medical care by calling 911.

I talked with a doctor on Friday about how bad the infection got. I brought up the dizziness that came with the infection. He was on the fence whether I needed to get IV Valtrex because I got it on 3-4 dermaforms. It is only when I try to watch TV that I get, what I've learned is actually side by side vision, vs double vision. On downward glaze it's fine and the dizziness only happens when I get up or look side to side. I think it's from a horizontal ocular weakness. It seems much worse in the morning. It's rare though not uncommon to get a cranial ocular nerve palsy after a bad ocular zoster infection and I had it bilaterally. Because I have a primary immune deficiency, it's not unusual for me to get odd or atypical presentations. I honestly don't feel it's a sign of stroke. I've never had hypertension and my weight is less than ideal plus I had a brain MRI about a month ago. I see my neurologist on Monday. But if something declines, I will be the first person to call 911. I was hoping to find people who may have had this happen to them. I very much appreciate your concern and promise I'll update by later Monday. Thank you again

@sb4ca Thank you for your update. This is an important discussion because it may save someone else who is having a stroke. Often the person having the stroke doesn't recognize that things are changing, and may not be able to speak without slurred speech or be able to dial a phone. The title of your discussion said sudden vision changes, dizziness and double vision and that is a red flag for symptoms of a stroke. I am very glad that you updated us. The hard part of an online discussion is that no one has the ability to physically help you if you are in trouble. We have only words. Thank you for coming back. Will you discuss this with your doctors?

I understand wanting to find others with a similar experience. Perhaps you will be teaching everyone else about this condition. Thanks again for coming back.

Jennifer

In reply to sb4ca. .. I am holding my breath until Monday. Yes, this is the problem with 'words only'...together but separate.
I would love to 'Pop-in' to see you and take you to the ER!
Also, 911, works in Canada too. They are well trained and excellent first line of defense.
Hope to hear from you soon (please).
All the best!

Yes that is how my eye stroke started. Extreme dizziness even when I was in bed for about a week before it happened. But it would not last long and I contributed it to allergies I also remember getting off balance a lot . You need to see a Dr ASAP.

I absolutely plan on bringing it up on Monday. In fact, I may start with that. I have a progressive neuropathy that he is treating me for and we're to discuss treatment for that and my newly found mild cognitive state. It's possible I've had some ocular weakness for some time and this is making it worse. I have to close one eye to prevent double vision, before I had to be very tired for that to happen and I can see very mild ptosis in the eye with the primary infection. Thank you for your concern, I can actually feel that in your words.

Can you tell me more details of your symptoms prior. I've never heard of an eye stroke. I'm more concerned this is related to an infection.

@thisoldewe Christine, I'm glad to see you here and in peeking at your profile I know your concern also comes with knowledge from nursing. It feels strange to want to help someone when that is what your calling is about and we can't be there in person. It is so easy for a person to assume that what they experience is something they think they are familiar with. It may not be, and I know I have made a mistake like that before. Health problems have overlapping symptoms and it is so easy for anyone to assume that they are not in danger because of a familiar pattern of experience.

I pay attention to my health and I look up what my medical records say so I understand them. I do have a background in biology and can understand medical literature. I've been the patient with weird symptoms that the doctors didn't understand and it took a few years until there was a complete picture, and I've also learned from my elderly parents by advocating for them during routine and emergency medical issues. I have also known people who have had strokes including my dad who permanently lost half of his field of vision in both eyes from a stroke.

I have also experienced sudden dizziness and vertigo which was related to my spine condition and muscle spasms that were moving my cervical vertebrae around which altered circulation of the arteries inside those vertebrae that send some blood supply to the brain. At that time, I didn't know that my neck vertebrae had been rotated from a muscle spasm, and I looked up at birds flying overhead which immediately started the vertigo. Those arteries inside the vertebrae were stretched because the vertebrae had rotated independently and I had not turned my head, but in looking upward, I kinked those already stretched arteries and the world began to spin. Leveling my head right away didn't fix it, and I had to close my eyes. I called my physical therapist who was working with me and she told me how to relieve some of the muscle tension which helped a lot, and she was able to resolve the rest in her clinic. Because I was able to talk to my health provider and relieve the symptoms and stop the vertigo right away, I knew it was not a stroke, and I knew that I had this issue of neck vertebrae that rotate on their own, and adding the neck extension had caused it. If I experienced vertigo that kept affecting me, the right thing would have been to call for help or been seen with some urgency. I wasn't alone and my husband was home and I told him right away what had happened. This happens in beauty parlors too, and putting your head back into a sink, may cause similar issues. There are cases of beauty parlor strokes being caused by having the head extended too far backward and for an extended period of time.

I have had corrective spine surgery, and have not experienced vertigo since then. My neck muscles have calmed down, but I can still get a neck spasm that starts some rotation, and I can recognize it before it goes too far because of neck muscle pain and headaches on one side. Then I lay down and check my alignment with my hands, and I can work on any issues and fix them. I have learned a lot about this from my physical therapist.

Jennifer

What a journey you have traveled!
We learn so much from our own journeys and from the journeys of others. And the learning never stops!
I am so glad you have a supportive hubby who was there for you. Support, especially with the 'weird things' is like oxygen. Connect is another wonderful avenue for caring and support.
One thing for sure, the more discoveries that medical science make ((and thankful for that), the more unusual things seem to pop up. The alternative modalities can be so helpful; we need them all. I had many years of trouble before the lab tests developed enough to give answers.... those were the worst years. My physiotherapist, naturopath, acupuncturist and massage therapist kept me glued together.
As we go forward, we continue to learn, share and support... we are so blessed to have this in each other.... the true strength in humanity.
So well done! Please carry on with that wisdom born through experience. And so glad you are a mentor... in more than one way!