Follow up questions for someone without insurance :(

[realorange]

Basically, I had a bout with optic neuritis about 6 months ago. Now, it's back. In the same eye. It's not as bad, but it's not enjoyable.

I haven't even had an MRI yet. I don't have insurance, and got denied from Medicaid. I'm reapplying. It's so discouraging...I'm already in debt from seeing a doctor about my eye.

Since I can't see a doctor, I have a few questions. But forewarned, I don't even know if I have MS yet. It could be a brain tumor, which scares me so much. I think what if there's a tumor and I'm just letting it grow. I'm scared I'm dying.

1. Optic neuritis came back, but not as bad. Anyone experience this? Does this mean I'm really messed up?

2. A blue dot. In my vision, I see a blue dot all the time. It'll just appear. I assume it's something to do with optic neuritis...or a tumor. Again, I'm scared. Did anyone experience this as a symptom of ON?

3. Dizziness. Since the eye thing started, I've had dizziness. It comes and goes, but it comes in a certain way. It happens if I turn my neck a certain way in bed. That sounds crazy, but it's true. So I know it's not from blood pressure or anything like that. I'll be laying in bed, turn my neck, bam. I feel the room spinning. The dizziness will last a couple hours. Anyone experience this?

4. Nausea, since the ON started. It's not too bad. It's a general vague feeling. The only time I got sick was in class. I wore a hoodie and for some reason the heat was on like 90 degrees. I felt sick and threw up. But I've been okay otherwise.

I guess if any of those symptoms sound familiar, please share with me. I've drove myself crazy thinking I'm dying. It's 5:30 AM and I don't have school or work today, and I've stayed up the whole night worrying.

[MarkLavelle]

I've never had ON, but a good friend had it twice in the mid-90s. She hasn't had any sx since.

A doctor called it MS at the time, but I'm not sure she even had any MRIs (MRI is not used to dx ON, but almost required to dx MS by the current criteria) and she didn't like the sound of the interferon drugs (partly because she was nursing). She's gotten away with just ignoring the whole thing, so far.

Your other sx can all have 'mechanical' causes. I would try to get to a physiatrist, but it might be worth seeing even a chiropracter if that's all you can afford...

Best of luck,
Mark

[NHE]

I haven't even had an MRI yet. I don't have insurance, and got denied from Medicaid. I'm reapplying. It's so discouraging...I'm already in debt from seeing a doctor about my eye.

Some hospitals have a "charity care" program that will pay for all or part of your bill based on demonstrated financial need. In addition, some counties have clinics which offer financial aid for individuals who are uninsured and have low income.

I guess if any of those symptoms sound familiar, please share with me. I've drove myself crazy thinking I'm dying. It's 5:30 AM and I don't have school or work today, and I've stayed up the whole night worrying.

If you're a university student, then your school's student health care center would be the first place to go to.


NHE