Hi

I've been injecting methotrexate for 18 weeks and have had 2 infusions of infliximab, however on Monday night I developed blurred vision in my right eye, which hasn't gone away.  Been to the opticians today who has referred me to a specialist as an urgent case as I couldn't read any letters on the board during the examination.  He thinks it's due to my medication rather than my actual eye sight deteriorating.  I also have extremely painful joints, which are much worse than before I started infliximab but I'm aware that it should be making it better rather than worse, I'm having problems walking and can't turn over in bed.  This evening I seemed to lost my balance and just fell over completely in my kitchen.  I don't know what is happening to me, has anyone else suffered anything similar.  As it is, I want to come off all these horrible drugs.

Any advice .....

Cheers
Lou

Hi Lou, I was interested to read what has happened to you since starting infliximab.  I had two infusions and had worse joint pain and also had more stomach pains, no problems with vision.  My consultant thought it was not helping and the third dose was abandoned.  I am having surgery for strictures in three weeks which we both thought was the cause of the pain.  I am on Metho and also still on steriods.  You should see a consultant before the third dose to talk about these symptoms you are having.

Well, I went to the hospital to see the eye specialist yesterday.  There is no apparent reason for the blurred vision and the dr would not confirm it was due to the infliximab (although highly likely), it has improved slightly and they will see me again in a month but if it gets worse then contact them but the specialist did find that I actually had inflammation caused by Crohns in both eyes and now have to take special drops every day for the rest of my life and hope it doesn't get worse and effect my site (this is unrelated to the blurred vision).  I knew Crohns could cause eye problems but cannot believe that being on so many drugs to prevent Crohns that I should get this!  Nevermind, makes you realise how precious everything in life is.

Wow I didn't realise Crohns could affect the eyes, is there no end to this disease. Like you I can't believe that with all the meds the Crohns seems to creep its way into another part of the system.   Hope the drops improve things for you, taking them for the rest of your life is a small price if they do the trick, fingers crossed. Good luck

The drops are already improving my eyes - the swelling has gone down but unfortunately the blurred vision remains.  I have fallen over, flat on my face today at work, second time in a week - I have fallen over since I was a child.  I'm not liking this!

Hi Lou

I used to get inflammation in both eyes and looked like a zombie out of a horror film.
Noticed last year it appeared after drinking milk or eating choc bars. Now limit my
sugar intake during the day and my eyes have been much better. You
wrote about losing your balance, although I have never had this happen.
A friend of mine was given some drugs after surgery which caused her brain damage
and she lost her sense of balance to walk in a straight line. Wasn't methotrexate
she was given.


Jen