[Anonymous]

For the last few months I've had some very worrying problems.

A constant tension around my head and a powerful pressure felt behind my eyes. As of recent, getting worse.

Recently having a constant loss of focus and double vision. I recorded myself when I lost my focus and began seeing double, what appeared to be happening was the eyes were not focusing and the right eye was deviating away from the central axis, apparently called 'Strabismus', both of these being completely involuntary. The right eye deviates literally by 45 degrees, it was extremely shocking to see.

On top of all of this, recently upon waking in the morning, my eyes cannot focus at all and I see double, when I go to switch off my phone alarm, the words that should be 'Snooze' and 'Dismiss' are completely jumbled up and make no sense, sometimes letters that shouldn't even be there are. Example, instead of 'Snooze' I see (double of...) 'snniuz'.

Naturally, I went to my GP. He didn't seem concerned, I stated it was all involuntary and is really affecting my ability to work my job and study.

He said it was all down to stress, and some people are just able to do that with their eyes (after showing him the video). Performed a ridiculous eye test (following his fingers), prescribed a pain-killer for the tension around the head and sent me off on my way.

I don't have dyslexia or anything of the sort, no known history of health problems.

My brother is a medical student and said it could be like every other diagnosis; absolutely nothing or a serious neurological problem.

Of course, I will go see another GP. But what if this GP shrugs it off to stress as well? I want to be referred to a specialist, as this has been ongoing for some months now and I feel it is getting worse.

Any advice? Have you had a doctor throw your symptoms in the bin? How did you resolve the problem? How did you make the doctor believe you genuinely required specialist attention?

[monkeyDace]

go to an optician...or ask to be referred to an specialist if that worry.
It will at least peace if mind

[M4LLY]

Try a different GP?

[James82]

Stop reading stuff on the internet?

[Egypt]

The ridiculous eye test was probably checking for nystagmus or assessing some of your cranial nerves.

None of us can tell you what's wrong unfortunately however if your are worried go and see your GP again.

[Akkuz]

- See a different GP
- See an optician
- If there are any eye hospitals around, go there and get a more detailed check up.

If problems persist, return to the GP and ask for some further tests.

[carl_senior]

My advice would be go and see an optician. They can write up urgent referrals to see an Ophthalmologist. As was the case when they discovered I had very high pressure in my eyes.
Another option would be to go to an NHS walk in centre, where you can be seen by a different GP.

[tallen90]

(Original post by carl_senior)
My advice would be go and see an optician. They can write up urgent referrals to see an Ophthalmologist. As was the case when they discovered I had very high pressure in my eyes.
Another option would be to go to an NHS walk in centre, where you can be seen by a different GP.

Unfortunately, walk-in centres are often staffed by nurses rather than doctors, so this might not be the best option.

Also, whilst seeing a different GP is a good solution (as recommended by others in this thread) it may not be possible - if your surgery only has a couple of doctors, then they might not let you see the other doctor, and other surgeries won't see you unless you're a registered patient (and you can't register if you're already registered at another surgery).

Best bet - see your optician (e.g. Specsavers - they'll do you a free comprehensive examination if you're a student), or go to A&E and exaggerate your symptoms. They'll likely do some more comprehensive diagnostics, which should put your mind at rest.

It's worth mentioning that I've had similar symptoms to this myself in the past - it was stress! Try not to worry too much

[Mini-Cooper]

Have you tried reducing your stress levels? It could just be as your GP is telling you. It would be worth a try. - It might not have an instant reaction, but if you reduce your stress levels you might notice a difference after a month.

[Cinnie]

See another GP, and get as many opinions as you want until you get to the root of the problem. I'm saying this because they'll dismiss the problems on the grounds that because of your age, you're statistically unlikely to have a serious problem and therefore it 'must be stress' (I hate it when GP's say this)

It took my little brother 4 years of migraines, and then a year of seizures before he was given a brain scan. I don't want to scare you and this is obviously completely different, but they found an inoperable brain stem tumour.

Keep getting opinions

[enigma1122]

say you've put up for it long enough
its interfring with your life
make a big deal out of it and demand you want to go to see a specialist, to get it checked for your reassurance.
The stress is affecting your life.
If you don't make a big deal they won't really bother.

[James82]

(Original post by tallen90)
Unfortunately, walk-in centres are often staffed by nurses rather than doctors, so this might not be the best option.

Also, whilst seeing a different GP is a good solution (as recommended by others in this thread) it may not be possible - if your surgery only has a couple of doctors, then they might not let you see the other doctor, and other surgeries won't see you unless you're a registered patient (and you can't register if you're already registered at another surgery).

Best bet - see your optician (e.g. Specsavers - they'll do you a free comprehensive examination if you're a student), or go to A&E and exaggerate your symptoms. They'll likely do some more comprehensive diagnostics, which should put your mind at rest.

It's worth mentioning that I've had similar symptoms to this myself in the past - it was stress! Try not to worry too much

That is quite possibly the worst bit of advice I've seen on TSR.