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I hesitate to even post a reply to this because I don't post here much anymore. I was once a very active poster when this board first began. But most of you here don't know me or my story.

Mel (it's Melinda, right?), I also have the scotomas that you describe. Mine, however, fade very slowly over time. It may take months. I also have ALL and I mean ALL of the other nasty symptoms that comes along with VS. And I can assure you, without a doubt, the exact moment this all changed for me. It was like a light switch - boom, there was the VS, then the flashes, then the trails, scotomas, etc, ect. I remember what it was like to see normally. And this is NOT normal. Yes, entopic phenomenon is normal. I saw it as a child when I LOOKED for it. Now, I see it on absolutely everything. Every surface, grass, the sky, cars, tables, my sweet son's face. And the VS, that's different. I used to have fabulous night vision. I jogged at night. Now, I can't do that. I bat at things that aren't there, trip over my own feet, can't judge the hills. It is definitely different than it used to be.

No, I am by no means disabled. I am blessed to be healthy. But I do have a strange condition that I pray stays the way it is or gets better. I don't want to be blind. I know this is a fear of yours. I've read your posts as well as posts you've made on other forums. You are afraid. It's normal. But please don't judge us here for talking about our symptoms. And please, of all things, don't bash Dr. Podoll for the work he is doing. My first neurologist told me I was crazy. To have a doctor actually take the time to listen and write out in detail every little description of this condition that each participant in the survey shares - wow, that's refreshing. He's doing this work because he is a doctor and a researcher. God forbid a doctor actually care about this.

I'm not angered by your post. I know you are stressed. You are worried. You wonder if you have something benign or something that will steal your sight. Just try to approach the people here with kindness. And if you can't say something nice.... well, you know the rest.

Melissa (MelC from very old posts)