Re: introduction & my retinopathy dx

[Guest guest]

Robyn,

I don't have words of wisdom, but I understand eye problems...I have

Premature Retinopathy, which means I am at high risk for blindness from

detached retina, and now with the diabetes am paranoid about cataracts,

(which luckily are small) and later possible glaucoma, and diabetic

retinopathy.

It is scary when it is your sight. Thank God you were able to have surgery

though...some folks have no insurance or any way to do it. It still does not

stop the fear, I know it, but you do what you can with what you have, as

others on my ROP list say. (Most of whom are legally blind.)

Magnifiers are not the worst things...I use a monocular to read the isle

signs in grocery stores, and am grateful to be able to see them again, that

means not asking others which isle I am in (where's the beef?)...and

magnifiers help me to read easier and also to use the computer. Anything

that keeps you as independent as possible is good, even if it is a pain for

someone so young.

You have had diabetes a long time, and I do not blame you for being sick of

it. All you can do is take care of yourself as best you can, and get what

joy you can out of life. Perhaps vitamins can help with depression a bit, or

meds if you need them, and it is no sin to need meds for depression, if it

saves your life and/or sanity.

Here is the place to complain! where else can you? Yeah, docs do not always

think, and it is frustrating and pisses you off...so you get depressed cause

you cannot yell at the doctor for not telling you. That hurts when it is

something that serious.

We need to be our own best advocate, we need to research info on our own if

our docs do not tell us. That means keeping aware of what is going on, by

reading and internet and TV and groups like this one, where you get all

kinds of info you never knew.

As for feeling old, yeah, diabetes can do that, actually any chronic illness

or disability can do that. Having vision problems is a major stress. Maybe

if you found others who have trouble with their eyes that you can hang out

with? They would understand at least.

Welcome to the group...I hope we have something here that will feed your

mind and renew your spirit to keep fighting.

Tam

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[Guest guest]

Robyn, I don't have any words of wisdom for you. I am new on this list too. But

I feel

for you and you are in my thoughts and prayers this morning. I am sure there are

people

here though who will have some words of wisdom and care for you. I would be

ranting much

more. BTW my PC is named Tweety. And I have various Tweety things close by.

Lou

tweetyheart@... wrote:

>

>

> I'm sorry to rant so much. I just havne't had a forum that I have

> felt I could really say all of this in, and I think my friends and

> family can only offer so much support, if that makes sense.

>

> Anyhow, thanks for giving me this space, and I'd appreciate any

> words of wisdom that are out there.

>

> - Robyn

[Guest guest]

Yes, you can. And yes, you SHOULD! Maybe not an all-out yelling

and screaming tantrum, mind, but the doc should DEFINITELY

have noticed this creeping up if it was " advanced " and should

have said something far sooner, I would think!

I read the post on alt. that talked about how doctors didn't tell

patients about things because of possible insurance

consequences, etc. or thinking there 'wasn't much to be done.'

Forget that! I wanna KNOW, and my doctors sure as heck better

tell me. That's what I pay them for!

SulaBlue

> Here is the place to complain! where else can you? Yeah, docs

do not always

> think, and it is frustrating and pisses you off...so you get

depressed cause

> you cannot yell at the doctor for not telling you. That hurts when

it is

> something that serious.

> Tam

[Guest guest]

Several years ago I was told there were signs of retinopathy in my eyes. Even

tho we were uninsured and not working I found money for pycnogenol and grapeseed

extract. I met someone who began taking them after his laser surgeries and he

said they saved the rest of his eyesight.

There are no signs now of any problems. No scarring even. When I got two good

reports in a row, I dropped the pyc (very expensive) and maintain with

grapeseed. I was taking one 50mg tab of each daily.

The most important thing you can do is maintain normal bg readings. There is no

price too high to pay for being able to see.

And, yes, it stinks! But we have to realize we cannot rely on our doctors, our

best course is to educate and care for ourselves.

Helen