Thursday, February 24, 2011

The story continues.....

I went back to the retina specialist for my checkup. My vision was still bad in that eye even though the floatie had mostly dissolved. This time they only dilated the eye that was giving me the problem. And sure enough....my vision tested much worse. Back to the scans and photo-imaging. End result is that I have now developed something in that eye totally a separate issue from the 'floatie ordeal'. Its something called myopic degeneration, not to be confused with macular degeneration. But its just as serious as far as I'm concerned.

About what I understood is that since I'm so near-sighted (myopic) the retina has thinned over the years and its gotten thin enough that blood vessels had started growing up through it. This has just started to happen and it was caught right away and the cure rate is extremely good because of that. My vision has been distorted because the blood vessels have changed the surface of the retina. I'm no doctor by any means, but this is what I understood. Anyway, I have to have injections to my eye. I had the first one Wednesday. Yes! Injections IN my eye. Sounds awful and I didn't dare let myself think about it. This medicine is supposed to shrink the blood vessels and make them retreat.

He washed my eye down with Betadine (that's probably spelled wrong).....which I did feel. Then he numbed my eye.....which I also felt. But the actual injection.....I did not feel. Thank God!

When I got out of there it looked like I had been the loser in a fist fight. My eye was swollen and extremely red. I have to put antibiotic drops in it and also liquid tears in it. Today its sore and feels like someone put a handful of sand in it. The liquid tears help that. I have to be careful of infection. Eyes seem to heal fast and I can already see and feel an improvement and its only been a bit over 24 hours since I had this done. What they injected me with is usually used for some other disease and therefore my insurance will not cover it. Its $82. I have to have another one in a month. Hopefully that will be it. Hopefully.

The doctor's office called me this morning to check on me and see how I was doing. I think that is extremely thoughtful and something a lot of doctors fail to do anymore.

So......how is everyone else doing?

19 comments:

Forsythia said...

This does not sound like fun! You deserve 3 million hugs. Take care of yourself.

lucylocket said...

The treatment is tough, but it's great that you can see improvement
so quickly. I hope it continues to get better.

Coffeypot said...

I hope you can see the end of the treatment road, too.

Leann said...

I am happy they found it early Val. I just can't imagine getting a shot in the eye. *shudder* You are one brave woman.

Blessings dear and Happy Friday!!

Smocha said...

ewwwww.I'm shuddering at the thought of the eye shot.

Jamie said...

Oh you poor thing! Who is with you at these appointments? I'm guessing your daughter is...I am so sorry darlin. This just sounds truly dreadful, but it also sounds like you are lucky to have gotten with it early...eyes are so very very important.

Are you having trouble actually seeing or reading? Are you off work for awhile?

Take care of yourself. Hugs and hugs. :)

Peruby said...

"My insurance will not cover it" - figures. What a crock!

ain't for city gals said...

I agree with Peruby...what a crock on the insurance..if it works on the eye then that is the correct treatment! I was reading someone else blog yesterday..can't remember who, of course, and she works in the triage of the emergency room...she said this insurance deal is getting scarier and scarier...they jus flat out refuse. and she said doctors are just flat out refusing to take medicare patients unless they pay up front...

dc said...

Wow, hope all goes well for you now. Aren't you glad you went in for the floaters! Get this thing nipped in the bud. Must have a really good Dr. there.
Makes my problems with new glasses that are giving me headaches seem minor. Going back Mon. to see what the heck.

happyone said...

Having injections in your eye sounds simply awful. I hate any kind of injections anyway. Thankfully this condition was caught early and they can do something for it.
I pray all goes well for you.
That is nice that the doctor's office called to see how you were doing.

Cheryl said...

So good this was caught early. If it hadn't been for the floaties you might not have gone so soon. I'm sorry you had to go through such a yucky procedure. You seem to be handling it well. I hope the injections of meds help. If they do, is it a permanent cure?

3 million hugs from me!

token said...

oh, no. I can't even... Ouch.

Margaret Hall said...

Dear, dear Val...I am so sorry to come to visit and hear the bad news that you have been experiencing with your sight! I hope that you are on the mend asap~!! Sending love and hope...
(BTW, I switched to Blogger and now have all 4 on Blogspot)
http://timeforabucketlist.blogspot.com

ethelmaepotter! said...

Oh, I do so hope this is all you hoped for! But be careful and report any discomfort or worsening to your doctor - my mother kept getting worse and worse and refused to go back - when she finally did, the doctor discovered she was ALLERGIC to the antibiotic drops, and she was almost blinded by them!

Take care!

Joy Des Jardins said...

Ooo, it makes me so squeemish just to think about having a shot in my eye; but hey, it it works...it's well worth it Val. I'm so glad that you already see improvement...that's the important thing. I hope you only need one more too...especially having to pay for them. Good luck sweetie... Hugs, Joy

gayle said...

I am so sorry!! Hopefully you will be better soon!

Anonymous said...

wow, that's scary, but hopefully you'll have much better vision when it's all over with.

gayle said...

Thinking of you today!

Jamie said...

WOOOO--HOOOOOOO..

Yodel-aaay-eeee-whooo---

Geez. Yes, I know how silly I am. Come back, Shane!

Post, Update, say something.

Hugs, girl. :)