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Post by onepaddlejunkie on Dec 21, 2016 20:38:06 GMT -8
I've had two rounds of Laser surgery on my left eye. The first was performed by a quack that knocked my eyesight down from 20/20 corrected to about 20/40 - 20/50. He said it was no big deal because I was going blind in that eye anyway. I found an actual expert on Glaucoma and after a while he determined that I needed another round of Laser surgery but of a different type than the quack had used. Combined with medication this worked for a while then he performed a Trabeculectomy on my left eye when the eye pressure was no longer being controlled with meds. This got the eye pressure down but the corticosteroid that I had to use in the eye accelerated the formation of cataracts. Guess what happened. It got to the point that it was like looking through Vaseline. My doctor committed suicide. Nobody had a clue why. I could not begin to understand why. What a great talent and a great guy. What a waste of a gift to humanity. I got passed off to a 12 year old skinny little girl as my new eye doctor. When I called her a 12 year old in front of her nurses they were quick to point out that she was not a 12 year old but had reached the advanced age of 14. Still looks 12 to me. She did the cataract surgery on me three weeks ago and today was check back time. My eyesight was not any better than it was before surgery. It looks like I have what may a "string" in my eye. It could be a piece of lint that was introduced on one of the surgical instruments and was left in the eye. This may be causing the swelling that is messing up what little sight I still have left in that eye. Quadruple up on the steroid and come back in two weeks - then - I'll probably be back in surgery for a re-do. Whee. I'm back to feeling all sorry for myself - again. I need to get out and do something for people who have real problems to put this in perspective and remind me to be thankful for all I do have. I think I'll have a shot of anti depressant or two and quit whining.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 21, 2016 23:05:53 GMT -8
That does suck, OPJ. A little whining might be justified!
I know when we did lasik surgery a number of years ago, we researched a lot and paid a little more to get someone who had a very good track record. Even at that, it was a terrifying thing to do!
I hope you get some decent resolution soon. Hope you can get outside a bit, which is another good anti-depressant.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 21, 2016 23:07:56 GMT -8
BTW, taking the thread title as an invitation, I couldn't agree more about the negatives of aging! My shoulder developed pain a week or so ago, just keeps getting worse, or at least no better. I could barely swim today, and of course now we enter the holidays when I can't get in to see the MD. I'll take a couple of weeks off from swimming and lifting and hope things improve. My FIL has PT for a shoulder injury right now too--maybe I can join him!
Note that what gets me is that as I age I can develop stuff like this without having done anything in particular to cause it--just going about the usual and wake up one morning all sore somewhere. When I hurt, I like to have had a great ride to get there!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 2:48:38 GMT -8
Sorry about your misfortune. My dad had similar issues some 20 years ago...
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 22, 2016 4:28:26 GMT -8
I have so far resisted the temptation for eye surgury because of stories like this. I will continue to stick to my thick glasses.
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kenv
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Post by kenv on Dec 22, 2016 6:20:28 GMT -8
Being well into my 7th decade on this planet I know what you mean about getting old. It sucks. My eyesight is still relatively good and correctable with ordinary glasses. But this laser stuff keeps getting better and I'm considering that. And they now even have replacement lenses that provide wonderful results IF there are no complications. And it's that "if" that makes me hesitate.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Dec 22, 2016 7:03:51 GMT -8
Yep. For 30 years, I was relatively invincible. Other than 2 kidney stones, and a bout of sciatica, I have been very healthy over the last few decades. I turned 65, and went in for my wellness exam. Bingo! New glasses, a drop in my eyes for high pressure (early signs of glaucoma), and a prescription for Type 2 diabetes. Seems my system all went out of whack around the end of the Summer.
I am sorry to hear of your own health issues, and wish you good fortune in the future treatments. Losing eye sight is not a good thing.
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bp2go
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Post by bp2go on Dec 22, 2016 8:00:18 GMT -8
Getting old sucks? NOT getting old would suck more, but at least you wouldn't know it.
Pardon me for asking, but where did you find these doctors, the bulletin board at the laundromat? What doctor would shrug off your diminished vision with "no big deal, you're going blind anyway!" I hope you get things squared away with a real doctor and better info, else you'll need a service dog that can pull your kayak to Butedale, and beyond! (read that with a Buzz Lightyear voice)
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Post by graywolf on Dec 22, 2016 8:45:11 GMT -8
Getting old sucks. I turned 65 in mid June and retired. I haven't been to the ER in thirty years and since I retired I've been there three times.
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Post by hikingtiger on Dec 22, 2016 8:53:09 GMT -8
What doctor would shrug off your diminished vision with "no big deal, you're going blind anyway!" That "doctor" should have lost some teeth for a comment like that. Hope things get worked out, onepaddlejunkie.
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Post by trinity on Dec 22, 2016 8:59:01 GMT -8
Sorry, OPJ, that really does suck, and I hope things get better. Hang in there.
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Post by hikerjer on Dec 22, 2016 9:02:10 GMT -8
So sorry to hear about your trials. I've been getting old since I was born so I think I can speak with some authority on this. I just turned 68 this month and while I do find I have increasing aches, pains and soreness, I feel as if I'm doing pretty well even though I've had to scale back on some things. I can't hike 15-20 miles a day with a full pack anymore, I walk a lot slower, have curtailed the double diamond ski runs and don't ride many centuries any more on my bike, but I still do all these to a lesser degree. I think we all know that it's inevitable that as we age, things are going to deteriorate physically. In the past when I was younger, I had my share of health issues but seem to have recovered. I guess I'm lucky in that my vision is still pretty good. I have to wear reading glasses but that's about it. My knees still give me some trouble but nothing a brace and ibprouphren can't fix. I recall a telling conversation with a friend not long ago who said, "I woke up this morning and thought I was dead." Perplexed, I asked, "What do you mean you thought you were dead? He replied, "nothing hurt this morning so I figured I was dead." I honestly feel the key is to keep active. As the saying goes, getting old ain't' easy, but it beats the alternative." That said, I think I'll head out for my morning walk with the dog. You just have to keep moving.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Dec 22, 2016 9:06:20 GMT -8
... performed by a quack ... Sadly it can happen in any medical specialty. The dentist my Dad saw for 30 yrs neglected to find severe periodontal disease, but after moving, the new dentist had to refer him to another dental practitioner who inserted cadaver jawbone to start replacing the original dying tissue. Besides finding an experienced practitioner, think I'll keep moving docs and dentists every several years (or maybe become somewhat of a medical tourist to get 2d, 3d, 4th ... etc..) opinions.
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Roger
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Post by Roger on Dec 22, 2016 9:22:24 GMT -8
As some say getting old is not for the weak. This year I turned 70 and the problems just keep on coming.
I think one of our greatest fears is blindness. For me I had the lens replaced in both eyes due to cataracts and I had laser surgery for glaucoma. Back problems which started when I was a teen continue. Now it seems all those old dental fillings I had in the 50's and 60's are failing and it is time for implants and crowns.
I am determined not to let these problems get in my way of enjoying the outdoors and life in general. It is that time in life that will test me in ways I have not been tested before. I hope I am up to the challenge of aging.
Hope your eye problems can be stabilized. It may be time to go to a major eye center to have a evaluation if you have not already done so.
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Post by hikerjer on Dec 22, 2016 9:25:14 GMT -8
I am determined not to let these problems get in my way of enjoying the outdoors and life in general. It is that time in life that will test me in ways I have not been tested before. I hope I am up to the challenge of aging That's the only acceptable attitude. Good for you, Roger.
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