Update On Retina

On February 12th, I had an appt to go back to see Dr. Katira (the out of Plan doctor, that did the surgery per Kaiser) The office called an said I needed a referral. When I had checked in January I thought I saw 3 visits approved. Well my error (you see I can’t see ) Actually what I saw was 3 visits requested by Dr V- my referring ophthalmologist, but only one visit approved and that was used up in January.  so in a nut shell Dr. Katira’s office needed a referral. I emailed Dr. V- and asked for one, he shot back an email saying that Kaiser actually wanted to evaluate the situation as why this repair was taking so long and what actually was the condition of the eye.  Now I some of you reading this may be saying ah ha! they aren’t going to cover it they aren’t going to do anything, but actually I was glad to go back Kaiser.  I had felt for a long time that I needed a second opinion, that  my eye prognosis was not as rosy as Dr. Katira painted the picture (at least not by what I was reading).

I had actually seen one of Kaiser’s Retina Doctors before, around 2002.  The right eye (the one affected) was the first eye to have cataract surgery back in 1999 (can you believe I was only 46) well one of the risks with Cataract Surgery is a Detached Retina, so they give you all the things to look for flashing lights to side, a curtain being drawn across your visual field either up-down or side-side. Well in 2002 I started having flashing lights off to side of my visual field in the right eye. I got an appt to see the Optho Doctor, he didn’t see any tears, but he sent me over to Retina Doctors (which are in DC) We went an I saw Dr Kohrami, who didn’t see any tears or holes, he said the flashing could go on for awhile or forever, that his mother in law has it ongoing. But if I ever had a curtain, I was to call right away. So now you know the history.

So back to now, Dr V- put in the referral for me to see Dr. Kohrami, an we got an appt on March 12th. a month didn’t make any difference, I know what to look for as far as the retina detaching again. Well March 12th came, its really a long trek to get to DC. We drove from Stafford to Springfield (about an 1hr) then from Springfield we took the subway and got off at the Foggy Bottom Station, then walk two blocks.

The tech did all the preliminaries with both eyes (can’t read and eye chart or anything out the right and no peripheral vision). To refresh your memory (I have scarring in the central vision-macral  vision and at the sight of the repair, which causing the loss of peripheral vision).

Dr. Kohrami was like I remembered, he is so through (a big difference from Katira)he explains all the pros and cons. As a nurse, and my DH PA in pulmonary we still don’t know eyes, we appreciated all the background.  The outlook by Dr. Kohrami is don’t do any surgery, no laser nothing because I will probably be permanently blind (another see no light through the eye at all)if another hole or tear occurs.  He also recommended not touching the left eye (removing the film from the lens, post cataract surgery unless the vision is not clear- the left eye got done in 2003). He asked about family history, and I told him my grandmother and my aunt on father’s side had cataract issues. My grandmother was left blind in one eye after retina issues as well. He explained that this can be inherited. So there you are. My options aren’t good.

However he did make one recommendation, an that is to go to NIH and see if one of their retina specialists would feel more comfortable with surgery or have any other recommendations to restore that vision in the right eye. At first I said no, but by the next day I decided to go ahead an get the appt. So on April 23rd I have an appt to see the Retina Doc at NIH (another long day- they are in Maryland) I figure it can’t hurt to get an opinion.

Meanwhile everything is going along about the same. We take care with me lifting or pushing, or watching that nothing comes near my eyes. We have to be careful with lifting and other things since I have osteo arthritis, can’t risk any breaks either.

All this has brought about another life change as far as my needlework which keeps me sane. Instead of working on samplers I have gone back to Needlepoint.  Currently working on Ehrman’s Marmalade Cat which you can see here

Update on Surgery, Post Op visit 4

Yesterday, I went for my 4th post op visit, since the second Vitrectomy surgery on September 2nd 2008. Since the surgery my eye has remained swollen and very irritated. I have scarring in my central vision and at the site of the repair. I have been using cortizone eye drops. Each visit they are able to scan my eye and measure the swelling tissue around the retina. It stated to go down a tad on the December visit. But yesterday’s show no change in the swelling since December. She had mentioned that if it didn’t substantially go down then a shot of cortizone to the eye would need to be considered to bring the swelling down. Risk factors in giving a shot to the eye is infection.

So yesterday with no improvement I relented and consented to shot to the eye. Your eye is numbed you feel on a pinch. It sounds horrible, but it really isn’t that bad. I was sent home with antibiotic drops 3 times a day, and strong sunglasses, which I didn’t understand but when I got outside, boy did I. So far so good, as far as I can see (no pun there). Alot of the reddness is down. I will see her again this Thursday the 15th, to see if the swelling is decreasing or not. At this point I still have no vision, so to get that swelling down so she can do laser surgery to remove the scarring in my central vision, is the main goal

I guess we’ll see

Update on post Vitrectomy surgery

I just had my 3rd post op from the 2nd September Vitrectomy with Buckle to repair my detached retina. I still have alot of swelling, so I will be continuing the drops twice a day. The most expensive drops in the world, $40 dollars for a small little bottle, that’s after insurance, WOW! But thank goodness. It makes me wonder about all those geriatrics she treats.. retina specialists mostly see people who have had a accident or detach retina prematurely (that’s me) but the majority of patients are those with macral degeneration.

Im still being cautious because of the scaring at the site of the retina repair and any increase pressure to my face or a blow could cause another detachment. Also I still have the central vision scarring. I have basically no vision out of the right eye, nor can I see where things are on the right, due to no peripheral vision. Its maddening when you walk with someone, they have to stay a little ahead of me or I don’t know where they are. I almost tackled some more lady in the grocery store last week because I didn’t realize she was there when I went to move the cart. Paul explained that Im blind on the right, she said “gosh I hope she doesn’t drive”. So with having a barely audible voice (due to a neuro disease, and Im know legally blind she said in the right eye). This would of been a bear if I was working. An to get disability it took 4 years. God has been testing me in so many ways, but I have learned the art of patience and silence..

She wants to wait one more month to get that swelling down before she goes in and does more surgery to remove the scar tissue. I go again on January 8th.

I have been stitching on Martina’s “Tranquility Sampler” the companion to the Tsunami Sampler. I hope to get some pictures either tomorrow or Monday. Hope all is well with everyone out there in the Stitching USA and around the world..

DC Metro Area is getting a little dusting of snow so that’s something as we get ready for the Inauguration..