Next Steps
Looking for general advice and tips please ..
I have excellent VA in my Left eye ... Amsler grid is 99.5% perfect (right eye is partially sighted from a childhood injury) ...
Two weeks ago my optician noted a change in my eye... nobody has diagnosed anything yet.. But Mum has wet MD she is 89, I am 65.
Had loads of tests done at the Hospital last week. Now a letter saying return for a Fluroscan Friday, and then to the Opthalmc Assessment Centre next Weds. Given that it is AMD ... could I expect treatment the same day as the Assessment (ie. When the Ophthalmologist tells me what is wrong), my concern is that I have a phobia about anyone or anything touching my eyes, and I think I will need hypnotherapy treatment before hand. I find it difficult to deal with the fear. PS although my Optician describes my VA as excellent, I do find it harder to deal with light and shade, and have recently ordered glasses for the first time (with the actual intent to use them), I am confused as to what glitches my be down to macula degeneration, and other issues that may be down to corneal issues etc (ie.... stuff that I experiencing that is infront of the retina, stuff that is behind my retina ... and the retina itself),
Hi
. I responded to you elsewhere, but I wanted to reply here as well in hopes of bumping this post up for others to see. I hope you discuss your fears openly and honestly with your doctor. Your doctor might be able to address them with you in ways that help you relax. Sending the very best of wishes your way. - Lori (Team Member) I have an appointment with one of the Doctors team next week to discuss coping with stress and anxiety, but that appointment was made prior to all of my eye issues coming up. For me I am already carrying a 58 year trauma of being blinded in one eye, and now "this" in my "good" eye. So its Fluoroscan 1pm today, then next Tues at the Doctors "coping with stress and anxiety" consultation, then Weds back to the Hosp for the Ophthalmologists assessment. My guess will be that they say I have a cluster of large Drusden in the central vision of my "good" eye.. and the will monitor the situation. Although my VA in my "good" eye is is still "Excellent" ... my fear is that I develop a "Blind area" in my central vision that will lead to an immediate stop to driving .. on account of already only having the one functional eye. I am 65. Its a question of wait and see. XXX
Hi Lori (and everyone).. Well my appointment for the assessment came at 9.30 today ... I was very nervous despite my trying to accept what I thought would be an inevitable outcome. They did another OCT scan, They explained that I have early AMD and the start of cataracts ... initially they were in two minds about a third diagnosis ... Wet AMD or Mild CSCR... They decided on CSCR and have asked me back in 6 weeks ... and to be ready for an eye injection ... if its worsened ... I feel like I have been given a reprieve .. for now. I have booked myself into the local Hypnotherapy clinic, as I was so traumatised by the loss of an eye in my childhood that I have a phobia about any thing touching my cornea. Despite all the tests I feel that there are some unexplained things going on in my vision ... for instance the ring of dots in my central vision when I wake in the morning .. which quickly go away when I open the curtains... and central vision flashes I get when looking at the this computer screen and blinking They told me to ring them immediately if my vision worsens. For now I am okay to drive. Thank-you for all your support, but the story is not yet over 🙁 🙁 🙁 XXX Hi
. I am thrilled to hear you are pursuing hypnotherapy and that you now have some time to really invest in it! I used hypnotherapy for childbirth. Not only did I not need medications for childbirth (any of my three times), but it also helped me with my intense fear of needles. I still get a little shaky with vaccinations, but I do wonderfully with blood draws if I tell them not to talk to me and I go to my happy place. I used to sweat and nearly pass out. Now I rarely even feel the needle. Practice is super important. It can help you focus in any situation. I hope you have as much success with it as I did. Please keep us updated. - Lori (Team Member)
Thanks Lori, So now all the tests are done, I didnt like the Flourosine Angiogram.. And next step will be at 9,30am on Weds ,,, for my "Assessment" with the Ophthalmologist. I have resigned myself to an AMD outcome .. probably Dry Intermediate, and that resignation, that acceptance of what I see an an inevitable diagnosis, has been very cathartic for me, since I no longer fear the diagnosis, because I have accepted the outcome beforehand, It beats worrying. Then the next step will be to get the best Private Ophthalmologist I can find to give me an impartial, warts and all prognosis. Life is what it is I guess, and Wednesday is simply another mile stone on life/s journey,,, and whatever the outcome I'll just treat it as another problem that I will have to live with, and make the most of.
