Juggling Life With Geographic Atrophy

As a child of the 50s, I grew up in the era of variety shows. My favorite was the Ed Sullivan Show.

I especially liked to watch the jugglers. They started out slow with only 2 bowling pins in the air and added pins to build suspense.

Adding pins to the AMD juggling act

After 11 years with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), I feel like one of the juggler acts. At the time of diagnosis, my general health was excellent. It was not too hard to keep that one pin in the air. In the early stage of AMD, I only saw my retina specialist once a year.

Slowly, through the years, I added pins to my juggling act. As my AMD progressed, my visits to the retina specialist became every 3 months.

Beginning geographic atrophy treatment

Managing my health care needs was more difficult after my geographic atrophy (GA) diagnosis. I began treatment with Izervay injections in December of 2024. The injections were every 2 months at a clinic over 100 miles from home.

As I was diagnosed with new, often chronic health conditions, life has become harder to manage.

Maintaining my independence with treatment

Slowing the progression of GA is usually at the top of my priorities. If I lose more of my central vision, it will have a huge impact on my life.

I am barely legal to drive now. I live 15 miles from the nearest small town and 60 miles from the nearest Walmart. Not being able to drive represents a loss of independence. If I want to make a spur-of-the-moment trip to see family, I would need a driver. I would no longer be able to make solo shopping trips. I try to keep GA treatment at the top of the list to maintain my independence.

Delaying injections caused anxiety

Occasionally I have had to miss my injection. This happened when my husband had back surgery. I had to cancel my injection while he was hospitalized.

Just as I was ready to resume treatment, I had a bad fall with a fractured T12 vertebra. GA treatment was postponed 4 months, leaving me anxious until my scans showed no progression. Whew! Crisis averted.

Juggling other care with my injection treatments

Last fall I learned I needed a total knee replacement. I had leeway to juggle the dates and postponed my surgery for 6 weeks. This gave me time to prepare and schedule surgery for the day after my injection.

I missed my regularly scheduled dental cleaning during my recovery. I was surprised to learn I needed to wait 3 months after surgery for any dental cleaning. Thankfully I could resume injections for GA on schedule.

In February I injured my left knee. I scheduled an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon for later the same day as my cardiologist appointment. The cardiologist ordered numerous tests to see if my heart was the cause of fainting spells. Now my heart is my priority, so my orthopedic appointment was canceled. My next injection for GA is scheduled for next week. Fingers crossed I don’t miss it.

My GA treatment remains a priority

As you can see, life happens. Sometimes a more pressing health problem takes priority. As when a juggler drops a pin, I occasionally need to delay one of my health needs to take care of a more pressing health issue.

Through all of it, my treatment for GA remains a priority.