Mick said on 2013/02/26 at 11:59 pm
Hi,
Having wxperienced myopia for a good number of years, and 15 years ago had a detached retina courtesy of wife's elbow! I subsequently am aphakic in one eye. Fine - then got deteriorating vision in other eye and optician said I have cataract in that eye - no family history although I am 49. Saw Opthalmic surgeaon recently at locl district general Hospital - what an arrogant w....r!!! No discussion as to how this is affecting my life - home or work. I currently struggle witth computors, reading and distance. I am volentarily not driving. This therefore is making work very difficult, as well as other activities as intersts are around reading, motorcycling and other activities involving a degree of visual acuitty. All I got was the suggestion that I see him in 4 months time and if it has got worse then it is he cataract, if not then it is down to Fuch's spot. Every letter from Consultants has suggested that my vision is "not that bad", yet I cannot drive, read, etc. As a health care profrssional myself ( Registered mental Nurse running a Crisis resolution and Home Treatment Team currently with 26 years experience, I am livid about the lack of understanign shown by Consultants when discussing significant sight loss. I am not quite 50, I am not agist but do have the view that at my age retirement on ill health is not something I look forward to. Since the last appointment I have tried to avoid catastrophising about my future though get angry at the total lack of understanding from the Consultant as to the impact of his statements on my future. I am sure many others on this site have experienced far worse than me ad I know that sight loss is something that can be lived with, but is it any wonder the NHS gets a bad press when one meets this type of response. His repsonse is effectively one of "it's not that bad", yet to me it is. I do not want / need "counselling", I am more than aware of the process of what is effectively bereavement one goes through, I would just like a human repsone from other health professionals and some honesty as to prognosis, as far as one can. I am not planning to sue him if he is wrong - I realise he may not be clear yet as to diagnosis - but why can folk like him not engage with patients as sentient human beings rather than as professional patients with no life other than either being retired or unemployed.
Yes, I am cross, I am upset, I am also exhibiting the classic signs of adjustment reaction - this does not make me a mental health patient, only someone who needs to engage with a knowledgable professional with a view to understanding what is happening and what are the options. My optician, by the way, is excellent and gives me time and treats me a human.
Ho hum,
Mick
Mick said on 26/02/2013 at 11:59 pm
Hi all,
Well, I did see my GP and request a second opinion. Saw a Consultant at the NE Eye Infirmary, Sunderland. Total opposite to the last Consultant, knowledgable, approachable and understanding. Recognised that the cataract was real and affecting my functioning, took it out, inserted intraoccular lens, and is providing spot on follow up. OK, I have had some significant posterior vitriol detachment but he has talked me through this and most importantly, i am back at work and at present driving quite safely. who knows what the future will bring, but for now I have a better quality of life and am continuing to work within the NHS. Moral is, see a proper specialist and don't be put off by first encounters with your local General Hospital. A decent Consultant will be keen to help with complex problems, even if they are not able to come up with miracles, whereas run of the mill generic ones will fob you off.
Yours, still pissed off with bits of the NHS,
Mick
Faye2011 said on 28/02/2012 at 5:58 am
Another thing that you can do in order to lessen the puffiness and size of your bags under eyes is by applying ice cold water compress or extremely cold milk over closed eyelids, leaving this on for around 15-20 minutes.
Ali Shanks said on 21/02/2012 at 12:32 pm
Hi Mick
You are having a rare ol' time of it indeed - I hope you get your cataract issue sorted soon - the unknown is a scarey place "if it's not that bad" means damn all when it's your eyesight - it is everything to a seeing person - it's only when you're faced with an issue like your's or for me way down the line possible glaucoma that it becomes real to you. I do hope that you get more professional help - is there another Hospital you can try for a 2nd opinion? I know it's probably frowned upon in the NHS but it's your eyesight not their's
Regards
Alison Shanks