New doctor- now painful eylea injections

[Blinkerson]

Hi. I'm new on here. I never felt a single injection or any pain with my old eye doctor, although I always ended up with bloodshot eyes. Due to my insurance I had to get a new doctor so my PCP recommended this new one. He is an older doctor who is "prestigious" and has tons of clinics etc. Well I would pay thousands to have my previous doctor back. Every time he puts the appliance on to hold my eye open he pinches my eyelid and when he puts the shot in below each eye it really hurts when hes injecting the Eylea. He says its pressure pain but I never ever felt that from my previous doctor. Anyone have this pain during the injections? Any suggestions?

[RandyM]

Hi Blinkerson...I like your name!

I had the exact reverse experience. My previous doc always caused painful injections x 8 with Avastin AND 1 with Eylea. My new Doc is pain free x 3 so far with Eylea. I am sorry you are having pain with your new doc. (I am surprised your eyes were reddened with the old doc) You should have the right to change doctors with your insurance. Be firm and go to a better doc. I don't care if the new doc has much training and advanced certificates, journals written, or tons of "pat on the back" awards displayed on his wall. He/or she should learn to give pain fee injections, at least 99% of the time! Good luck my dear...and stand up for your rights! Hugs to you from me and others in this situation.

[Blinkerson in reply to RandyM]

Thank you so much for the info and encouragement. I will see if I can get a new doctor and try first to research them as to their ability to inject painlessly.

[kevinaki]

It's all about the skill and technique of the injector. There are "good injectors" and there are "not so good" injectors. Believe me, when you find your good injector, you'll know it. You asked for suggestions...mine is, find someone else.

[Blinkerson in reply to kevinaki]

Thanks! I will try to find a better doctor.

[fed12]

Is it worth writing to your insurers telling them everything that you've told us? Ask for your original pain free Dr. back. The more insurers know the better. All the very best. I've always found the more you tell people what's going on, and your concerns the better.

[Blinkerson in reply to fed12]

Thanks. You are right!

[rosyG]

Ask fir extra anaesthetic drops- this will help- and ask for delicate handling of your eye

[Blinkerson in reply to rosyG]

Thanks. The doctor said it was pressure I felt. It was horrible. I think a better doctor is in order.

[Melene]

I agree with fed, better communication helps, and you don’t have to settle for a Dr with a heavy hand, who has no finesse at giving a needle.

[Blinkerson in reply to Melene]

Yes you all are right. I need to get a better doctor or request the insurer to allow returning to my previous doctor. Thanks for your advice.

[enopmar]

I complained to my doctor about feeling a pinch. It turned out it was the Qtip he was holding my eye in place with, so it wouldn't move!

[Driveninsane72]

Tell him to add more numbing drops and use a topical lydacane on a q tip several min before your shot that should fix the pain

[Rosalyn-helpline Partner]

Dear Blinkerson,

I am copying a link to our information sheet on pain linked to injections. It may be worth using this as a discussion point with your ophthalmologist:

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further help. The Macular Society helpline is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 0300 3030 111.

Alternately, you can contact us via:

[e-mail]

Kind regards,

[shobud71]

Hello Blinkerson...I am in the US but the process seems to be all the same. I had a terrific doctor for years, then we moved. I had picked a retina man with my old, terrific doctor but there was a screw up and I wound up with a different one once I arrived at the new facility. Compared to my old doctor this man was very tight mouthed and just would take care of business with hardly a word...OK, I lived with that for awhile. As time went by I realized that his attitude on any particular day certainly rubbed off on the way he administered injections...in other words if he was irritated his work would suffer, as well as my eye. Most of the time his assistant would wash the eye off with sterile water, as usual but occasionally he would rinse it himself and especially when it was more painful and or left it bloody for a week. It seemed he knew that he overdid it that time...that week was the first time that had happened to me...it was when he was irritated by something, something that was not my problem, or actually it was ! The second time it happened I'd had enough. I knew, by my old, terrific doctor that this was NOT right. I was able to switch doctors because there were 8 in this group and all in the same office but on different days. My advice is to switch doctors as soon as you can. They are NO different than bus drivers, insurance agents or musicians. There are good ones, not so good ones and outright bad ones. I hope it works out for you. Insurance companies are getting way too intrusive and you shouldn't have to have apprehension or pain because of some suit determining what is best for you and YOUR vision....now, I have been very lucky, as you can see but if I sound cynical , I am, a bit. Be well, my friend.

[magicman229]

Sorry that you're having that problem with pain. Seek out a different doctor?