Those that can't do... RANT!
rantingsofamadwomanblog.com...
Warning; This blog post contains some strong language, because I so sick and tired of getting bad news.... cursing is my only pleasure. If you are easily offended by expletives, perhaps you want to think twice before clicking on the link above.
Hi,
Par for the course I’m afraid. I had my lenses changed 3 or 4 times in the months preceding my cataract operation, until it got to the point when optometrist told me they couldn’t increase the strength any more.
Fortunately, or unfortunately whichever you look at it, I only needed one one lens replaced each time, the other is just plain glass!
Ce la vie.p
C'est la vie indeed DL, just one more thing to add to the 💩 pile! 🤣 . Cheers.
As my late hubby used to say - “always in it...just the depth that varies!”
Love that! He was a wise man, apparently!
Course he was! Married to me for 46 years... ....need I say more 😏
Gosh I am so sorry!
Especially as you were looking forward to the treat of wearing cool , new and funky frames , it must have been so disappointing as well as alarming to find that you could not even see how good you look in them in the mirror!!
In all seriousness though, as a fellow bleary eyed sufferer , I understand your alarm at how quickly these eyes issues can happen and the confusion about what to do next.
You need to have the treatment for the GCA to prevent potential vision loss, but the steroids themselves cause other vision issues.
Obviously you can't stop the treatment but then there is the issue about how to get the cataracts sorted as the guidelines for treatment on the NHS don't take into account the different needs for patients with different illnesses.
They go , as ever, with a " one size fits all" view of the problem.
Going Private may seem like a plan if you can afford it , but would it really solve the issue?
Cataracts can reoccur , especially with certain drugs , do you really want to spend out all that money and not get the long term results you need from it. It's a question I haven't found the answer to yet.
Realistically, cataract surgery shouldn't only be based on an arbitrary line of severity based on standard eye degeneration .
It should be done based on the individual and how their illness or treatments cause an increased speed in the severity of your issues.
As , the steroids have caused such speedy side effects with your eyes has your rheumatologist or Opthamologist considered trying some other combined drug treatment that could reduce the effect on your eyes.
I sometimes think the medics need their eyes testing , they seem to have such a short term view to treatment.
Good luck with it all and please let us know how you get on and if they come up with any improvements for you .
Cataracts cannot recur - the natural lens has been removed. The artificial lens can get some sort of coating on it which is, apparently, quite easily removed and as far as I have heard can occur with or without steroids.
Thanks for the info.
Good to know HeronNS, cheers.
No, cataracts do not recur.
What happens is a film can grow on the the prosthetic lens, which is also removed by a laser. It's really no big deal at all to have it removed if it happens.
Oh thanks for the info.
Bet having to start have that done too privately would end up being costly though.
Being an American, I can say that there's no such thing as cheap health care.
Not matter what system we are under , public or private , anywhere in the world , I think we all have advantages and disadvantages in the systems we have to get care under. And it costs us all one way or another in the end.
Thank you Blearyeyed, and the simple answers are; yes, yes and I don't know.... All of this happened yesterday afternoon, so I have more questions than answers, myself. Fingers crossed new lenses (with updated prescription) will sort me out for more than a few months!
I wouldn't worry at all about the possible clouding of an artificial lens. To begin with it probably won't happen and if it does it's easy to fix, so put that particular concern out of your mind completely.
Good for your opticians - well they should give you that third set of lenses without charge as I'm sure they've made a good profit with the first two sets, but very good customer relations on their part.
Oh no... they (Bromptons) didn't screw up at all... They made my original long/short glasses (which were always perfect) and then they replaced (at my request) the lenses in the glasses that came from France... which come to think about it, were probably fine!!!! As it was my eyes that were wrong! 🤓
Oh I didn't mean to imply that. I do know we are charged umpteen times more for our lenses, even ones with all the bells and whistles, than it costs for them to be produced. A young friend of mine has an optician in the family and she gets her glasses at cost. What might cost me about $1000 costs her less than $50, although we should allow a bit extra for my multi-focus lenses. Otherwise we are similar, very near sighted, astigmatism, and getting all the extra coatings. This includes new frames. I understand that for people who need hearing aids the same extraordinary price increase applies, in fact is even worse.
Gosh! Sorry Melissa, how gutting! Glad Bromptons did the decent thing. 71 days! that is freaky. I was told that I had the start of cataracts, a few months later I was told that there was nothing there. The advice in your post is spot on. We need to be totally vigilant. No point in having the op until we are off steroids and things are settled. Everybody I speak to says the operation is amazing in its results on the eyesight. It almost makes me look forward to having it done. 10 weeks though - nobody advises you to get them checked that often. But I will. Courage my little friend, all will be well. Xx
Thanks SJ, Good on you for reversing the "trend." I, on the other hand, don't do things "half-assed." If I'm going to grow cataracts, damn-it, I'm going to grow them quickly!
It just makes me mistrust the optometrist . It’s not as if cataracts heal up on their own!
Blimey M I thought I'd escaped my 60's recently & there's Twiggy!! Another restless night !!
Similar developing cataract problem but not so bad yet! Have 2 varifocals (don't like em) 1 reading & 1 long distance. Between them I wear what suits, squint hard or ask someone what it says on the tin! My eye prescription has hardly changed but the day to day experience has with the pred. Just got to go with it as the dose comes down I reckon.
Keep rocking M you're on your way.
I know... don't you love her???? My OH hates his varifocals... I don't think I would ever get them. I was shocked at how much my eyesight had deteriorated in 71 days. It was astounding, and SCARY! 😱
Here's lookin at YOU kid! xxx
"Of all the gin joints,in all the towns,in all the world,she walks into mine".
What a cracking film brilliantly written & acted.
"Here's looking at You too kid"!
I had varifocals before I had cosmetic laser surgery and got on fine with them. You may do too. Stops all the faffing about changing glasses every 5 minutes. 🌸
I love my varifocals and get annoyed with single vision lenses. Bought some distance glasses with special glass you can see eye make up thru, only to find I couldn’t read a menu! It’s all so expensive too.
Sorry about your cataracts Melissa. I have blurry eyesight, but different every day.....just going to live with it till I’m off Pred.
Valerie
How frustrating Melissa - sometimes just trying to 'see' ourselves in new glasses is itself a difficult task . I am no expert about cataracts but others here seem to be giving intelligent advice. I had nothing significant on my last eye checkup but am also pretty 'blearyeyed' much of the time. My old multifocals are useless now for anything other than reading and I find my long distance vision better without them altogether - which isn't atypical of age changes anyway. But I have also given up on doing anything dramatic for awhile until my dose is down as i suspect I'd need a new prescription every 2nd day. Just another 'insult to injury' I know so hopefully you can wait for a wee while longer before having to do anything - which would be expensive as well ! Those frames sound 'groovy' though !!
XX
Yup, 'insult to injury' for sure, although perhaps it's just as well I cant see... what with the red blood marks and bruises, wrinkles, pimples, dry, flaky skin, ragged nails, and cuticles, rolls of fat etc.etc.etc. It's better I stay blurry-eyed. 😳
Your eyesight will no doubt improve around the same time everything else does - and given that is also my fate - and that of most of us - it's probably 'perfect timing' (LOL)
XX
Hahahahahahaha! YES, and it will all improve just in time for me to be put in that long wooden box! 😵
No LONG before then Melissa !!!
BTW Ruth says (she is a 'superstitious' Scot) in a conflab with her 'familiars' - ie her bantams (aka 'The Glasgow Girls') that everything will soon start to feel much better XXXX
Oooooooo fascinating! I have a friend like that... has a freaky connection to something or somethings and tell me with absolute certainly how things will turn out! She's usually right on the money! It's freaky! Tell Ruth, THANK YOU!
PS - Mysterious box should be arriving soon. 📦 👹👺
Rose coloured tinted specs sound good ! for a better view of the world .Opticians are really one of our safeguards arn't they . Mine is more diligent than my GP . Sad but true .So sorry its so frustrating ,not to mention expensive solution .What a frustrating turn of events .I hope you get it all sorted out and have the glasses of your dreams as well . You are an inspiration , Mamici wobbles but she don't fall down !
Thanks PW, Yeah, I love my opticians and the good doctor who works there... very thorough! I change glasses like people change socks... I LOVE weird and funky glasses, but now with my prescription changing faster than the speed of light a I need a job just to pay for replacement lenses!!!!
Mamici does indeed wobble, but she NEVER falls down! 😉
Haha. When I had my eyes lasered 7 years ago I was horrified to see how ancient I looked in the mirror. Who was that old girl?? And where did all that dust come from?
Oh goody.... something else to look forward to, huh?
I have not been diagnosed with anything yet and am seeing my rhumy on 26th of this month. But a few years ago I had a detached retina and the retina in my other eye was torn. they were both fixed at Moorefields eye hospital within hours of the emergency eye doctor confirming what was wrong. I was then told that I could get cataracts a bit earlier in life than the norm. 10 months later my left eye had gone from -2 to -9 on my prescription. I had a really good eye doctor who asked me if I wanted to get rid of my glasses. Oh yes please says I. The new lens they put in can be made to whatever prescription you want. So I had the most fantastic vision ever in my left eye. 3 months later I had the right eye done. The best time was in the 3 months between operations (which were a doddle BTW). I could see long distances with my left eye and close up with my right. So if I wanted to read, I shut my left eye, and if I wanted to see further off I shut my left eye!!! The only draw back is I now have to were reading glasses. I vision has been turned completely around from what I had been used to for most of my life, so was a bit strange for a while, but I soon got used to it. I hope all goes well for you.
That woman has my haircut...
I know exactly how you feel. This week, I'm dealing with a bad cold, a migrating kidney stone, and yesterday, a migraine. Sometimes, everything comes to a head all at once.
But of all your complaints and conditions, cataracts are the easiest to deal with, and the outcome is a miracle.
I had cataracts in both eyes long before PMR, and got both eyes done, each a year apart. It was easy, virtually painless, with unbelievable results. I couldn't read with my glasses when I left in the morning. But nighttime, I was reading the NY Times by natural light without glasses. Now I use my glasses only in the office. I don't need them for distance. I can read street signs and the number on the front end of the bus for 2 city blocks away.
Honestly, I couldn't see this well when I was 20.
It didn't hurt. The aftercare was minimal. And the results phenominal.
"That woman," you mean TWIGGY? Cool! Thank you for good info about cataract surgery... everything I hear about it, it's a Godsend. I'm just pissed that I have another issue that needs to be addressed and most likely to the tune of about £2000! What next????
My bet is you've spent that much on much dumber things, and without the lasting positive results. Here in the USA it cost me a hellofalot more, and every penny of it was the best money I ever spent.
Honestly, I used to think the reason why I couldn't see the stars anymore, or that all the colors of the trees had dimmed, or that the ocean didn't have its sparkles anymore, was all because of pollution.
It wasn't.
Getting those sights back was thrilling, and still is.
Oh, and as a girl, I was exactly like Twiggy, hence the hair cut. My nickname was Zipper, which is what I looked like when I turned sideways and stuck out my tongue.
Oh Melissa are there many more things to go wrong? No don’t look it will only encourage the bad fairy. We now need a new photo with the new glasses. Love your posts and hope you feel better for having a good curse and a rant. Hope your next “news” is good news, best wishes. 😡🤓🤬
You know CT-5012, I keep asking, "What else can go wrong?" Maybe I should STOP ASKING? 🤣 Hope you are well and thanks for reading! xxx
PS I always feel better after a rant!
Hi Mel, and sorry you're going through this. It's not acceptable. I know there are guide lines but that's all they are - surely how the vision affects should be a consideration. Last year I was told I had the start of cataracts in both eyes, R worst, but would leave until it started to affect my vision. Last April my eyes were blurry and was seen again - told the R eye didn't look bad enough but as my vision was being affected they listened to that - however, as I was having a GCA flare I agreed to be seen in 4 months as they wanted more stability on steroids to see what they were left with. Seen two weeks ago after chasing my appt and definitely needs doing - the other 'not as bad eye' is now showing more, so acceleration of growth quite quickly. Having pre-assessment next Friday. They originally told me it was a 3 month wait, I opted to go on the cancellation list they offered. If I were you I'd go back to the eye hospital and tell them the trouble you're having with your lenses..... It obvious that a change of glasses lense isn't the answer for you at the moment. You could opt for a second opinion but I'd go back first. Funnily enough I was speaking to a patient in the eye clinic who'd travelled from Brighton to be seen at Southend as it has such a good reputation - and another travelled from Suffolk - seems patients come from all over.
To get me by I'm currently wearing a cheap o t c pair of men's readers indoors and they're great - I can read and see the PC with the same pair - my prescription lenses don't do that. I don't need any for distance though - which the high street optician said I now needed! The hospital said my eye sight hadn't changed in 4 years and it was the cataracts affecting the vision.
I hope you get somewhere soon - hold the thought you'll soon be wearing your lovely new French frames. Best wishes xxx.
Thanks TeliIan, very helpful info!!!! I will talk to my GP about it, after I get letterm ophthalmologist. Didn't go to Eye Hospital went to my private opticians... but yes, it seems that the NHS should look at each case independently. Cheers!
PS Say "HI" to you sister, for me
Sorry didn't realise, you should get on better with NHS but for the waiting! - hope you get on better whatever route you take. xxx
Will do - she took me to see our sister in Yorkshire last weekend, who's still in hospital awaiting open heart surgery. We had fish and chips two days! - how bad is that - took a photo to send to hubby - he was drooling. Saw the bungalow again we're looking to buy!
Ohhhhh, sorry to hear that! I hope your sister is okay!!!! When is the surgery, I'll light a candle. Fish and chips twice in a week, decadent! ...but good on YOU! xxx
Thank you, she needs all the prayers - and when is the million dollar question. It's a situation you hope never to find anyone in.
There's been a major delay - she's been in 5 weeks yesterday and was told she could go home in the morning to have a further 8 weeks of steroid treatment for Pulmonary Fibrosis!!!! which they just happen to find through tests in readiness for the heart valve replacement! They now have to get her lungs suitable for surgery, only 34% functioning apparently. Going home was cancelled in the afternoon as the Cardiologist, although doesn't want her on high dose steroids as it might exacerbate the already high risk of post-op infection, has to decide if she is fit to go home without having surgery - when you consider they kept her in immediately following Echocardiogram.
Cardiology and Respiratory now have to agree with one another, which we understand, she knows her well being is first and foremost but is fed up waiting - she's in a serious condition and the doctors have a difficult decision to make that can't be rushed. They have told her they're worried she might not pull through the surgery if they don't improve the lung condition - and so are we!!!
On a bitter sweet note she became a granny again on the 1st Nov - another reason to get out yesterday - she is so patient but equally fed up!!!!! xxxx
Oh my goodness... I will light a candle TODAY!!!! ...and look at me, complaining about cataracts when she's going through hell and back! Shame... shame on me! My life is a piece of cake in comparison! God bless her and let me go light that candle!
I know - it does make us count our blessings but our lives still have to carry on.......I may not light candles but I have faith in other ways. Thank you. xxxx
Another low punch. Poor you. Older sis and dad have had cataracts done this year. I'm told I have them growing - a future joy. You do have to cope with a lot. Big hugs x
Thanks Pongo.. again just me bitchin! We all have to cope with a lot. I hope your cataracts are not growing faster than the speed of light!
Just for your info people. Marie Curie charity shops welcome your old glasses for Africa. 🤓
Ahhhhh, good tip! Thank you!
British Heart shops do and the eye dept at the hospital used to. Our local health centre asks too, think it depends if they've got someone raising funds etc... good idea!
Dear Melissa, after a cataract operation you don't need all those specs, as things are the same as in the Netherlands you have a choice to see excellent in distance or nearby. And one of the criteria is the allowance to drive (50 %) in at least one of your eyes. So worth an investigation me thinks. 😍
Thank you Z! And definitely worth further investigation.... it was just me bitching about adding one more thing to the already high pile of 💩
Geez, what else can they throw at you mamici1. Swear words, I'd be shouting and having a head fit.
I didn't know that cataracts could come on so quickly. It seems to be more common with folk taking Pred than I realized.
I am so sorry that you are having to deal with yet another problem.
I'm sending my good vibes to you but suspect that you will need more than that.
Thank you PR, yes "what else," indeed? But before I ask that, I'm quite sure it could be a hellava lot worse... I just love to bitch! Maybe I should just shut up and these things wouldn't find me? Hmmm? Anyway I hope you are well.
Hi. My OH has problems with cataracts. He had one eye done and then had appt for surgery on the other eye. When he turned up they said the eye wasn't bad enough! He complained to PALS. Another appt with different consultant who suggested he puts it through due to glare of lights since hubby mentioned glare when nighttime driving. Might be worth a shout????
In respect of rapidly changing eyesight. I had similar issue (see my post). Was told I had cataracts and needed new lenses by specsavers, changes within a 3 month period. Went to Tesco for second opinion. Turns out both current lenses and new prescription were too strong and no signs of cataracts. Went with Tesco and no probs since. So may be worth a second opinion?
Thank you, I guess I could do, but don't know where I would go... I trust my ophthalmologist with my sight! I've been seeing her for 8 years. She's completed college and 8 years of medical training... she's licensed to practice medicine and surgery. That stinks about your OH... showing up and being told he not bad enough!
I've had contact lenses since I was 21.But due to cataracts can't see to read without glasses as well.This has happened over the past year, my optician says cataracts aren't bad enough for removal yet? What worries me is if steroids can do this to our eyes what are they doing to our insides? Hope you're ok Melissa ,hugs x
SERIOUSLY, great question!!!!! Scary... but great! 😱 . Big hugs back at ya! xx
Hi Melissa
When I was on the 30/20/15mg for a flare my eyesight was all over the place, l couldn’t see far away or close up but ‘in general’ ie across a room it wasn’t bad.
But l couldn’t read, my hands looked blurred & couldn’t see PC or iPad
Had my eyes checked & they were all over the place vision wise, they said no change of prescription until the Pred was lowered but the dispensing optician recommenced a pair of middle distance lenses which were fantastic & helped me a lot, l don’t use them now but they were fantastic at the time.
Hope you’re hanging in there 💕
Angela 🌺
It blew my mind how quickly my ability to see deteriorated! A few weeks ago, things seemed okay, this week I can freakin see close or far! 🤓 I will look into this middle distance thing... thanks
They were a great help, but l always had one pair on my head, one on my face & another pair perpetually ‘lost’
But they did help 👓
Hey Mamici-
As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say- “It’s always something”. I am glad you were able to replace your lenses. I hope the new lenses work out for your and the cataracts stay at bay!
I will say that both of my parents who wore glasses their entire lives for reading visitno and far no longer needed them after their cataract removal but I think you have enough going on right now. Just mk now there may be a silver lining in that cloud!
Have a good weekend- since I can’t sleep I am off to make bank read out of the bananas I didn’t eat this week.
Best
/mk
Ohhhh, I so loved her! "It's always something... if it ain't one thing it's another." Wow, she's been gone since 1989.
Yup, I well wait on the surgery, although I hear wonderful things about it.
I hope you're well!
xx
It just wouldn't fall off. Really miss her. Good luck Melissa. Things will get better.
Yes understand Melissa- my eyesight has drastically deteriorated in a few months to the point that everything is bleary and not able to see to drive and cannot see very well to read. I'm having the cataract in the worst eye done in 2 weeks time privately as the waiting time is 6 months here on NHS. I am though still going ahead with NHS appointment to see about having the other eye done on NHS. From what I'm reading here however I'm half expecting to be told the other eye won't be bad enough!! Well I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it. Must have been a shock though to have this news and having to face yet another hurdle!! One thing is though it is a very successful operation and as has been emphasised once the operation has been done they can't regrow and that's it - over and done with!!
Well, that’s a bummer. But on the bright side, cataract surgery can get you out of wearing glasses for distance altogether. No pain, easy, and fast (took 10 minutes) surgery. I just had my first eye done and now I’m walking around with no lens on that side of my glasses! Can’t wait to get my other eye fixed!
I like to curse, too! I must have 60 pairs of eyeglasses in various strengths. My thoughts are with you!
OMG! 60 pair?????
Melissa darling, if it is any consolation I had my cataracts done and it was very easy and painless and less of a deal than having a tooth out by far. I have since had capsules grow over my new lenses (they are only a year old!!!) and had to have it lasered off. So it's all money money money money. I would LOVE to see your new glasses, ooh la la.
I have boring Nana glasses, big plastic frames like deidre barlow. I am such a klutz I break any that are fragile. If they made wooden frames I would get them, lol.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you , yes that is what everyone says... it was more the ££££ and the one more thing "going wrong" that incited that rant! They do make WOODEN FRAMES and they are fab!!!!! I am sure you can get them in Australia... Google it! I hope you are feeling better! What did doc say yesterday?
Far be it from me to encourage you but tT
They do make wooden frames - a company down the road from where I live does them ...
Google wooden spectacle frames...
Scroll right down on PM please mamici1. Xxxx 5 /11
Hmmmmmm? 🤔 I Have no idea what this means..... but I am after all, a bit thick!
Private message, sorry, about something else. 🤪
Could this have been aFlare?
I could have PMR…
Could this be PMR?
Could it be GCA? I really hope not!
I could kick myself!
