What next.??: Just returned from opticians ,after... - PMRGCAuk

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What next.??

Lancashirelass07 profile image

Just returned from opticians ,after scans and tests ,have now been diagnosed with glaucoma, and refered to a consultant, I don't know how to cope anymore ,just coming to terms with PMR NOW THIS .WHERE have I gone wrong? Anyone else with this . Help.!!

I can't stop shaking.

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Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07
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38 Replies
Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell

The first thing you need to do is calm down. It isnt the end of the earth even though i know it feels like it at the moment. Glaucoma is easily treat and your optician is on the ball and has referred you. Wait till your appt or see your gp if worried but most of all you need to stop the stress rising because it doesnt help pmr. I kkow it seems like everything is happening at once but you can cope and we are all here to support you.xDebby

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply toYellowbluebell

Thanks comming to terms ,only thing I suppose he didn't immediately send me to hospital so Hoping that's a good sign. He is excellent opticians apparently they have all the latest machines and the consultants send patients to him for the special scans. So on the ball there.

I thought something was up when they offered me a cup of tea .was there 2hours. calm ing down slowly thanks.

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply toLancashirelass07

I know its hard accepting you even have one health problem let alone two or three but it does settle down and like you say he hasnt referred you as urgent. You need to relax now.x

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply toYellowbluebell

As you say keeping calm and taking advantage of encouragement and support on the forum will help get anyone through these early days when you are shocked with the diagnosis.

Glaucoma , may not be linked to the PMR , it can be very common as we , and our eyes age , and the treatment is very swift and reliable .

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply toBlearyeyed

thanks for your support . When I told my son who lives in London. ,He just said oh that's nothing it can be treated . No compassion at all ,I know it's treatable ,but that's not the problem, just some kind words would have made all the difference B.....Kids don't know why we have . Sometimes.em

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply toLancashirelass07

Believe me as you spend time with us on the forum you will learn some of the funnier comments we make about the unbelievable things we hear people say , both friends and family about our illnesses and how we can make ourselves better.

You learn to be a much stronger and far more patient person with an issue like PMR , we think of the Serenity we learn on this journey as a silver lining .

' Don't sweat the small stuff' , and, 'Rest and Pace Yourself ' , become key sayings in learning how to stay happy in the , ' New Normal' .

Take care xx

Louisepenygraig profile image
Louisepenygraig in reply toLancashirelass07

My husband is rather like that! He means well though.

It can be a shock but like yellowbluebell said it's no good stressing for too long as it won't do you or the PMR any good. Did they explain how glaucoma came about? Have they explained the treatment? You need to take a few deep breaths, and have a drink of some kind. Come back when you feel a little calmer. Sending a virtual hug. You can and will cope. PMR and pred makes your brain a bit funny and it's hard to take thing on board. Let us know how you are doing after a drink of tea or whatever.🌻

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply to

Thanks would love a g&t, but dare'nt even have that,will have to make do with the cup of tea again. And keep taking the tablets.

in reply toLancashirelass07

You still have your sense of humour...that'll help you. 😊

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toLancashirelass07

Why not have a G&T? I do ...

CT-5012 profile image
CT-5012

I had glaucoma for a couple of years before PMR & GCA it’s not been a problem really except that it is in both eyes and across the centre of one eye so no longer have a driving licence. I have now added cataracts in both eyes, thank goodness for kindle where I can make the print larger! It’s not the end of the world there is light at the end of the tunnel just a bit hazy now. All good wishes.

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply toCT-5012

Thank you for replying ,it's helpful ,it's the initial shock

Feel like I want to run away from myself but will bounce back in a few days.

CT-5012 profile image
CT-5012 in reply toLancashirelass07

I am sure you will but it does come as a bit of a shock as you don’t notice anything wrong at the time, mine must have started just after my previous visit to the opticians so had probably progressed quite a long way before treatment. I had laser treatment first, quick and painless at the time but a bit sore later. This was done on New Year’s Eve was greeted next day with “must have been some party last night, look at your eyes 👀 “ Ha!

YuliK profile image
YuliK in reply toLancashirelass07

Come on our LancashireLass , you've got the courage in your genes...

youtu.be/3ru0zkdcNXs

This 👆is dedicated to you...

YuliK.

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply toYuliK

You are all so very kind ,thanks for that. Wish family were more like you kind people. They just think there she goes again moaning minnie.. yet my old mum is 96 still going strong, don't know where I've gone wrong will try another brew. Cheers.

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply toLancashirelass07

Thats what we are here for. Not everyone has someone to support them at home and thats where we hope the forum steps in. We are here to try and help everyine through this journey. Dont worry about moaning, we all do it at some stage and you have every right to be wondering what the hell happened. You will get there, it just takes time.YBB

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply toLancashirelass07

We all have family like that , that's why it's great to come here , not just with questions but to rant and have an understanding shoulder to cry on.

Big Electric Hugs to you , we are all here to hold your hand xx

Hi Lancashirelass

It’s really not easy when you’ve had one diagnosis only to get another one on top (believe me, l know)

It sometimes knocks you for six & you just need to take a little time to come to terms with it.

Glaucoma can be treated with drops & the sooner it’s been picked up the better, so hopefully won’t impact on you too much.

Sending you a Big Cyber Hug 🤗

MrsN 🌷

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply to

Thanks just one thing after another,but no choice but to carry only just feeling better from pred .it's one step forward 2 back . How do you cope getting to the stage when I am frightened of going to go in cause there's something else!!

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply toLancashirelass07

We all cope in different ways. Some of us are majorly stressed others just add it on to the list and accept we will get to know our gp's more than we would like. As a forum we support each other as much as we can and there is always one of us about ready to talk to. Sometimes just sharing makes it feel less threatening.YBB

in reply toLancashirelass07

Sometimes l’m not sure how we go on but we do because what’s the alternative? That’s not a flip throw away comment but my actual Philosophy & today l’m afraid l’ve just had another blow maybe even two.......

You'll get through it, honestly 🌷

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply to

Hi Mrs N. Sorry you are having problems ,let's hope we can both get some sleep, thats asking a lot ,since starting pred that's been evasive also. What I would give for a good night!!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

You haven’t gone wrong... it’s just unfortunate that it’s all come at the same time.

As others have said caught early glaucoma can be easily treated with drops.

I know you’re all at sea at the moment - but you are being treated - and that’s the most important thing.

Woolyhead profile image
Woolyhead

It does make you wonder what next? Been to see my rheumatologist this afternoon for the first time after 9 months of PMR. It appears the GCA that I asked my doctor if I had because of my sore scalp and painful temples, all she did was smile sweetly at and told me that 'you would be blind by now' was actually GCA. It has gone on to give me Peripheral Arterial disease, due to the inflammation of arteries in my legs. Since the PMR I've also been diagnosed with Anaemia as well.

Sorry if I've high jacked your post but I feel so upset I've had to get it of my chest.

Stay strong and I'll try to stay strong too.

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply toWoolyhead

They are very good at delivering bad news and then just expecting us to go home and cope.its the waiting for appointments that causes more anxiety. If only we could be treated straight away ,Iam sure we could all cope better!!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toWoolyhead

“all she did was smile sweetly at and told me that 'you would be blind by now' was actually GCA. “

That’s a very crass remark from a so- called professional! She really needs reporting.

Woolyhead profile image
Woolyhead in reply toDorsetLady

I am thinking that myself. I don't know why I stick with her. I had to ask her if it was PMR in the first place, then I went down with fatigue where I would be exhausted just getting dressed, I had to asked her for a blood test for Anaemia which found I was B9 deficient. Then the painful frozen foot that I'd been complaining about since the diagnosis of PMR took 4 months, 3 doppler tests and sending me off to A & E without a referral letter when she couldn't find a pulse in my foot turned out to be PAD.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toWoolyhead

Perhaps “professional” was not the description I should have used!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toWoolyhead

I'd make a complaint about your GP because her ignorance could kill someone one day.

And having now read your reply to DL - it is high time such an ignorant and unprofessional professional (in the sense of paid) person was dealt with. She is taking good money for that - our money since we all pay taxes to support her.

Christophene profile image
Christophene

You haven't gone wrong; as Yellowbluebell says, it is easily treatable. There is even a positive; drops used to treat glaucoma, make eye lashes grow beautifully long. But it is a common medical problem. All will be OK.

But very important to calm down b/c stress makes everything worse. There is always a way to cope. But I understand how overwhelming this can be when you first find out. Is it related to GCA?

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane

Hi, I was diagnosed with glaucoma at the eye clinic and given drops. At the next appointment I saw a consultant who checked how thick my cornea was and decided that as they were thick it was not glaucoma but ocular hypertension and thick cornea. He took me off the drops.

Just as an aside, I have type 2 diabetes and macular oedema so on my appointments for injections in my eyes I have the pressure test done quite often. They don’t seem too worried about it now,

I am another one who thinks “what next” and manages to accept what life throws at us.

You will cope after the initial shock

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply toKoalajane

Thank you

Marcy47 profile image
Marcy47

Hi there, it's not so bad. My high eye pressure was picked up by my optician 6 yrs ago, 2 yrs before PMR struck. I was referred to a Specialist and have been using eye drops twice a day ever since. I went for a check up last week and had all the tests and all is OK, my eye pressure is 14, (anything around 15 is normal), my field of vision is good and my cataract is not really noticeable.

Remember to use the drops as prescribed and all will be well.

A big hug from me x

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply toMarcy47

Thanks for replying ,have been worried I will have to give up driving. But fortunately only in one eye at present. Hope it's not long before I get treatment. Cheers

I hope all the messages above have helped alleviate your fears and calm your anxiety. I really do believe our response to stress is somewhat altered whilst on prednisolone and it is easy to get overwhelmed.

The positive side is that your glaucoma has been identified and will be treated in good time. I realise just how precious sight is to all of us. And I am glad we live in a day and age where medical technology is advance enough to achieve near perfect results (in the vast majority of cases)

You will be just fine Lancashirelass07. X

Lancashirelass07 profile image
Lancashirelass07 in reply to

Hi , yes would be in a real panic without you lovely kind people.slowly comming to terms hope I don't have to wait to long for treatment.

in reply toLancashirelass07

Hope so too! In the meantime, you know where to find us of you need any additional words of comfort!

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