And the joy keeps coming...

[cherokee_psh]

Tomorrow I will be in a better place but today I've had all I can handle.

I went in for my annual eye health exam. At the end of the exam the doctor says I want you to see a specialist I think it is possible you have glaucoma. I waited for the referral and phone number. It felt like forever. I call the specialist from my car and she can see me today. What luck.

She confirmed the first doctor's diagnosis. The adds you have early cataracts, too. I go in March for the 3 tests she wants done before we start any treatment.

Tomorrow I'll focus on the fact the optic nerve looks normal except there is a rim around it. The specialist said that rim is sometimes seen in diabetic patients and indicates some tissue loss around the optic nerve.

We didn't discuss treatment and probably won't until I get those 3 tests completed. The pressure in my eyes was 26. I'll research tomorrow, just too much today already.

[genie86333]

Sorry to hear this, Susan. Glad to hear that the nerve itself looks normal, however!

We're here if you need to talk.

[Vicky Bydder]

Hi Susan, sorry to hear your news, try to stay positive that you at least have an early diagnosis, and hopefully treatment will help.
Stay strong.
Vicky

[pands45]

Hi Susan,
Sorry to hear you news. Stay strong and think positive.We are all here if you need to talk.

[mraymond]

Susan,

I, too, am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I just had my cataracts removed and have retinopathy, but one thing good is that it forces me to have things checked out a lot more regularly than I would have before my diabetes diagnosis, so maybe things get caught earlier. Anyway, I hope that you caught it early enough for effective treatment.

mary

[gettingby]

Susan, I am sorry to hear this news. As the others have said, stay positive. It sounds as though they caught it early enough that something can be done. Hang in there. Here's a (((hug))) for now and another (((hug))) for later. If you need more, just let me know and they will come your way.

[cherokee_psh]

Thanks for akk the support. Yesterday I was stuck with the "Why me?" stage. I know it's the wrong place to be and the wrong question.

Today, I'm doing my research and learning the meaning of some of those words that the specialist used. I'm moving on to the "What need to be done now?" stage. I'm trying to learn all I can. Testing should be complete by late March then I can focus on treatment. I'm hoping that knowledge will help me pull this from the dark scary place it currently exists for me into the light where maybe it won't be scary.

[IrishJoe]

the thing is early diagnosis = more chance of more effective treatment. Try to take comfort in that. *hugs*

[gettingby]

Thanks for akk the support. Yesterday I was stuck with the "Why me?" stage. I know it's the wrong place to be and the wrong question.

Today, I'm doing my research and learning the meaning of some of those words that the specialist used. I'm moving on to the "What need to be done now?" stage. I'm trying to learn all I can. Testing should be complete by late March then I can focus on treatment. I'm hoping that knowledge will help me pull this from the dark scary place it currently exists for me into the light where maybe it won't be scary.
Susan, just remember that even though we all can't be there physically, we are all with you emotionally:) . Every day. Arm yourself with all the knowledge you can gather and fight this. Don't let it win !!!!!!!!!!!!

[cherokee_psh]

Well I had my first 2 tests today. I'm glad noone told me that they would place a lens litereally on my eyeball! I might have put it off. She thinks I have Pigmentary Glaucoma. I take another exam in April. Should it support her theory I need yet another field vision test. She is suggesting laser treatment over the eye drop treatment. I'm still researching.

At first I thought woohoo....I have something treatable and NOT POAG (Primary open angle glaucoma). Then I read---Pigmentary glaucoma, unlike POAG, is not typically a slow, insidious disease-often the onset and progression are quite rapid. Consequently, you shouldn't use the "watch and wait" attitude of POAG. :eek:

[lorilei]

yikes susan! Hope all goes well with treatment!

[sumi]

Cherokee,
I'm sorry to hear your news. I thought you might like to hear however that the lens replacement for cataracts part is usually a breeze. I have had both cataracts removed over the last 3 months. In my right eye, I had quickly become legally blind. It was such a relief to get up off the operating table (after 15-20 minutes) and be able to see again. With a little luck you may not even need glasses as there can be significant vision correction with the new lens. Please let us know how the glaucoma treatment goes, I'm sure many of us will have that in our futures.