what happens when your eye's had as much laser as they can do? [Archive]

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marion

09-14-2009, 02:34 PM

Hello:)

I'm a type 1, 40, had it since I was 23. My control has not been great but I managed to get my Hb1c down from 11.6 to 8.4 since the end of last year - when i was diagnosed with proliferative retinopathy in my left eye.

i've had as much laser as they can do in my left eye - last bout today (also had my right eye treated but the doc said hopefully that's all it would need today). the words 'aggressive' and 'stubborn' have been used to describe the 'frond' that's determined to eat my retina... well i can tell you he ain't no frond of mine!

I go back to the eye clinic on 5 weeks - when I have an appt with a consultant about what happens next. I've had no major bleeds - just a few floaters in my left eye (possibly small bleeds). I'm scared of what happens if I get a proper bleed - do you go straight to hospital if that happens? can the drain it? what can they do if i've had all the laser my left eye can take?

i'm going to start carb counting tomorrow - hoping that will help:)

Sorry it's a long one but it feels good to write about it and i know you can help as i've found it very comforting to see others posts on here before.

thank you - marion:)

xMenace

09-18-2009, 06:21 AM

Welcome to the club mate! It's a club that only the lucky among us get to be members of. There's a bond between us that is undescribeable and incomprehensible until you become a member.

Hello:)

I'm a type 1, 40, had it since I was 23. My control has not been great but I managed to get my Hb1c down from 11.6 to 8.4 since the end of last year - when i was diagnosed with proliferative retinopathy in my left eye.

i've had as much laser as they can do in my left eye - last bout today (also had my right eye treated but the doc said hopefully that's all it would need today). the words 'aggressive' and 'stubborn' have been used to describe the 'frond' that's determined to eat my retina... well i can tell you he ain't no frond of mine!

I go back to the eye clinic on 5 weeks - when I have an appt with a consultant about what happens next. I've had no major bleeds - just a few floaters in my left eye (possibly small bleeds). I'm scared of what happens if I get a proper bleed - do you go straight to hospital if that happens? can the drain it? what can they do if i've had all the laser my left eye can take?

i'm going to start carb counting tomorrow - hoping that will help:)

Sorry it's a long one but it feels good to write about it and i know you can help as i've found it very comforting to see others posts on here before.

thank you - marion:)

There's not much they can do with a major hem. Call your optho asap. He'll call you in and possibly try to zap it, depending on the source. They won't try to drain it then and there, that requires major surgery - a vitrectomy. You WILL lose most useable vision in the eye until then, and you most likely will need the vit. Prepare your mind for it. Afterwards, your vision will be reduced. I went from 15/20 to 20/20 and have about 2/3 the field of view I have in my other eye, from the additional laser they do during surgery moving closer to the macula.

Floaters are normal for us. I guess zapping flakes off some tissue here and there. Think of it as War of The Worlds type of zaps.

Vision isn't totally lost while hemming. I had some periferal left. I could actually drive on the highway with little problem. Driving at night was a *****! The blood will clear naturally but it may also form scar tissue on the retina. This scar tissue is weak and tends to contract over time tearing the retina. So they will clean it out before that happens. YMMV

The best thing you can do is get your A1C down to 6.o or lower. BUT DON"T DO IT TOO FAST!

I went from 7.3 to 6.5 when I started pumping. The change in control was immediate. Two months after starting, I had a major hemohorrage. Two months after that I had a pars plana vitrectomy. A year after that I had about five small bleeders over about six months. More laser!

Three years and three months later after pumping, I saw my optho yesterday for the 4th time this year, "they look good. No signs of problems." :thrasher:

My prescription:

do carb counting now
learn how to test properly. Do things like basal testing and meal profiling. Learn about your behavior in much more detail than you know now. Information is power. You can coast later. Yes, you really can.
get a pump. Aggressively pursue one with the NHS! Throw away any doubts or reservations and do it. A 6.0 A1C is almost a trivial objective with a finely tuned pump.
- low carb. Controversial to many, but it makes so much sense. Sugar is causing all these problems. Eliminate sugar. Don't just cut back but eliminate it! Sugar, juices, desserts, most fruits, all flours. Stick to bacon and eggs. Find a source of grass-fed meats. Enjoy high fat foods. Read Bernstein and Taubes and even Pollan. Ya have to accept the science first.
most of all, come to DF or any other venu daily, not only for learning but for support. It's a daily reminder to do the things you should do. People that come here every day have much, much, much better control than those that don't. So many of us are our doctors' best patients. Truly we are, because of DF!

marion

09-22-2009, 06:33 AM

xMenace

09-23-2009, 06:47 AM

x-menace thanks so much for your reply. it's a comfort to me to hear from someone who's been through similar and good to know that a hem might not be the end for my vision. As soon as I started looking after my bgs my retinopathy got worse - seems so unfair but then that's he price I paid for being in denial I guess:) I'm worried that getting down to 6 might make it even worse but I am trying to get a good slowish balance. pump - my doc said they don't ahve them at the hospital I go to in Brighton and I don't think I know enough about my basal etc yet to make the most of the pump - but I'm going to chase them up about getting one and master it! eliminating sugars sounds terrifying to me at the moment - would life still be worth living?! obviously yes - once I said to myself "if i have to eat boiled cabbage for the rest of my life i'll do it if it makes the retinopathy better"...

thanks again and I'm really pleased for you that you got good eye news lately - that must have been an amazing relief!

You won't learn your basals until u pump. We can help you with that.

"Fat is not bad!" At least not natural fat. IMO grain fed meat fat is not natural. There's lots to come to terms with. I eat rabbit food but also wolf food. I don't eat processed food if I can help it. I eat lots of saturated fats such as high fat cheeses, bacon, butter, high fat natural yogurt, olive oil stir fries, etc. I have an organic butcher shop nearby, and I basically live in the sticks where supply far exceeds demand of natural meats.

Improving control is necessary. My optho, the Grunter, says if it causes bleeding it was gonna bleed anyway. You have to get the A1C down for long term eye health.

gotcarbs

10-07-2009, 04:46 PM

Retinopathy is a scary thing when there are hemorrhages. My getting blood pressure under control is what i believe has helped me most. Been thru many laser and a vitrectomy. Lots of hemorrhages and diminished sight. For me it was Avalide. Got blood pressure under control and learn to slow down has helped me. A1C is 7. Getting better and easier as I lose weight. A Good Retinal Doctor is essential.

marion

10-16-2009, 03:21 PM

thanks gotcarbs:) good luck with the blood pressure. My BP is stable but the glucose peaks are what i'm trying to control... did your hemorrhages happen over a short period of time? how long did it take to stabalise? thanks for replying x