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First - no, I don't have retinopathy, at least 'nothing obvious.'
Sunday morning my right eye went blurry. Since I have macular degeneration, every change freaks me out. I didn't think this was macular related because that's not how a bleed manifests, but still...
Made an appt with a retinologist here in CA (I saw one in NC just a few months ago) who was highly recommended and has an impressive CV. I was there 3 hours. Lots of testing.
The good news is it was not a bleed, the bad news is that I have yet another eye condition - Vitreomacular Adhesion - in both eyes, that's distorting my vision. I'm feeling very scared and overwhelmed, and him observing "you're a worrier, aren't you?" wasn't helpful. Well, yes Sir, I am. I don't have your resources for when I lose independence, I need to figure out how I'm going to manage my life. The fact it's not an issue right now, this week, this year, does not take the concern off the table. What the hell?
I found this definition which said there is an association with diabetic retinopathy and with macular degeneration. Makes sense it'd knock on my door.
Anyway - he also said I have hardening of the arteries beyond my years, and that the one place they can see this is through the eyes. I didn't know that - and wish I didn't know it now. My cholesterol is high (I know, I know) and now I find out my arteries have passed their youth and even middle-age, and he wants me to get a cardiac workup. "I'm not going to take statins" was the wrong thing to say.
He said I need to get my cholesterol under control no matter how I do it - if it takes statins to do it, yada yada. I haven't decided if I'll go to a cardiologist because first I have to be prepared to do something with the information.
I know, I've followed the links about cholesterol, but the fact is I'm not a scientist, not a doc, not a researcher, and not able to be an expert on the issue. It scares me, but I still won't take statins because the truth is, I'm far more afraid of losing my eyes than the possibility of my heart giving out. That's sad but the truth.
Sunday morning my right eye went blurry. Since I have macular degeneration, every change freaks me out. I didn't think this was macular related because that's not how a bleed manifests, but still...
Made an appt with a retinologist here in CA (I saw one in NC just a few months ago) who was highly recommended and has an impressive CV. I was there 3 hours. Lots of testing.
The good news is it was not a bleed, the bad news is that I have yet another eye condition - Vitreomacular Adhesion - in both eyes, that's distorting my vision. I'm feeling very scared and overwhelmed, and him observing "you're a worrier, aren't you?" wasn't helpful. Well, yes Sir, I am. I don't have your resources for when I lose independence, I need to figure out how I'm going to manage my life. The fact it's not an issue right now, this week, this year, does not take the concern off the table. What the hell?
I found this definition which said there is an association with diabetic retinopathy and with macular degeneration. Makes sense it'd knock on my door.
Anyway - he also said I have hardening of the arteries beyond my years, and that the one place they can see this is through the eyes. I didn't know that - and wish I didn't know it now. My cholesterol is high (I know, I know) and now I find out my arteries have passed their youth and even middle-age, and he wants me to get a cardiac workup. "I'm not going to take statins" was the wrong thing to say.
He said I need to get my cholesterol under control no matter how I do it - if it takes statins to do it, yada yada. I haven't decided if I'll go to a cardiologist because first I have to be prepared to do something with the information.
I know, I've followed the links about cholesterol, but the fact is I'm not a scientist, not a doc, not a researcher, and not able to be an expert on the issue. It scares me, but I still won't take statins because the truth is, I'm far more afraid of losing my eyes than the possibility of my heart giving out. That's sad but the truth.