Background retinopathy detected...could it be giving birth related?

[merrymunky]

Hi all,

Sorry I’ve not been very active of late. My hands seem to be full of baby!

I have a query. As you know I gave birth on 14th May to my beautiful girl. I was called for another diabetic eye screening which took place on 28th when she was exactly two weeks old (where is the time flying to?!?)

I have had four eye screenings now, 2 of which in pregnancy. One at 11 weeks and one at around 26-28 weeks (I can’t quite remember). As far as I was aware those were the only two I was supposed to have in pregnancy but then I got a call for another one and it turns out they actually try to do one per trimester. The only available date they had was my induction date so they asked to do one ASAP after, hence the one I had on 28th.

Now all my previous tests have come back completely normal and the diabetes (amongst some hypos and a few higher readings spattered about in the second half of pregnancy) was extremely well and tightly controlled throughout the pregnancy.

I have just received my results from the latest one and it stated that there is a small amount of background retinopathy detected which is hugely concerning to me. It says no treatment necessary and will not affect eyesight etc. I will have a repeat test in August.

However I have to ask a couple of questions here. In labour I had quite a tough time and managed to burst almost every vessel in my face, arms and shoulders plus burst blood vessels in the whites of my eyes through sheer force of pushing for an hour. Could these bulges and retinopathy issues have been caused by the force of labour rather than the diabetes given how dreadful my skin and eyes were after the birth?

Also, is it possible for background retinopathy to rectify itself?

I am so worried about the future of my eye health if they are already discovering this issue despite how tightly controlled my condition has been since diagnosis and the fact my tests are usually normal. I’m not 40 for another month yet and have years to live with this condition and I’ll be damned if I let it ruin me already.

 

[missclb]

Hey @merrymunky – apologies for being rather late to this party, but a huge congrats on the birth of your little girl. I know it's been a long journey to get here.

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your specific question re labour, I hope someone comes along that can shed some light. I totally see your thinking.

Background retinopathy is super worrying when you first get told you have it. I remember crying when I was told (I didn't get upset when diagnosed with T1!!!). But what i've learned since then, is that it can indeed go away because it's not severe at all.

 

[trophywench]

I've had it first in just the one eye, more recently the other has joined it, but with some gaps in between occasionally - my service reports it as 'diabetic changes' these days. Never needed any treatment for it. I first had it reported by my optician and at the time the hospital were only using a freehand opthalmoscope where you had to look up into the sides/corners of the ceiling whilst they squinted into your eyes, and my consultant said my optician must have better eyesight than him, cos he couldn't find any!

Well over 20 years ago, anyway.

And yes - it certainly can get better so do try not to worry too much at this stage please. Wait and see what the next test in August says, cos though I'm no ophthalmologist either, I should think myself that could well have something to do with it, that soon after.

 

[Barbie1]

I was told i had background retinopathy about 22 years ago and apart from annual checks after which they say, ah background retinopathy, come back in 12 months, nothing has changed since then.
I think it happens to a lot of us, so as long as you get the regular reviews and monitoring it may not be anything to worry too much about. They can usually treat it more easily if they catch it early.

But it is nice looking at the pictures each year!
Who’d a thought it! Is that really my eye?

 

[KARNAK]

Hello @merrymunky great to hear from you again, don`t be over concerned about your eyes. Background Retinopathy is very common with us and it usually goes away but it is good they are keeping excuse the pun an eye on you. How are you and hubby getting on with your beautiful daughter?. Take care lovely we are all here for you anytime.🙂

 

[merrymunky]

Hello @merrymunky great to hear from you again, don`t be over concerned about your eyes. Background Retinopathy is very common with us and it usually goes away but it is good they are keeping excuse the pun an eye on you. How are you and hubby getting on with your beautiful daughter?. Take care lovely we are all here for you anytime.🙂

Thanks Ted. It just panicked me so much as I’ve always had completely normal results, even just a few weeks ago so it came as a shock. I’m convinced it was probably damage through pushing in labour. If I tell you I pushed with all my might for an hour and with each push I was still pushing 10 or 20 seconds after my breath ran out each time itno wonder my face and shoulders etc erupted as they did and the vessels in my left eye were completely shot. I looked horrific for days!

I’ll be interested to see how it goes at the next few screenings.

We are all doing well thank you. Eris had a few awful days last week where she rage screamed all day every day but she’s a lot calmer now and had the odd outburst like that but it can be rectified much more swiftly now. Most nights she sleeps well and we take it in shifts to be on duty with her through the night so we both get some sleep at least. Ross has been on paternity for the last three weeks but has now been furloughed for another two or three on basic full salary so we are quite lucky to have so much more time together which is fantastic since I can’t have the grandparents round to help out right now thanks to rotten covid! Hope you are doing well?

A little update picture to show you just how much motherhood means to me.

 

[Ditto]

You are so lucky, that is a wonderful photograph. My daughter was born on 14th May too. An auspicious date. Fancy bursting every blood vessel though, agh.

 

[merrymunky]

You are so lucky, that is a wonderful photograph. My daughter was born on 14th May too. An auspicious date. Fancy bursting every blood vessel though, agh.

We assume that’s what it was. I definitely burst vessels in my eye, very visible. But my face, neck and shoulders erupted. It looked like red freckles covering me. Took a week to heal.

 

[SueEK]

Hi @merrymunky . I couldn't reply to your question as I did not know the answer but glad to see that it doesn't appear to be anything to worry about as long as you keep up with your screening.
What a beautiful photo, Eris is certainly a gorgeous baby and we are all so very happy for you. How brilliant also that hubby can be with you both for a little while longer. Hopefully it won't be too long before she is able to meet her grandparents who must be absolutely beside themselves in anticipation of a cuddle. Great to see you doing so well. Much love to you all x

 

[KARNAK]

Beautiful photo mum and daughter bonding.

Well said @SueEK, yes love to you all.xx

 

[Pine Marten]

Lovely photo of beautiful mum & baby. Love to @merrymunky , bubs and daddy xxx 🙂

 

[Sharron1]

Hey @merrymunky – apologies for being rather late to this party, but a huge congrats on the birth of your little girl. I know it's been a long journey to get here.

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your specific question re labour, I hope someone comes along that can shed some light. I totally see your thinking.

Background retinopathy is super worrying when you first get told you have it. I remember crying when I was told (I didn't get upset when diagnosed with T1!!!). But what i've learned since then, is that it can indeed go away because it's not severe at all.

Hi all,

Sorry I’ve not been very active of late. My hands seem to be full of baby!

I have a query. As you know I gave birth on 14th May to my beautiful girl. I was called for another diabetic eye screening which took place on 28th when she was exactly two weeks old (where is the time flying to?!?)

I have had four eye screenings now, 2 of which in pregnancy. One at 11 weeks and one at around 26-28 weeks (I can’t quite remember). As far as I was aware those were the only two I was supposed to have in pregnancy but then I got a call for another one and it turns out they actually try to do one per trimester. The only available date they had was my induction date so they asked to do one ASAP after, hence the one I had on 28th.

Now all my previous tests have come back completely normal and the diabetes (amongst some hypos and a few higher readings spattered about in the second half of pregnancy) was extremely well and tightly controlled throughout the pregnancy.

I have just received my results from the latest one and it stated that there is a small amount of background retinopathy detected which is hugely concerning to me. It says no treatment necessary and will not affect eyesight etc. I will have a repeat test in August.

However I have to ask a couple of questions here. In labour I had quite a tough time and managed to burst almost every vessel in my face, arms and shoulders plus burst blood vessels in the whites of my eyes through sheer force of pushing for an hour. Could these bulges and retinopathy issues have been caused by the force of labour rather than the diabetes given how dreadful my skin and eyes were after the birth?

Also, is it possible for background retinopathy to rectify itself?

I am so worried about the future of my eye health if they are already discovering this issue despite how tightly controlled my condition has been since diagnosis and the fact my tests are usually normal. I’m not 40 for another month yet and have years to live with this condition and I’ll be damned if I let it ruin me already.

She is super adorable. More pics. please

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Lovely pic @merrymunky

Hope your next eye check comes out clear again. I remember being devastated the first time I had a ‘backgound‘ letter. But the next result was clear. Then I had a ’background’ a year later, and they have been all clear ever since.

Hope your eyes clear up and let you focus on lovely Eris.

 

[stephknits]

,what a gorgeous photo, brought a tear to my eye - am turning into such a soppy mess these days! Huge congratulations again and hope the next screening comes back clear. these things can look so starknin a letter with no context with them

 

[trophywench]

Err - I've found that with aging Steph! (the tearfulness I mean) Used to think women who cried at weddings or over babies were dead soppy and swore that would never be me … ! Just don't show me a video of the Queen enjoying herself ….

 

[merrymunky]

She is super adorable. More pics. please

Always happy to oblige. I have a gazillion!!
I’m really hoping it was just a side effect of the pushing rather than the diabetes. I need to get myself back on track as I’ve been terrible since the birth!

 

[KARNAK]

Once again lovely photos of beautiful Eris @merrymunky keep them coming.🙂 xx