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Boooooo! Background changes...

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everydayupsanddowns

everydayupsanddowns

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:(

Just had my screening letter and having had a couple of years 'in the clear' since my only other red flag, I've been told again that background changes have been spotted.

Hardly surprising after 20-odd years I suppose, but a bit gutting all the same. I suspect it may be at least partly down to the number of times I've hit the 20s in the last 12-18 months with cannula failures after starting on a pump. I also seem to get slightly raised BP during the daytime when I check it myself which can't be helping.

Not a lot I can do I suppose other than try to keep on top of things and hope it doesn't show progression next time.
 
Hope things come up clear next time around Mike. 🙂 I would imagine the transition to the pump has played its part, so hopefully things will be better next time. All that running should bring an improvement to your BP 😉
 
the main thing is the channges are spotted and if anything needs to be done it can be done. It is probably only a gliche and you'll be all clear next time.
 
I've had minimal background changes in one eye over the past 4 years or so according to the report, Then- this year " no signs of diabetic retinopathy"
No significant change in control
I wonder if the grading of these photos is somewhat subjective and if some of these changes may in fact be artefact- i.e. seeing something which isn't really there
By the same token they could I suppose have missed something which is present this time 'round I suppose
 
Sorry to hear that Mike. Chin up though, and fingers crossed for the all clear next time around. Ive had them for 10 + years now, and they seem to come and go (And it follows a pattern of good and not so good control it seems for me).

Are you on BP meds?
 
Hope it's just temporary Mike and you're in the clear again soon!
 
Hi Mike sorry to hear this, it is always a huge shock when background retinopathy is first diagnosed. I've had the retinopathy for about 24 years and it has hardly changed during that time
 
Thanks everyone. Particularly Benny and Amanda for your 24 years stat.

I'm should feel very lucky that it's only the second 'background' note I've had, but I was startig to wonder whether it moght be the start of the slide the cheery screening person told me was 'inevitable' the forst time they spotted some background
 
I have had bg retinopathy for years now. I went to eye appt a couple weeks and i asked if she could interperet the results roughly so i was reasured and she says there was no sign of diab eye changes... She is the one who sits in the darkened room afterwards doing a fetailed examination with the pics. She pulled up a few old photos as well and seemed surprised when i said about my bg retinopathy. My guess is that the changes are so small that they jave to sit for an hour to see anything at all... So ur changes are probably soo small that they wouldnt recognise them even by doing the old fashioned torch behind the eye exam. The other lady in the waiting room that day had eye changes that must of been clearer to see without scrutiny of a picture as she was told to wait and go back in. I wouldnt br too gutted if i was you. May have been a spevkle of dust on her screen that day... Sorry for sounding flippant but i dare say if there was anything at all to worry about you would be told there and then x
 
Sorry shocking spelling... Stupid touch phone 😛
 
Well the thing that hacks me off it when they show you this pinpoint and say 'but it's nowhere anywhere near the vicinity of your actual SIGHT' and the letter still says 'background changes'.

Well yes. Since approx 1994 or summat. When my optician told me this but the consultant couldn't see it .......

I just think sometimes, it's TMI. If it was all over the shop OK. But when it ain't - and my control is the best it's ever been in me life - why do I need to know this?
 
Sorry to hear about the background changes, I know how gutting it feels. I had background changes 2 years ago but it righted itself - I'm currently awaiting this year's results ... I hope at your next screening the retinopathy disappears again.
 
sorry to hear ...i have just had my first notification after 5 years in the clear...northe reassured me tho that it can be reversed
 
Mike,

Having just had mine back last week and getting the all clear, whereas the previous year i had changes but buckled down and kept Bs under control etc etc so no reason that the same wont happen for you.

Good luck
 
Hi Mike

I'm sure it's just a blip, your control is so good. Sometimes just tightening control can cause blips. Fingers crossed for you.
 
Had my letter from the Eye Screening clinic I attended last week

same `bland` statement
"revealed early changes of diabetes(background retinopathy) which does not require treatment at this time

GOOD NEWS..I suppose 😛
 
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