New old kid on the block

[MaggieG]

Hi everyone,
I'm Maggie, 62 years young, 27 years renal transplanted, diagnosed this last three months with onset of arthritis in my hands (bad news for a writer and craftswoman), the next month it was osteoporosis, then this month Type 2 diabetes. I do wonder what next month will bring, but perhaps best not to think about it!
All my ails have been brought on by steroid usage for so many years, but without the steroids/transplant I wouldn't be alive today, and in fact would have died many years ago. So I am not complaining - just trying to get this old head around it all!
I have brilliant nurse specialists at my local surgery, and I will be starting on medication in July - there are little or no changes I can make to my diet, which is good, which will make any difference, but been given three months grace before starting meds to see if the small ones I do make will have an effect on blood sugars. It is highly unlikely, but I take so many drugs on a daily basis I am just delaying the inevitable for the sake of it really.
I am due to have the eye test in three weeks time to check for diabetic retinopathy, and am dreading this. I have very sensitive eyes to start with, so having stinging eye drops isn't something I am looking forward to - but worse than that are the results. Has anyone here had to have the laser surgery for this condition?
Would especially love to hear from anyone who may be in similar position health and age-wise?
MaggieG

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forum MaggieG 🙂

The eye drops don't usually sting (well not for me anyway) - they are just annoying as they dilate your pupils making everything so much brighter and it's very difficult to focus your eyes on anything for a few hours afterwards.

 

[Redkite]

Hi Maggie,

Welcome to the forum 🙂 My goodness you've had a difficult few months to say the least!

My son doesn't enjoy the retinopathy screening as the eye drops do sting him when they're put in, but not everybody feels any stinging. You are advised to wear sunglasses for an hour or so afterwards until the pupils adjust back to normal.

My T1 friend had some laser treatment to seal off some bleeding blood vessels in her retinas (she's in her late 40's and has been T1 since age 4). She said it was a very quick and simple procedure, carried out with local anaesthetic eye drops. She felt no discomfort apparently, and her eyes have tested fine since.

My Mum is in her 70's and is T2 controlled by diet and exercise. She hasn't had any retinopathy but last year had cataract surgery and again it was much quicker and straightforward than she had been fearing. We have a family history of glaucoma so she is checked for that also. Try not to worry - I think eye surgery is a very efficient and effective area of medicine these days, and as long as you are having regular preventative screening, any problems can be detected and treated long before they become serious.

 

[Steff]

MaggieG hi and a warm welcome to the forum