Retinopathy

[Proudspirit]

Hi guys, very long time no see! Hope you are all well?

I've got a great grip of my diabetes last Hba1c was 5.4. Went for screening last week, the optician said my eyes look great and you wouldn't know I was diabetic to look at them!

So WHY does the letter from NHS say I have background Retinopothy? Could they have it wrong? Is it bad?

Was very upset, I only see DN once a year and don't feel like I have any support but thought maybe my bloods were running high as can't exercise at moment? Anyway called GP surgery and asked if DSN could phone me or if I could speak to someone, thought I'd ask for Hba1c test then go in for results and chat but I was told that I'd have to make an apt. I could have been having huge problems, should I complain?


Lastly I fell over in the gym 8 weeks ago and fractured arm and ripped muscles from arm to shoulder. Can't drive, work, lift, even walking more than a mile hurts can't do anything really! Have been told that it would never be 100% normal! Anyone had similar injury?

Julie x

 

[Northerner]

Hi Julie, nice to hear from you again 🙂 Don't worry! Background retinopathy can affect us all however well-controlled you are, but it does NOT mean that your eyesight is at risk. It can be a transient thing, and it's quite possible that your next scan will show no evidence of it. My HbA1c has been in the 5% range practically since I was diagnosed, but I have had 'the letter' too - but have not required any treatment. From what others say, you can have background retinopahty for donkey's years and it may never progress, as long as you continue to work at keeping your BG levels stable and also to keep a close eye on your blood pressure.

You could get an appointment with your GP and ask them to explain in more detail what has been found, and hopefully reassure you.

I've also suffered from a broken arm - my humerus just below my shoulder and also dislocated my shoulder at the same time - very sorry to hear about your injury With me it was 8 weeks before I had the shoulder cast removed and about 12 weeks before the doctors pronounced that it was healing, so I can really sympathise with you there. How have they treated yours?

p.s. my arm/shoulder is about 95% OK now, although a physio I saw years after it happened ( who I was seeing about my broken leg!) said that I could probably have got full mobility back if I'd seen a good physio when it happened, which unfrtunately I didn't, so try and get a recommendation for a good one 🙂

 

[Monica]

As Northerner said, Background Retinopathy is nothing to worry about.
It might well have disappeared by next year.
Carol got that letter too last time, but in it it also said that they'd contact us again in a year's time for the next appointment. So, if they can leave it for a year before another appointment, it can't be anything serious.

 

[cherrypie]

I did take this up with the screening Dept. and suggested that this type of letter causes stress for us, especially having to wait another year for a further test.
The people involved said that they had repeatedly brought this up with their bosses during meetings. They asked for a better explanation on the letters but were told that nothing is going to change as these standard letters have been approved by the powers that be.😡

 

[Monica]

I did take this up with the screening Dept. and suggested that this type of letter causes stress for us, especially having to wait another year for a further test.
The people involved said that they had repeatedly brought this up with their bosses during meetings. They asked for a better explanation on the letters but were told that nothing is going to change as these standard letters have been approved by the powers that be.😡

You're quite right, it did cause me stress until someone pointed exactly what I'd said out to me too.

 

[trophywench]

True guys - I've had it since??? - before they invented retinal photography. Well before I came to live round here anyway which was 1998.

I still have it but latterly it's been in both eyes.

Am a lot more worried about me cataracts frankly ......

 

[Northerner]

You're quite right, it did cause me stress until someone pointed exactly what I'd said out to me too.

Me too - and I think virtually every person who has received this letter - possibly when they are relatively new to diabetes as well, and probably haven't had much chance to learn what it might mean. Whoever these 'PWBs' are, they need to listen to the people - seems very arrogant to me that they should be repeatedly informed that the letters cause distress but refuse to modify it.

 

[Catwoman76]

Hi guys, very long time no see! Hope you are all well?

I've got a great grip of my diabetes last Hba1c was 5.4. Went for screening last week, the optician said my eyes look great and you wouldn't know I was diabetic to look at them!

So WHY does the letter from NHS say I have background Retinopothy? Could they have it wrong? Is it bad?

Was very upset, I only see DN once a year and don't feel like I have any support but thought maybe my bloods were running high as can't exercise at moment? Anyway called GP surgery and asked if DSN could phone me or if I could speak to someone, thought I'd ask for Hba1c test then go in for results and chat but I was told that I'd have to make an apt. I could have been having huge problems, should I complain?


Lastly I fell over in the gym 8 weeks ago and fractured arm and ripped muscles from arm to shoulder. Can't drive, work, lift, even walking more than a mile hurts can't do anything really! Have been told that it would never be 100% normal! Anyone had similar injury?

Julie x

Hi Sorry to hear of problems, I hope things get better for you very soon. I haven't broken anything as an adult, only when I was small, but I don't remember it. Take care Sheena