Hi, this is my first time using this post and so i've spent this afternoon browsing previous posts in a desperate attempt to find some honest and upfront info from others who're living this not so good reality that is diabetes...
Quick background to me: diabetes Type1 for 18 years, diagnosed with proliferative retinopathy last month - very quickly brought in to receive pan retinal laser treatment to both eyes over 4 treatments (2 to each eye) Not pleasant but definitely not the worst thing i've ever been thru. My issue with this is that although the treatment was explained to me, there's been nowhere/noone for me to go to to talk over the emotional trauma all this brings - only thing i was easily able to digest was, UNTREATED YOU'll VERY POSSIBLY BE BLIND WITHIN 5 YEARS (whit....i'm only 37, i've an 8 year old daughter, am i not going to see her grow-up, see her kids, etc, etc,....) Oh aye and also, best not to have any more kids - you've already got one why would you put yourself at risk like that.
Obviously after many tears and snotters i started doing some research and have since realised that the treatment i received was fairly aggressive and has been done at an early stage of retinopathy progression - whilst there are no guarantees i am looking at this as a kick-up-the-bum which to be honest i probably needed. Time to get my HbA1c under control - has always ran at around 9, although course i know i need to do that gradually otherwise i could escalate the situation! Oh the irony!!
What i'd love to know from all you guys is has anyone tried all the alternatives i've been reading about i.e. thiamine; benfotiamine; pyridoxamine or pycongenol - or in fact has anyone tried anything else??
I just can't believe the lack of understanding from the eye care team, i mean i was just up for my routine eye tests only to be told to come back 3 days later for my first lot of laser treatment. They're all lovely people who when i asked did sit me down and explain the facts but noone was able to empathise with my absolute terror at what this means for the future of my vision...........
Anyone out there been or going thru anything similar............ :shock:
Quick background to me: diabetes Type1 for 18 years, diagnosed with proliferative retinopathy last month - very quickly brought in to receive pan retinal laser treatment to both eyes over 4 treatments (2 to each eye) Not pleasant but definitely not the worst thing i've ever been thru. My issue with this is that although the treatment was explained to me, there's been nowhere/noone for me to go to to talk over the emotional trauma all this brings - only thing i was easily able to digest was, UNTREATED YOU'll VERY POSSIBLY BE BLIND WITHIN 5 YEARS (whit....i'm only 37, i've an 8 year old daughter, am i not going to see her grow-up, see her kids, etc, etc,....) Oh aye and also, best not to have any more kids - you've already got one why would you put yourself at risk like that.
Obviously after many tears and snotters i started doing some research and have since realised that the treatment i received was fairly aggressive and has been done at an early stage of retinopathy progression - whilst there are no guarantees i am looking at this as a kick-up-the-bum which to be honest i probably needed. Time to get my HbA1c under control - has always ran at around 9, although course i know i need to do that gradually otherwise i could escalate the situation! Oh the irony!!
What i'd love to know from all you guys is has anyone tried all the alternatives i've been reading about i.e. thiamine; benfotiamine; pyridoxamine or pycongenol - or in fact has anyone tried anything else??
I just can't believe the lack of understanding from the eye care team, i mean i was just up for my routine eye tests only to be told to come back 3 days later for my first lot of laser treatment. They're all lovely people who when i asked did sit me down and explain the facts but noone was able to empathise with my absolute terror at what this means for the future of my vision...........
Anyone out there been or going thru anything similar............ :shock: