Hi
I have a bit of a worry, and I'm hoping someone here will be able to set my mind at rest. I'm currently living in France, due to my work. We don't speak French in the office, so my French is limited to that which I pick up in shops and bars.
I was pointed in the direction recently of an 'English' speaking diabetic specialist doctor, since I was enquiring about having an insulin pump installed. I had an appointment with her, and was admitted to the local hospital since she thought my Lantus dose was too high, and she wanted to get my dosage right before a pump could be given. At least, this was what I understood.
I found out whilst in the hospital that no pump would be given until my French had improved significantly, and would be unlikely to be given within 6 months.
However, more disturbingly, I was given an eye test which found there was a problem with the back of my eyes. Through research on the internet, I can only guess that this is bleeding in the blood vessels. A fluorescent injection was done, to highlight the blood vessels, and lots of pictures taken. A further appointment was made the following day for me to 'see the doctor about your eyes'.
I was given drops (again, same as the day before with the fluorescent injection) that I had to administer myself, something I'm not too good at and then left for 50 minutes until I was taken into a room marked 'Laser'. The drops were to make my pupils dilate. It was then that I realised they wanted to do 'laser' treatment there and then. Of course, I burst into tears, especially when the doctor (who spoke no English at all) started talking only in French, pointing to the images that were the result of the previous days examination. When I tried to explain that I was worried, and didn't understand, she just 'huffled' off (best way I can describe it) and came back 10 minutes later asking about my 'ami's' (friends). The only friend I have who speaks anywhere close to decent French was at work and couldn't just drop everything to accompany me to the hospital. She then proceeded to put a drop into my eye, pull my head towards what turned out to be the laser treatment, and place something onto my eye that prevented me from closing it. Then the laser treatment started and lasted what felt like hours - I guess it was around 10/20 mins. This was then repeated on my other eye. I have to confess, for the first eye, I was in tears during the whole treatment, and her only comment was "I must do this, it is important" in a heavy French accent.
Afterwards, still feeling upset, they found a nurse that could speak English, who told me that I would have to return for at least 5 more sessions, the next one being in 8 days time. The doctor told me "I must do this fast, fast, fast!". I was then sent home, a journey of over an hour on the metro. I was home by around 8pm (the apointment having been made for 2:30pm), in exteme discomfort which then turned into pain - I assume this is due to the laser treatment.
So my questions are (and I'm sorry for the length of this post, but I am very worried at present and realise my best hope is for full details as to the background):
*Is it ok for me to take pain killers (anadin ultra or nurofen) just prior to the next apointment, so hopefully I am not in pain afterwards?
*Should the treatment have made my currently ok-with-glasses eyesight become blurry even with my glasses on when I look at things further than about 30cm from me?
*Is it normal to now see black marks floating in my vision when I look at anything light or white (ie my desk which is white or the clouds in the sky)?
*Can I ask the doctor to stop the laser treatment when it gets 'too much' for me?
*Should I ask for the treatment to last less time? I'm ok, I understand that I have to have it done to prevent me from losing my sight. But does each session have to take so long?
*Can I expect future sessions to leave me feeling so uncomfortable, even on the following day?
*Should I request that the treatment is done on a Friday, so that I can recover over the weekend without having to use a pc for 8 hours the following day?
Any advice would be very gratefully received. Thank you for reading this lengthy post!
I have a bit of a worry, and I'm hoping someone here will be able to set my mind at rest. I'm currently living in France, due to my work. We don't speak French in the office, so my French is limited to that which I pick up in shops and bars.
I was pointed in the direction recently of an 'English' speaking diabetic specialist doctor, since I was enquiring about having an insulin pump installed. I had an appointment with her, and was admitted to the local hospital since she thought my Lantus dose was too high, and she wanted to get my dosage right before a pump could be given. At least, this was what I understood.
I found out whilst in the hospital that no pump would be given until my French had improved significantly, and would be unlikely to be given within 6 months.
However, more disturbingly, I was given an eye test which found there was a problem with the back of my eyes. Through research on the internet, I can only guess that this is bleeding in the blood vessels. A fluorescent injection was done, to highlight the blood vessels, and lots of pictures taken. A further appointment was made the following day for me to 'see the doctor about your eyes'.
I was given drops (again, same as the day before with the fluorescent injection) that I had to administer myself, something I'm not too good at and then left for 50 minutes until I was taken into a room marked 'Laser'. The drops were to make my pupils dilate. It was then that I realised they wanted to do 'laser' treatment there and then. Of course, I burst into tears, especially when the doctor (who spoke no English at all) started talking only in French, pointing to the images that were the result of the previous days examination. When I tried to explain that I was worried, and didn't understand, she just 'huffled' off (best way I can describe it) and came back 10 minutes later asking about my 'ami's' (friends). The only friend I have who speaks anywhere close to decent French was at work and couldn't just drop everything to accompany me to the hospital. She then proceeded to put a drop into my eye, pull my head towards what turned out to be the laser treatment, and place something onto my eye that prevented me from closing it. Then the laser treatment started and lasted what felt like hours - I guess it was around 10/20 mins. This was then repeated on my other eye. I have to confess, for the first eye, I was in tears during the whole treatment, and her only comment was "I must do this, it is important" in a heavy French accent.
Afterwards, still feeling upset, they found a nurse that could speak English, who told me that I would have to return for at least 5 more sessions, the next one being in 8 days time. The doctor told me "I must do this fast, fast, fast!". I was then sent home, a journey of over an hour on the metro. I was home by around 8pm (the apointment having been made for 2:30pm), in exteme discomfort which then turned into pain - I assume this is due to the laser treatment.
So my questions are (and I'm sorry for the length of this post, but I am very worried at present and realise my best hope is for full details as to the background):
*Is it ok for me to take pain killers (anadin ultra or nurofen) just prior to the next apointment, so hopefully I am not in pain afterwards?
*Should the treatment have made my currently ok-with-glasses eyesight become blurry even with my glasses on when I look at things further than about 30cm from me?
*Is it normal to now see black marks floating in my vision when I look at anything light or white (ie my desk which is white or the clouds in the sky)?
*Can I ask the doctor to stop the laser treatment when it gets 'too much' for me?
*Should I ask for the treatment to last less time? I'm ok, I understand that I have to have it done to prevent me from losing my sight. But does each session have to take so long?
*Can I expect future sessions to leave me feeling so uncomfortable, even on the following day?
*Should I request that the treatment is done on a Friday, so that I can recover over the weekend without having to use a pc for 8 hours the following day?
Any advice would be very gratefully received. Thank you for reading this lengthy post!
