Petrified, retinopathy, help!! Updated 2018 check up

[Holidaymad_]

Hi, this is my first post. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in 2010 and then eventually type 2 post delivery. I have recently received my eye screening results back stating mild background retinopathy. My hba1c's have been between 40-45 for the last 4 years, a fair bit higher whilst I was getting to grips with the news sittinging around 65. I booked an appointment with my gp and spoke to the eye screening centre. The eye screening people told me not to worry when they read my report that it was very normal to have this. I am only 31 still and it worries me no end. What worried me further was when I went to see my gp he told me that it was in both eyes when it is usually just in one eye, but then told me not to worry. I'm just so worried as I have a lowish hba1c, all other aspects are good blood pressure, etc. I am a healthy bmi and I go to the gym 5 times a week. I got this letter in the beginning of May but it still makes me feel sick thinking about it, the fact that I feel like I'm on the road to blindness (can you tell I also have anxiety from this thread too?) I've read that if the retinopathy is in both eyes you've got a 25% chance of it progressing within a couple of years which has scared the hell out of me.

 

[Holidaymad_]

All of my other eye exams have been clear and I go every single year for them.

 

[Holidaymad_]

I'm also very paranoid now with my vision I keep getting blurry vision, no black spots or shadows just blurry vision. I'm slowly but surely going mad, I don't know if I actually have got blurry vision or it's my mind playing tricks. It never goes blurry when I'm out and about just when I start thinking about it like watching tv or using the iPad (which I am on a lot like right now).

 

[Mike d]

The stress is understandable .... but the improvements in treating it have taken massive strides. Keep those readings low. Do you have light sensitivity?

EDIT - Had the exact thing (blurred vision) with my eyes and they corrected within months .... but I wear contacts. Stay well and now's not the time for panic. Won't do much for your overall health

Take care Mike

 

[Holidaymad_]

As in does the light hurt my eyes? Not really but I do get a pain behind my actual eyeball sometimes.

 

[noblehead]

All of my other eye exams have been clear and I go every single year for them.

Try not to stress, some people do find that the background retinopathy never progresses to the next stage and some have seen their retinopathy disappear.

Have a look at the following, it has some excellent information on the condition, apy particular attention to what it says about controlling bg, bp and cholesterol levels:

http://www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk/back_diabetic_retinopathy.html

Best wishes.

 

[Mike d]

Yep, had similar. I'm not you but I'd seek other opinions. There are a LOT of people here that can assist as they've experienced similar issues. BS control is usually the first answer, but by the sounds of it, that would not be my first question of your specialist

 

[Holidaymad_]

Yep, had similar. I'm not you but I'd seek other opinions. There are a LOT of people here that can assist as they've experienced similar issues. BS control is usually the first answer, but by the sounds of it, that would not be my first question of your specialist

So with the blurry vision and background retinopathy you'd be going to see a specialist?

 

[Mike d]

We can't do anything but simply offer opinions ... we aren't qualified to do anything else. I do however, read the anxious stress in your posts. Please do not take this as anything but an opinion and mine alone. Yes, I would. Eliminate the fears, no matter how unfounded they might be. You're young, your BMI sounds great, fitness regime terrific so main game is addressing the underlying issues. I'm sure you'll be fine. Eyesight can change as @noblehead said and there a LOT of posts on that subject

Panic not. Imaginings are not always realities

 

[JohnEGreen]

I was diagnosed with back ground retinopathy on my first screening, I had my second screening just a few months ago and I still have it. It has got no better as yet, but has got no worse either. So it does not seem to be progressive in many cases. I have been told keeping BG levels low can help and that is what I try to do. Hopefully it will eventually go away as it has for many others.

 

[Slalom]

Hi I am twice as old as you and the eye test can be a bit worrying, but they are first signs and the next test is no worse and may even be better.

I would only worry if they increase the frequency of the Retinopathy tests

 

[Holidaymad_]

Hi, an update from the last diagnosis. I went yesterday for my 12 month review. I explained to the optician that I was very nervous and had been so anxious over the past year due to my background retinopathy diagnosis. The optician was brilliant and looked at my photos from last year, she said that she couldn't even see what they had flagged as BR! She said that they are really nit picky. She took my new photos looked them over said they all looked fine. She showed me the process how they send them to the diabetic screening to the graders and the optician triage the photos and then sends them over as high/moderate/low category meaning they will be seen immediately/within a few hours/within 24hrs respectively. She sent mine as a low category and should hear back within 10 working days.

Why can't all opticians be like this or this explained more in a diagnosis letter as they put the fear of god into you!? This has actually done me some good as I've really stressed over the past year about my eye health. She has eased my anxiety for the first time in a year which obviously helps your health.

My recent hba1c was 36 and the one before that in October was 37 as was the one in July (after the BR diagnosis I asked for more monitoring from my gp who agreed).

Just waiting for the letter now and see what that says. Thank you for all your advice last year and felt it was only right to update the thread.