• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Pre proliferative retinopathy

Vick22

Vick22

Well-Known Member
Messages
63
Location
Hull
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Selfish people, liars, bad time keeping and mushrooms
Hi guys, I've just received a letter from my hospital telling me I have pre proliferative retinopathy following my last eye check at 32 weeks pregnant and I have been given an appointment for Feb 10th to be seen by the eye specialist. I'm really scared as I don't know much about it or what to expect and wondered if any of you have experienced this? Problems with my sight has always been my biggest fear
 
Pre-proliferative retinopathy is the next stage after background retinopathy. The eye is not actually treated at this stage but the ophthalmologists will look carefully around the rest of the retina not viewed at screening to see if there is any proliferative retinopathy (the next stage up) as this would need treatment.

Assuming there's no proliferative retinopathy, the ophthalmologists will want to check your eyes more often in case it develops (as retinopathy tends to develop faster during pregnancy). The doctors will probably talk to you about diabetic control as improving this reduces the risk of progression.

It may be that you have very early pre-proliferative changes and that these do not progress any further but attending all your hospital appointments means that if it does progress to proliferative retinopathy it can be treated early, which is when the treatment is most effective.
 
Thank you for the response, my control has been pretty good throughout my pregnancy, my last hba1c was 6.1 and I had good control before I got pregnant. I just feel disappointed in myself that it has progressed and the wait to the appointment is like torture. Fingers crossed nothing has progressed any further
 
Vick22 said:
Thank you for the response, my control has been pretty good throughout my pregnancy, my last hba1c was 6.1 and I had good control before I got pregnant. I just feel disappointed in myself that it has progressed and the wait to the appointment is like torture. Fingers crossed nothing has progressed any further
Click to expand...
Feel disappointed by all means, but there is no need to feel disappointed in yourself! You've done what you can but some things are outside of our control - genes and unknown factors in the environment. On the plus side, you are living in a country with joined-up healthcare - you've been referred promptly, you're going to be seen very soon and you'll be seen by experts with effective treatments available, if needed.

Try not to worry, and let us know how you get on.
 
Vick22 said:
Thank you for the response, my control has been pretty good throughout my pregnancy, my last hba1c was 6.1 and I had good control before I got pregnant. I just feel disappointed in myself that it has progressed and the wait to the appointment is like torture. Fingers crossed nothing has progressed any further
Click to expand...

Aw I know how you feel @Vick22 my last check at 14 weeks said I have maculopathy (sp?) and I felt extremely disappointed in myself and didn't understand as I've not had any problems with eyes for a few years (once had slight back ground retinopathy but tightening my control reversed it) and I've had pretty good control throughout pregnancy so far but I've just told myself it's one of them things and I'll just have to get on with it, no point stressing myself out about as it won't change anything.. I'm not being seen till march which seems like such a long time away so I know how you feel about the wait, good luck for when you do go Hun xx
 
I keep trying to tell myself I haven't long left and then after having baby I can get back to some sort of normal. And you're right about not stressing about something that's already happened, I'll try and keep that in mind I have a few 'blobs' as I call them in my right peripheral which I used to get years ago if I was really stressed out or tired and they would disappear, hoping they will ease off or go once I've had her as the stress of keeping my BG in range and worrying about the usual pregnancy stuff isn't helping.

Sorry to hear you have maculopathy, have they said what they can do for you? Happy to hear your control has been good so far, and best of luck for the rest of your pregnancy xxx
 
When I go back im to see a specialist but still in the same place I usually go apparently it's not at the stage where I need to be seen in hospital by one of their specialists so that did make me feel a little better it's just the thought of if I need treatment as it all sounds so scary but as my very lovely but matter of fact DSN said, if I need treatment I just have to get on with it! Lol thank you for the well wishes, you too! :) xx
 
Yeah me too, because I just got the letter to go and see someone at the eye hospital I'm left panicking as to how bad it is and what they can do. It's the unknown isn't it. I haven't had chance to speak to my DSN yet, but I'm at my 34 week growth scan and antenatal app on Tuesday so I can talk to my ob or DSN then to hopefully put my mind at ease a little too. I'm preparing myself to go into the eye appointment ready to have treatment, much to my hubby's dispair! really need to turn myself into a positive thinker! Haha xx
 
Back
Top