Proliferative retinopathy

[Becks33]

The internet has boggled me I really don’t understand retinopathy and I’m trying to! Does treatment get rid of these blood vessels and then you control your BG to stop new growth is that true??? So that basically means reversing growth of new blood vessels?? I’m so confused I don’t know wether to believe I’ll live normally again or just give up can some people help please ...

 

[kaylz91]

Sorry have you got proliferative retinopathy and are awaiting laser treatment? unfortunately there is no right or wrong answer, my hba1c was good but I still had to have lasering to both eyes for it last year, you can live normally though why do you think you wouldn't be able to? xx

 

[Member496333]

It's a little more complicated than that, since retinopathy can be exacerbated by improved glycemic control. Particularly if the patient has had highly elevated glucose levels for several years before quickly regaining control. Additionally, some people react badly to laser treatment and develop oedema from the treatment itself, which if serious enough often necessitates anti-VEGF injections.

 

[Becks33]

I’ve been having laser treatment for 8 months now ... and I jus had a bleed two weeks ago and I can see a red tint and like spiders legs in the corner of my vision ... I want to go back to work and go abroad to Bali in December and I’m to scared to go incase I have a bleed on holiday or something it’s constantly on my mind and any plans I want to make or anything I’m to scared to do ... my whole life has stopped and I’m just wondering is this my life or does it get better???

 

[kaylz91]

Sorry but nobody can answer that question not even the eye specialists can tell if your problems will reoccur down the line etc

I've never had an annual retinopathy screening as less than a month after my type 1 diagnosis I was diagnosed with diabetic macular oedema and have had countless injections for that with 3 monthly check-ups and then required lasering to both eyes which I had in one sitting last November for proliferative retinopathy

All they can tell me is keep coming for your check-ups and we'll see how it goes so even though it's a struggle as the hospital that deals with it is over 30 miles away I just do as they say

 

[Becks33]

You were diagnosed 1 month after your diagnosis? How is that possible? How long have you had diabetes? And now your having treatment for proliferative retinopathy? What??? So you’ve never been discharged? How’s your diabetic management ?

 

[kaylz91]

i was diagnosed Type 1 in November 2016 when I was admitted to hospital with ketones

I had one session of lasering and have to have regular check-ups and nope never been discharged from the eye department

Control has been good was diagnosed at 101 but highest I've had since was only 53 at the beginning of this year when I came out my honeymoon over Christmas and had to severely up my basal as I was only on one unit of basal up until that point

My diabetes consultant comments that I do great but both him and the eye consultant just say I've been very unlucky

 

[Becks33]

What 3 years ago? How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? Usually it takes years for diabetic retinopathy to come up and especially with non controll BG levels ! I have had diabetes for 15 years and never ever controlled it which is why I have proliferative diabetic retinopathy ... that’s seriously unlucky hows your check ups going? You don’t need any more laser I’m guessing?? What’s 53?? Do u measure in mmoll?

 

[kaylz91]

yes 3 years ago

I'm only turning 28 in November, I was diagnosed Type 1 a week before my birthday

my last check up went well after the lasering so fingers crossed in 2 weeks it will be good news but I'm terrified

Yes up in my part of Scotland they only use the new mmol so last check in may it was 40 which I think is 5.8%

 

[Becks33]

What that’s just crazy! How can you have this problem with ur eyes I’m keeping everything crossed for you! Ohh right that’s an amazing result mine was 13% I managed to get down to 8% ... have u had bleeding in the eye?

 

[Becks33]

Are you driving?

 

[kaylz91]

No I've not had a bleed and no I don't drive xx

 

[Sjayh]

Hi.
I suffered with this too.
Feel free to read it on my blog... araneljay.com drop a message if you need