Unbeliever
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,551
I wonder if HCPs are at all aware of the stress that is caused by an invitaion to an eye screening? Many people are squeamsh about eyes.
I have allways hated anyone doing anything with my eyes - or my feet! Quite unfortunate really in the circumstances.
I was diagnosed shortly before I retired. This was due to my being taken to hospital with an allergic reacion so it was a total shock for me.
I had arrranged to go on a special holiday wih my husband and daugher and it had been difficult to coordinate a time to suit everyone.I was informed by the surgery that my first annual review - exacly 6 weeks after diagnosis had been scheduled for the exact week I was due to be on holiday. I asked if I go after I returnred but they said no. It would have o be the week before. Obviously something to do wih targets.
I was already struggling with the effects of metformin which not only caused the usual stomach effects but badly affected my balance, coordination and even my speech. In those days testing your bg levels was obligatory and you had to show the doctor
your diary . Strips etc were provided but you were not educated in their use, in fact, you were told it was just for the docor to interpret so he could adjust the medication. You should have seen me trying to coordinate the blood , test strip and meter!
When I went along for the review the DR refused to change the medication but offered me gaviscon which I refused. I had no idea the SR metformin existed. Annnual retinal screening had not been introduced but they tested my eyes and the doctor then looked at them through a little hand lehs. he thought he could see something on the macula and insisted I keep looking in one direction.
It was extremely uncomfortable and no professional "eye person " would ever have dome so. I later found that he had strained my eye muscle . I suffered headaches for weeks afterwards.
The worst part though, was that he then referred me to the eye clinic , dictating he letter while I was there.
So I went on my longed for and expensive Tuscan tour unable to drink or eat much, with a constant headache , anxiety about the whereabouts of the next toilet etc,
The worst part though was worrying about the eye clinic. Not what they might find but just having to go there and have people loking at my eyes. I lay awake at night worrying and had nightmares when I did sleep.
When I finally got to the hospital there was nothing wrong with my eyes at that stage.
A while later a I developed first, retinopathy and then macular oedema after my bgs being reduced too rapidly. About 3 years down the line I am almost a fixture in the eye clinic.
I have my eyes tested [with drops] each time and also have scans each time and various other tests. Multiple eye drops are the norm.
I still hate having my eyes tested with the chart, The screening is nothing to me now or the drops although I am sensitive to
them in that my eyes remain dilated for a very long time afterwards. Of coutrse much depends on the skill of the nurse.
Nowadays my main concern is getting to see the right person ie someone who knows what they are doing!
I am sure that no one in the hospital has any idea that patients find a scan intimidating much less a simple eye test.
I have had to ask them to close the door on occasion whent he whole of the waiting room , from boredom was watching eagerly , ready to do it wih me. They were amazed that I could be self conscious about it. Especially after alll this time - but so it is.I always will be.
I have allways hated anyone doing anything with my eyes - or my feet! Quite unfortunate really in the circumstances.
I was diagnosed shortly before I retired. This was due to my being taken to hospital with an allergic reacion so it was a total shock for me.
I had arrranged to go on a special holiday wih my husband and daugher and it had been difficult to coordinate a time to suit everyone.I was informed by the surgery that my first annual review - exacly 6 weeks after diagnosis had been scheduled for the exact week I was due to be on holiday. I asked if I go after I returnred but they said no. It would have o be the week before. Obviously something to do wih targets.
I was already struggling with the effects of metformin which not only caused the usual stomach effects but badly affected my balance, coordination and even my speech. In those days testing your bg levels was obligatory and you had to show the doctor
your diary . Strips etc were provided but you were not educated in their use, in fact, you were told it was just for the docor to interpret so he could adjust the medication. You should have seen me trying to coordinate the blood , test strip and meter!
When I went along for the review the DR refused to change the medication but offered me gaviscon which I refused. I had no idea the SR metformin existed. Annnual retinal screening had not been introduced but they tested my eyes and the doctor then looked at them through a little hand lehs. he thought he could see something on the macula and insisted I keep looking in one direction.
It was extremely uncomfortable and no professional "eye person " would ever have dome so. I later found that he had strained my eye muscle . I suffered headaches for weeks afterwards.
The worst part though, was that he then referred me to the eye clinic , dictating he letter while I was there.
So I went on my longed for and expensive Tuscan tour unable to drink or eat much, with a constant headache , anxiety about the whereabouts of the next toilet etc,
The worst part though was worrying about the eye clinic. Not what they might find but just having to go there and have people loking at my eyes. I lay awake at night worrying and had nightmares when I did sleep.
When I finally got to the hospital there was nothing wrong with my eyes at that stage.
A while later a I developed first, retinopathy and then macular oedema after my bgs being reduced too rapidly. About 3 years down the line I am almost a fixture in the eye clinic.
I have my eyes tested [with drops] each time and also have scans each time and various other tests. Multiple eye drops are the norm.
I still hate having my eyes tested with the chart, The screening is nothing to me now or the drops although I am sensitive to
them in that my eyes remain dilated for a very long time afterwards. Of coutrse much depends on the skill of the nurse.
Nowadays my main concern is getting to see the right person ie someone who knows what they are doing!
I am sure that no one in the hospital has any idea that patients find a scan intimidating much less a simple eye test.
I have had to ask them to close the door on occasion whent he whole of the waiting room , from boredom was watching eagerly , ready to do it wih me. They were amazed that I could be self conscious about it. Especially after alll this time - but so it is.I always will be.
