Hi All,
As an 80 year male diabetic Type 2 managing it with diet. No tablets presently. I have yearly Diabetic Eye Screening.
This was done by Opticians until last year, when it failed and I had to attend a Hospital clinic to be tested with a hand slit lamp - where eye drops were used as normal.
Last year everything went, as normal. i.e. Had the eye drops the test was o.k. and I went on with my life.
However, this year. Same hospital, same clinic same operator. Put the eye drops in, had the test.
Had difficulty making my way home as I forgot my sunglasses. Had to cover my eyes against the sunlight.
After getting home I looked at my eyes and had never seen them so dilated, but thought I'd recover as normal.
I didn't!
I went to bed early. The next morning when I sat up my head felt strange. Then I coughed to clear my throat and there was a surge of pressure in my head which caused me quite strong pain. I started to move and found that even bending slightly caused this similar pressure pain in my head. It feels like the inside of arteries/veins carrying the blood, have been 'sensitised' to the pressure of the blood; whenever I cough or exert myself. Later I found that almost any food I ate caused a long lasting head pain. It's not like a headache, though similar. Its like the inside is sensitised.
After taking care of myself, day by day, trying to cope with these unexpected symptoms. It was about 10 days later before I admitted to myself that it wasn't going to return to normal. I was by then getting periods of normality and learning not to exacerbate the condition with the 'wrong' food, or movement etc. Though food is still a big problem.
I rang the Patients-Association helpline for advice. They said I should contact PALS at the hospital, which I did. I was advised to write an email complaint describing the problem. Then I called the 'Retinal Screening' telephone number. I was phoned back by the doctor there, who advised me to attend 'Birmingham Midland Eye Centre'. Which I did. There, they told me, that as I didn't presently have an eye problem, I should see my doctor.
I have an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow.
Meanwhile doing web searches I accessed and joined this site. Hoping that someone somewhere can understand what has happened to me.
At the Retinal Screening phone call I asked what eye drops were used. The clinician had recorded only 'Tropicamide 1%'
I recall having three drops in each eye and then (I think) two more in my right eye - which has a cataract.
I asked at the time what the drops were. he merely said (If I recall correctly) the first drops are anti infection.
I am very clear that these drops have caused this head pain condition.
Up until that day I had in recent decades been remarkably free from headaches. Just the occasional reaction to food.
I had said as much to my sister when she recounted her own migraine problem.
So this is very limiting!
Any advice explanation would be welcome.
Thanks
As an 80 year male diabetic Type 2 managing it with diet. No tablets presently. I have yearly Diabetic Eye Screening.
This was done by Opticians until last year, when it failed and I had to attend a Hospital clinic to be tested with a hand slit lamp - where eye drops were used as normal.
Last year everything went, as normal. i.e. Had the eye drops the test was o.k. and I went on with my life.
However, this year. Same hospital, same clinic same operator. Put the eye drops in, had the test.
Had difficulty making my way home as I forgot my sunglasses. Had to cover my eyes against the sunlight.
After getting home I looked at my eyes and had never seen them so dilated, but thought I'd recover as normal.
I didn't!
I went to bed early. The next morning when I sat up my head felt strange. Then I coughed to clear my throat and there was a surge of pressure in my head which caused me quite strong pain. I started to move and found that even bending slightly caused this similar pressure pain in my head. It feels like the inside of arteries/veins carrying the blood, have been 'sensitised' to the pressure of the blood; whenever I cough or exert myself. Later I found that almost any food I ate caused a long lasting head pain. It's not like a headache, though similar. Its like the inside is sensitised.
After taking care of myself, day by day, trying to cope with these unexpected symptoms. It was about 10 days later before I admitted to myself that it wasn't going to return to normal. I was by then getting periods of normality and learning not to exacerbate the condition with the 'wrong' food, or movement etc. Though food is still a big problem.
I rang the Patients-Association helpline for advice. They said I should contact PALS at the hospital, which I did. I was advised to write an email complaint describing the problem. Then I called the 'Retinal Screening' telephone number. I was phoned back by the doctor there, who advised me to attend 'Birmingham Midland Eye Centre'. Which I did. There, they told me, that as I didn't presently have an eye problem, I should see my doctor.
I have an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow.
Meanwhile doing web searches I accessed and joined this site. Hoping that someone somewhere can understand what has happened to me.
At the Retinal Screening phone call I asked what eye drops were used. The clinician had recorded only 'Tropicamide 1%'
I recall having three drops in each eye and then (I think) two more in my right eye - which has a cataract.
I asked at the time what the drops were. he merely said (If I recall correctly) the first drops are anti infection.
I am very clear that these drops have caused this head pain condition.
Up until that day I had in recent decades been remarkably free from headaches. Just the occasional reaction to food.
I had said as much to my sister when she recounted her own migraine problem.
So this is very limiting!
Any advice explanation would be welcome.
Thanks