Will my eyes get better? I feel my body is failing me

Soph895

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
I went for my eye test at specsavers a few days ago and they said there were significant changes to my eye health there’s was more little bleeds and fluid build up. She asked about my blood sugars - for 8 months they had come down and been normal since I started mounjaro. I had a diabetic eye screening in June last year and had background retinopathy. She said my central vision has got worse and said it’s retina vein occlusion with macular involvement?
She asked if my blood pressure was ever over 200 -which it’s never been. It’s not normal but about 130 and has been coming down yet fluctuating as I’ve been physically unwell due to infections and other chronic illnesses.
She’s unsure of the mounjaro is causing the fluid build up.

The lady in specsavers also phoned me a hour later saying she couldn’t get me out her mind and wanted me to collect a letter to go to eye casualty asap and not wait for hospital refferal because I’m so young and doesn’t want me to wait potentially a month for treatment.

When I spoke to her and asked if I had any questions I said can stress be a cause (the central vein occlusion) as I read it online and for a while I’ve battled mental health where I’ve been hospitalised and chronic stress which she said can contribute as well as dehydration which I also explained I was in hospital last month for.

I asked if that could be reversed with treatment and lifestyle changes and she said it’s possible to get vision back or most of it on 90% cases but I’ve been really worried since googling.

I just feel my body is failing me when I’m trying so hard to be healthy and just in general alive. If you read any of my previous posts you’d know it’s been quite a lot.

I’m going to the hospital tomorrow, I let my anxiety and fear of hospitals take over the last 3 days when I should have gone.
 

Pipp

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11,131
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Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
Sorry you have this anxiety, @Soph895 .
Do you have someone who will go to the hospital with you? I am sure you must be so worried, but getting expert advice has to be better than looking on the internet for answers. Please go, as waiting and not knowing the prognosis must surely be more worry than getting an expert opinion.
 

Grant_Vicat

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I do not have diabetes
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I’m going to the hospital tomorrow, I let my anxiety and fear of hospitals take over the last 3 days when I should have gone.
As @Pipp says, please go to the hospital. It's never an easy decision to make, but it was the best thing I did as a 20 year-old. I had a haemorrhage in my right eye and was so terrified that I ran to the A&E at King's College Hospital. I was also an outpatient there. Between that day and 1983, I had a total of 7 haemorrhages in both eyes. Here I am, wearing reading glasses and using both eyes while I am typing this. I am still driving, aged 66! With your determination to keep your health as best as you can, you stand a much better chance. I understand the overwhelming despair that it seems an impossible battle - I felt exactly the same then. I wish you all the very best and as much success as I had with my eyes.
 

MrsA2

Expert
Messages
6,530
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Please Sophie do go. I've had eye issues and had nothing but the best of care. It's amazing what the right eye drops can do, and the quicker the better. Remember not all eye issues are diabetes or food related...I was born with some of mine ! No need to feel guilty. Good luck and do report back
 

Soph895

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Sorry you have this anxiety, @Soph895 .
Do you have someone who will go to the hospital with you? I am sure you must be so worried, but getting expert advice has to be better than looking on the internet for answers. Please go, as waiting and not knowing the prognosis must surely be more worry than getting an expert opinion.
Thankyou, I have my grandma taking me, im definitely going as I know leaving it longer won’t help my stress levels. I guess I’m just hoping if anyone went through anything similar and was okay :(
 

Soph895

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Please Sophie do go. I've had eye issues and had nothing but the best of care. It's amazing what the right eye drops can do, and the quicker the better. Remember not all eye issues are diabetes or food related...I was born with some of mine ! No need to feel guilty. Good luck and do report back
Thankyou I wil go first think tomorrow morning. I just know they will try and say it’s all down to blood sugars and make me feel it’s my fault yet I’ve tried so hard to keep my sugars stable whilst battling my other illnesses. I’ve really realised this past few days how stress can slowly decline your health. I never thought it contributed to half of what I’m experiencing
 
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Soph895

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
As @Pipp says, please go to the hospital. It's never an easy decision to make, but it was the best thing I did as a 20 year-old. I had a haemorrhage in my right eye and was so terrified that I ran to the A&E at King's College Hospital. I was also an outpatient there. Between that day and 1983, I had a total of 7 haemorrhages in both eyes. Here I am, wearing reading glasses and using both eyes while I am typing this. I am still driving, aged 66! With your determination to keep your health as best as you can, you stand a much better chance. I understand the overwhelming despair that it seems an impossible battle - I felt exactly the same then. I wish you all the very best and as much success as I had with my eyes.
Thankyou for you message and sharing your story. I will make sure I go tomorrow, I just don’t want things to get worse
 

Pipp

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Staff Member
Moderator
Messages
11,131
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thankyou, I have my grandma taking me, im definitely going as I know leaving it longer won’t help my stress levels. I guess I’m just hoping if anyone went through anything similar and was okay :(
Well done. Do let us know how you get on.
Don’t be made to feel this is your fault.It isn’t.
 

Soph895

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Well done. Do let us know how you get on.
Don’t be made to feel this is your fault.It isn’t.
Thankyou, I’m still at the hospital been here since 8am. Just had another scan. Doctor thinks the diabetic retinopathy got worse and caused diabetic macular edema. But wanted me to have this scan.
She then went on about blood sugar control and importance of it on which my grandma stopped her and said how my sugars are very well controlled and even questioned my medication as my vision problems started about 2 months after starting mounjaro (tirzepatide)….so im quite nervous and worrying about what will happen if I have to come off that as I’ve not been able to tolerate tablets for my diabetes
 

Soph895

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Thanks everyone for advice and support. I’ve seen doctor again since the second scan. I’ve got have injections 1 a month for 6months and also laser. She said the diabetic retinopathy is significant compared to 6months ago when it was background. Yet my sugars have been stable since then. So still a little confused but at least I know what’s wrong
 

Pipp

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Messages
11,131
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thankyou, I’m still at the hospital been here since 8am. Just had another scan. Doctor thinks the diabetic retinopathy got worse and caused diabetic macular edema. But wanted me to have this scan.
She then went on about blood sugar control and importance of it on which my grandma stopped her and said how my sugars are very well controlled and even questioned my medication as my vision problems started about 2 months after starting mounjaro (tirzepatide)….so im quite nervous and worrying about what will happen if I have to come off that as I’ve not been able to tolerate tablets for my diabetes
Great that you have Grandma as your ’cheerleader’.
Make sure you have a treatment plan, which includes an assessment of your medications. The injections and laser treatment are probably not something you are looking forward to. I have been with s loved one having similar. Local anaesthetic drops first meant no pain was felt. Their sight was saved, and an hour after each injection would be out and about doing touristist visits to places of interest. This was someone aged 73.

Hope all goes well for you.
 

MrsA2

Expert
Messages
6,530
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thanks everyone for advice and support. I’ve seen doctor again since the second scan. I’ve got have injections 1 a month for 6months and also laser. She said the diabetic retinopathy is significant compared to 6months ago when it was background. Yet my sugars have been stable since then. So still a little confused but at least I know what’s wrong
Remember eyes take along time. Months and months. Its not like a sticking plaster on and it's all better tomorrow.
It might be that your eyes now are relating to when you weren't in such good control, or between then and the injections they might start to recover somewhat.
They are funny things, eyes. Not like the rest of the body at all. But rest assured the professionals will take good care of you, especially if you say your nervous . I've had 3 actual operations and a) it didn't hurt! b) it's recovered well but does take time to get fully clear again.

Breathe, dont panic and yes, take Grandma, shes good!
 

Soph895

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Remember eyes take along time. Months and months. Its not like a sticking plaster on and it's all better tomorrow.
It might be that your eyes now are relating to when you weren't in such good control, or between then and the injections they might start to recover somewhat.
They are funny things, eyes. Not like the rest of the body at all. But rest assured the professionals will take good care of you, especially if you say your nervous . I've had 3 actual operations and a) it didn't hurt! b) it's recovered well but does take time to get fully clear again.

Breathe, dont panic and yes, take Grandma, shes good!
Grandma really is good!, she my biggest support since I lost my mum as a child.

I’m trying to remain positive and try and hope my body in general will somewhat recover and stop getting worse.
I need to try and stop blaming myself all the time, my friend just told me this, and said I’ve gone through a lot of trauma in my life that wasn’t my fault and has impacted my mental and physical health. But I can take accountability for right now and my future