Forum Replies Created
-
I don’t even know where to begin. My mother (who is 79 now) was diagnosed with Grave’s in the 60’s. She had the RAI treatment and has been on Synthroid for I don’t know how long. Her "bulging" eyes have never bothered her. In fact, as a nurse, she has been able to share her condition with others and offer encouragement, etc. The woman is a saint!
For the past at leasts 6 years, she’s been seeing an eye doctor who – I just discovered after reading her medical records – [u:adjx61vh][b:adjx61vh]has NOT been helping her[/b:adjx61vh][/u:adjx61vh]. He keeps saying it’s not this, it’s not that. Finally, on his last entry a month ago, he put a comment about Hyperthyroid Eye Disease. My mom also mentioned on her last visit that the doctor said something about compression. But, that’s where it stopped. This man – and I’m using that term loosely – never even referred her off to an endocrinologist during all this time. For that matter, neither did her personal doctor! ARGH! ARGH!
I’m a professional writer so research is my middle name! Thus, 3 days ago I began researching on my own. After reading all that I have, I am 100% certain my mom’s eye issues – e.g., worsening blurry vision – are because of her Grave’s and optical nerve compression. I am taking her to a new eye specialist on Monday. (Just so happens I found this eye specialst on the internet and when I called her office, her office manager is a woman I went to Jr. High and High School with! Praise the Lord!)
My mom suffered two small strokes early last week and fell and broke her hip. So, right now she’s sitting in a convelesant hospital recovering from the hip surgery having some memory "hiccups" and obsessing about her vision problem. (My Aunt, who’s a nurse, said after a stroke patients who have visual issues have a tendency to believe they are far worse than they are.)
My parents have traveled by RV my entire life (and I’m 48). In fact, up until 2 years ago, they were still actively traveling. However, with little to no vision, traveling is just not in the game plan any longer. I am torn between ANGER and DEVASTATION as what has happened to my mom. This woman had 2 children die in infancy, adopted my brother and I and (along with my dad) has given us a wonderful life. She has done nothing but help the world, putting her needs behind everyone else’s.
In my gut, I know that my mom’s eyesight can be helped with optical decompression surgery. No matter where my dad and I have to take her (even the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota), no matter how much it costs, we will do anything and everything to get her eyesight restored!!
I am so grateful to have found this web site and, after reading a large number of posts, feel more encouraged that my mom may be able to see better.
