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Wife Judy: Eye Condition

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 06:32 pm

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Note: originally I reported that she has or might have a detached retina. But it seems more likely now, before we have obtained a professional diagnosis (though we're not absolutely sure) that it is what is called vitreous detachment -- see my post on Saturday, 4-12-08). This is a far less serious condition, but could possibly lead to the other.

* * * * *

I'd like to ask for prayer for my wife Judy. This was discovered at the optometrist on Friday. She had had some symptoms for a while but we thought they were part of what is called "map dot dystrophy" -- that she was diagnosed with before. We didn't think there was anything that could be done about that.

Now it's a different ballgame, and more serious, but there are several treatments that are apparently pretty successful and easily performed. They have laser surgery and some other procedures where substances are inserted to work as a sort of "glue."

We have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday). Now that we know about this we are told that we should move very quickly on it, because it can be potentially vision-threatening.

We're pretty sure that we are covered through a health insurance plan we have through a hospital. It'll be confirmed today.

Thanks beforehand for any prayers. We deeply appreciate it.

Last edited on Sat Apr 12th, 2008 06:24 pm by Dave Armstrong

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David W. Emery
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 06:40 pm

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You have mine, Dave.

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rbo4u2
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 06:46 pm

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Dave, After all you've done for me, I can guarantee I'll pray for your wife.

Rich

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sewnsew
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 06:49 pm

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I will pray for Judy and that everything goes smoothly. It is definately scary I know.

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CajunRick
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 07:16 pm

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For what it's worth, I know dozens of people who have had successful retina reattachment, and no one who has had a problem. Judy will be in our prayers.

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 07:52 pm

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Thanks so much, everyone. We're pretty optimistic, and Rick's comment is wonderfully encouraging indeed. It's still scary, of course.

I'm just happy both of us will have normal vision soon. We both went over ten years getting new glasses, and have both needed bifocals for some time (the old "take the glasses off to read pill bottles" routine). Glasses weren't covered in our insurance, either, so I had to drop over $600 on Saturday for two pairs of glasses. Ouch!

I work on the computer without glasses (also read books without 'em). I'll probably try to use my new glasses on the computer, with progressive lenses in 'em, because I still need an aid, with a near-sighted right eye, and a far-sighted left eye with astigmatism! Lots of eye strain. Judy has the most trouble driving at night (I was having some strain too, but not nearly as bad as hers: now we know why it was so bad).

We're a virtual encyclopedia of eye problems over here!

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EMarshallBuckles
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 07:53 pm

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Yep! I am one of those people who has had retina problems - in my case it was a torn retina. The opthalmology (hope I spelled that correctly) specialist, at our local Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, did laser surgery which was performed outpatient and only took a short while, was very successful and I haven't had any problems since then. It is AMAZING what they can do with eye problems nowadays much of it outpatient. I pray for God's healing upon Judy's eye! :praying:

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EMarshallBuckles
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 07:57 pm

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Oh, just helpfully speaking, when Dr. Marcia Carney did my laser surgery, she put some drops in my eye just to make sure it was numb although she didn't anticipate pain. As she used the laser, it was very interesting! Sort of like watching a "Star Wars" video game, ha, ha! Again, I pray for God's blessing and healing of your wife!

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True Image
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 07:58 pm

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Praying for her! :praying:

Anne

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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 04:42 am

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Dave, I am praying for you and Judy.

Becky

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Didi
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 05:27 am

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Am joining the others in prayer! :praying:

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Ali
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 11:54 am

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Prayers for you two.

Ali

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Kim M.
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 01:11 pm

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Praying for you guys, Dave! :praying:

Let us know how it goes!

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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 03:03 pm

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Your wife will be in my prayers today. Who is the saint for good vision?

Re the laser surgery. When my son was six he had to have cataract surgery in both eyes (not at the same time) and later needed the laser surgery. Being a fretful mom, I asked the doctor how the laser beam could go through the eye and work on the back of the eye without harming the front of it. In a simple way, he said the laser is a ring of "rays" each of which is weak enough to pass through the front, but when they converge at one point in the back, their combined strength does the work.

I have often thought of that explanation as I pondered my process of conversion. A set of circumstances made it possible for me to open my eyes to the church Christ founded. My children were grown and no longer needed my direction there, my husband had grown into his own brand of personal faith, my parents were gone, I had stopped attending the baptist church out of apathy, lots of little messages came to me and caught my attention, etc. None of these would have been enough on its own to cause me to change, but when they all came together it was.

Anyway, I will pray for Judy this afternoon. God bless

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David W. Emery
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 03:50 pm

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Who is the saint for good vision?
You might try St. Lucy.

I’ve had vision problems all my life (wore bifocals beginning in my 40s, the past 15 years with trifocals), and yet I am a visual learner and my livelihood depends heavily on eyesight. But I do agree that the “inner vision” you speak of is most important to me. God’s grace certainly helps us “see” those things clearly.

David

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 04:48 pm

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Thanks again so much to all of you for your prayers and thoughtfulness. The Christian love in this forum truly becomes apparent when asking for prayer.

We have an appointment for Thursday but that is just for a referral, so it'll be several days before we know more.

Last edited on Wed Apr 9th, 2008 06:54 pm by Dave Armstrong

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Steven Barrett
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 02:54 am

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Dave, both of you have my prayers. I know how nervous you must be. My wife Ruth is going under for an eye surgery next week. (She has this muscle problem which can over time lead to blindness and years of even more migraines. I find out more, but it's it's not in the league of Judy's.)

Steven

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 06:55 pm

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That sounds at least as serious as Judy's problem, Steven, so you are in our prayers as well.

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Steven Barrett
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 08:01 pm

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Thank you Dave.

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Pani Rose
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 09:26 pm

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Lord of Powers be with us, for in times of distress we have no other helper but you. God of Powers have mercy on Ruth, Steven, Dave, and Judy. God bless you all!

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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 11:53 am

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Dave,

I'm a little behind on reading the forum, but I've added Judy to my prayers this morning.

Norm

aka Zosan

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3John4
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 04:48 pm

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Dave,

I haven't been on the forum for several days and just saw this. Do you remember offering me your prayers this past November when MY retina detached?

I will be praying fervantly! The doctor was right that immediate treatment is the key to vision recovery, so I hope a course of treatment will be determined in the next couple days. I had surgery to repair my detachment, and then a gas bubble was injected into the eye to hold the retina in place until the body produced enough water to replace the vitreous fluid that had to be removed in order to reattach the retina. Recovery required that my head be kept down 23 hours a day for a couple weeks. This is pretty much the standard procedure if surgery is performed. Please feel free to PM me if you any specific questions you think I might be able to help with.

Blessings,

Dede

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 05:56 pm

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Hi Dede,

That's right! Thanks for your comments. So it worked out okay for you? I've read about the gas bubble thing. Was your surgery with a laser or not?

Judy just went to a referral doctor today. We have to wait for when an eye doctor is available because we have this arrangement with a hospital for low-cost treatment (it's not really insurance, but more like low-cost medical treatment that covers up to 90%). It may just be a day or two.

We don't know what this would cost. Do you know if the places that do lasik vision correction also do these procedures? We considered contacting some of them as well. I wonder how much more is involved with this procedure compared to the vision correction surgery? Seems like (on the face of it) that it wouldn't be all that different, but perhaps a much higher degree of specialization and expertise is required.

I see commercials that offer the vision correction for as low as $299 and a maximum of $999.

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EMarshallBuckles
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 07:21 pm

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The Lasik vision places just specialize in vision correction and deal with the cornea as I understand it. You would need an opthalmologist who has training and experience in retina problems. Another possibility would be to check with one of the medical schools in your state. They may be able to connect you with a professor specializing in these matters and work out a deal with you financially.

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3John4
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 10:23 pm

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Dave,

If Judy really has a detached retina, not a tear, not a hole, but a retinal detachment, the usual course of treatment is surgery. Yes, it uses a laser, but it is quite involved and usually performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. I had to be awake for my surgery because I had a terrible cold and the anesthesiologist felt it was too risky to put me out. The operation took about two hours. I had absolutely no pain before, during or after. The worst part was just trying to avoid the boredom of being head down for several weeks afterward.

If when you do see an ophthamologist he determines that the retina is detached, I guarantee he'll recommend surgery in the next day or two. It is very important not to wait any longer than absolutely necessary to do the repair. That's why I had to have the surgery even with a bad cold.

I hope this information is helpful rather than anxiety-provoking. It's hard to know from what you've said if this is even relevant to Judy's case. Just make sure she knows she's being covered with prayers from many, many people.

Dede

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 11:10 pm

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Hi Dede,

Thanks to you and all who have prayed and offered information. The latest thing now is that we haven't been told how soon anything can be done. We have to wait for an available eye doctor, with this particular "health plan" (kinda sorta) that we are on (because only so many participate in it). The usual runaround . . . we had to get the referral first, and now we are waiting to see this person (whoever he or she is). It may not be too long, but probably won't be on the weekend, I imagine.

How much does this procedure cost? If it is $2000, we might go and do it as soon as we can, wherever we can. We can handle a $2000 debt. If it is, on the other hand, say, $20,000, then we certainly don't want to go tomorrow, get the bill and then hear the next day that we could have gotten it done two days later, 90% covered.

Such are the tough choices in modern-day America with health care and those of us in the lower middle class (if we can even be considered that) who are caught in the middle.

It could be that the optometrist said "detached retina" meaning "partially detached" or "tear." He's not trained to make a full diagnosis. He could have been speaking in terms of "worst case scenario" as doctors and other health workers often do. I suspect it is partial because we hadn't even known anything was radically wrong till 6 days ago. We thought what symptoms she did have were part of the map dot dystrophy.

How bad were your symptoms, and how long did they go on before the surgery? Maybe we can determine by a comparison if it is detached or a tear or something. Knowledge is power (and comfort!). For that matter, I could probably find that out by browsing the Internet too. One can find a great deal of medical information online.

If this is too "private," feel free to go to PM, of course.

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Dave Armstrong
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