Thank you NHS

[blue44]

Had floaters and bright lights appear in my left eye on Tuesday evening. Now what this means as I had it happen in my right eye 18 months ago.

I went straight to the opticians yesterday 11:40 morning for an emergency eye test. They than referred my notes to my doctor and hospital. Within 3 and a half hours I was in the hospital and by 7pm I had had lazor eye surgery.

What a fantastic service thank you NHS.

My 83 year old dad had laser treatment on weds this week,he has had macular degeneration for a few years now,been given many injections into his eye,but this week was given laser treatment,its improved his sight atm.

 

[blue whippet]

Congrats you FOC! Are yer moving to CBL3 next season? There's lots of grandads up here!

I'm not a grandad and I am up there but I am getting on a bit now, in the grand scheme of things I suppose!

 

[ob]

Called ambulance for my partner's father at 10 last night. He's very confused not sure how long he was on floor after falling. Potentially between 2-6 hours. Ambulance turned up at half past 12 and been in A&E since. Just got him a trolley and he's been examined now waiting to go for scans and/or x-rays. Work staff did on that night shift was amazing. I could barely remember my name, look at phone etc, they're running around saving people's lives

Little update, told us just before 8 scan would be in about an hour. Saw 3 Drs since then and each one said just sending you for CT scan now. One came over 5 minutes ago to talk about scan and he still hadn't been as they'd forgotten. Just gone up and I've been awake for 30 hours now

 

[inbetween]

Thanks for your reply. Here's a very brief account. Flashing lights, optician, eye hospital. Nowt wrong with your eyes see him, points to Neurologist, it's Migraine says he take these pills.*
One morning my right eye was so blurred I couldn't see properly. Taxi to eye hospital. 'Why are you here, you have floaters in your left eye, nowt wrong with your right.
My reply was so how come I can't see you properly. He actually did not answer, he just sat there.
Winter is back, flashing lights are prominent again, no one's arsed.

*Told by another neurologist not to take the pills as it was not migraine.

As I say thanks for your reply. I will have a think.

I don't know if you can afford it mate but you could pay privately to see a consultant ophthalmologist if they're being arsey with you. You'll be seen miles quicker and if the doctor practices in the NHS then they can refer you back through the NHS if you need treatment so you won't have to pay anymore.

This is unrelated but I was diagnosed this year with a condition caused by a hole in the bone between my inner ear and brain. I've probably had it all my life but I had no symptoms until it came on suddenly 2 years ago. I can hear my eyes move in that ear and I get dizzy when exercising, loud noises also set it off so going to matches can be a nightmare. It doesn't stop me functioning but it definitely affects quality of life.

I failed miserably to get this diagnosed on the NHS because nobody would take it seriously. I had an MRI which came back clear, at one point they put me on a blood pressure monitor because they thought it was that but they just wouldn't listen to my symptoms. They had no idea what was wrong and eventually they called it anxiety and because nothing serious was going on I just had to live with it.

I googled my symptoms and found out that everything I had matched a condition called Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence which is relatively common but it's rare to become symptomatic. I paid privately to see a professor who specialises in the condition in London (£200) and he referred me back through the NHS to do a specific CT scan. The scan showed the hole clear as day so I'm now considering whether to have surgery in London to fix it.

I would never have got diagnosed had I not gone to a specialist privately. Obviously my case is a bit different but if you're worried and are having bad symptoms then I would consider a private consultation, if only to get a second opinion if you can afford it.

 

[bluemanchester]

My 83 year old dad had laser treatment on weds this week,he has had macular degeneration for a few years now,been given many injections into his eye,but this week was given laser treatment,its improved his sight atm.

I have wet macular degeneration and have been going for eye injections for 3 years, initially every 4 weeks then 6 weeks now every 8 weeks as it is stabilised. I have not heard of laser treatment for wet and wondered if your dad has dry macular degeneration. I do know that before the treatment for macular degeneration was discovered I would have lost the sight in one eye and eventually in my "good" eye which has not been injected for over 18 months now. Anyway another thumbs up gor our wonderful NHS.

 

[blue44]

I have wet macular degeneration and have been going for eye injections for 3 years, initially every 4 weeks then 6 weeks now every 8 weeks as it is stabilised. I have not heard of laser treatment for wet and wondered if your dad has dry macular degeneration. I do know that before the treatment for macular degeneration was discovered I would have lost the sight in one eye and eventually in my "good" eye which has not been injected for over 18 months now. Anyway another thumbs up gor our wonderful NHS.

Im at work at Tameside atm,just phoned me dad and he does have wet macular degeneration,like you he has been having injections for a few years .
He goes to Rochdale for his treatment.

 

[bluemanchester]

Im at work at Tameside atm,just phoned me dad and he does have wet macular degeneration,like you he has been having injections for a few years .
He goes to Rochdale for his treatment.

Interesting. Does he think the laser treatment is to do away with the injections. Obviously I am a patient and not an expert and my problem is a small blood vessel in my eye burst and my vision is wavy in one eye. For instance when doing a vision chart for that eye I have to constantly move my head and can only read to the third line. Is the laser just to stabilise the vision at that level like the injections or does it correct it to pre macular levels that is what interests me and the level of improvment since treatment. I go to Manchester for my injections.

 

[gaz76]

Little update, told us just before 8 scan would be in about an hour. Saw 3 Drs since then and each one said just sending you for CT scan now. One came over 5 minutes ago to talk about scan and he still hadn't been as they'd forgotten. Just gone up and I've been awake for 30 hours now

Hope it all turns out OK mate

 

[blue44]

Interesting. Does he think the laser treatment is to do away with the injections. Obviously I am a patient and not an expert and my problem is a small blood vessel in my eye burst and my vision is wavy in one eye. For instance when doing a vision chart for that eye I have to constantly move my head and can only read to the third line. Is the laser just to stabilise the vision at that level like the injections or does it correct it to pre macular levels that is what interests me and the level of improvment since treatment. I go to Manchester for my injections.

I'll phone him later and ask,I'm really busy at work mate.

 

[ob]

Hope it all turns out OK mate

Thanks mate, got infection so started some antibiotics. CT etc came back clear which is good