Now I have a blind eye

Carool

BeckyTice, I’m glad you are pursuing this. As you said, doing so is cathartic — and you may well win and not only get money but also help other patients of his who might decide to avoid him if they read about your claim. You deserve reparations for what he did (not that money can ever replace eyesight).

And of course you should talk here! That’s why we’re all here.

What you wrote about your husband made me laugh! My partner gets tired of hearing my repetitive stories (about anything) that I tell my friends when I’m on the phone, and he makes “noises” similar to your husband’s.

BeckyTice

Carool, thank you.....

Back when they did the last two surgeries on my belly, the doctor didn't tell me that I had no more nerves in my belly. I had a lot of gas so I laid a heating pad on my belly to ease the gas. It wasn't until I smelled the skin burning that I figured out it was too hot. Of course I was still slow to heal from the chemo and the surgeries..... so the burns got infected... and that required trips to the hospital for treatments.

I didn't sue the doctor or the hospital. There are scars but that's not a real loss..... I mean my stomach is a mine field of ugly after so many cancer surgeries.... what's the big deal. I wrote them a letter about what happened and now... they warn people. That's good enough for me....

But this time.... I lost an eye. The guy is nice.... and I'm sure he must be a good surgeon.... but he omitted a step.... one that I'm sure he never really had to discuss before... I mean thousand and thousands of people live down in that valley.... only a few thousand of us live up on the hill... and with today's roads.... we don't even realize the altitude changing. So most of the time he would check the altitude and it's no big deal.... then again.... some of us are allergic to adhesive so they check to see if we need paper tape.... most don't but I do..... he's a nice guy.

I bet you.... they will be checking the altitude from now on. He could have used oil and it would have been successful. I could have stayed in town with my daughter and it would have been successful..... it's just the gas and altitude that did me in.... he's a nice guy... but he cut a corner and it cost me an eye. I've never been in a boat alone.... so I'm bringing action for the others in my boat who still have sight....

Do you remember when they didn't have those wrist bands.... lots of people got the wrong leg lopped off before they started checking the wrist band or putting a mark in permanent marker on the part they are operating on. So I'll be teaching him not to cut corners.

AND it's expensive being blind.... it is.

Thanks for writing.... Becky

Carool

Becky, thank you.

He’s a nice guy, but he lied on the record, so that’s not so nice. We all get why he (or many people) would lie about that if in his position, but as another patient I’m not concerned with his position. And I know that women especially tend to feel compassion for others, including doctors trying to avoid owning up to an egregious medical error.

As you said, you’ll be saving others’ eyes.

BeckyTice

I do feel compassion .... this is true... he has three sons....

When it comes time for discovery... I'm going to ask if they did an internal investigation.... and what the investigation uncovered.... that might just work in place of having to hire another doctor to show what the first doctor did wrong. If they admit he omitted a step and changed the record to ignore something, then it might work in my favor and teach them all a lesson too.

Not to add more to this story.... the good eye started having some issues so I had to have a tiny bit of surgery on it.... different doctor...different practice..... and they were going to operate on the wrong eye. The nurse said "I'm sure you are a little anxious".... to which I hollered so all the other patients heard me... "Anxious hell, I'm petrified... I only have one good eye and this is not helping".... they checked the chart then because people were watching. The nurse said "good for you... you have to be your own best advocate".... yep... that happened too... different practice.

Good news.... I did find a great doctor. I was told I needed cataract surgery and a new lens in my good eye.... that surgery was a piece of cake.... I can see without glasses out of my good eye. I use readers for up close stuff. The staff was brilliant... they introduced themselves and touched me so I would know who and where... then they told me what they were going to do before they did it.... really.... I was not anxious at all.... brilliant doctor and staff.... East Valley....

Incidently... I asked the brilliant doc about my bad eye.... he agrees... it's gone.

Oh did you know "top doc" is a paid ad?

Being Blind is expensive.....

Thanks for reading.... Becky

Carool

OMG! That’s crazy!

It’s great that you have an excellent doctor. We depend on them a lot.

I’ve been very nearsighted since birth, probably, though my mother didn’t realize that until I was five. I need a cataract operation (or two). Will have it someday not too far from now.

When I mentioned being compassionate, I meant to not be all that compassionate about a doctor who won’t admit he XXXed up (I censored myself here before WN did). As you said, being blind is expensive and highly uncomfortable.

Carol

BeckyTice

People just don't believe that doctors make mistakes.... and that's because we need them so desperately when things go wrong.

I am so frustrated... seems like if a doc is going to forget to do something that day... it's me they forget to do it on.... the first cancer surgery got messed up because they didn't cut the hole large enough for the robot to pull the cancerous bowel out. It seeded the cancer at the spot where the robot went in and out.... then the doctor who fixed that... didn't tell me about no nerves... and he used hernia mesh to close up the wounds.... that went bad..... now this....

I wonder if I should start giving them all a lie detector or a test first.... lol

Maybe I should get better insurance.... lol

Thank you so much for reading.... Becky

Carool

Wow. You’ve sure been through some traumatic medical situations atop having cancer.

I believe that doctors can make mistakes — even the best doctors. The radiologist I’d gone to for years poo-poo’d the breast lump I showed her. She should’ve biopsied it right in her office; instead, after it didn’t appear on either a mammogram or an ultrasound, she said it’s nothing and I should come back in a year. Fortunately, when my gynecologist saw the report, she said that ultrasounds see breast cysts, so if a palpable lump didn’t appear on the ultrasound, I should have it biopsied. Thanks to her, I caught my cancer early.

When I told the radiologist that the lump she’d dismissed was malignant, she said airily, “I hope it’s not a quickie.” I think she was a psychopath (I had other reasons to think this).

I’ve gone to a few other bad doctors, too.

BeckyTice

We need doctors so bad..... there isn't time to weed out the morons.

Like I said.... I think I need better health insurance.... or I need to win the lottery so I can afford the rich man's doctor.

Whoops is not a good answer.

Thanks for reading... Becky

alivenwell

I wished I could do your 2 miles of walking. Exercise does really help stress. So do pets. Blood pressure goes down with a pet.

BeckyTice

alivenwell, I live in a community that is "pet friendly". I see people walking their dogs.... and really if the dogs didn't want to be around them... they could easily just leave them. A lot of the people in my neighborhood cannot control the dogs they are walking. The dogs just "allow" it. lol

Hubby and I started out just walking around the neighborhood.... We were newly retired, and I was newly in remission.... so we started slow... walking around the block. Then we tried walking the "trails" in the local park. The "trails" were all side walks but it got us walking a mile instead of a quarter mile. Then we went to a park at Silly Mountain. Silly Mountain is in the Superstition Mountain Range. It looks like a huge pile of dirt... but it's a rock mountain... and we took that hike. We were hooked....

If we couldn't go on a hike... we started walking around a city block a couple times until we had walked our two mile. I made myself get out and walk around the block this morning. I have my walking stick to keep me from walking off to the right because I'm learning to be monocular. I did a quarter mile this morning. Trails aren't safe for me yet... they are not level enough.

So... it's start slow.... then work your way back. Oh and don't buy a dog bigger than you can pick up.... because I've seen those little dogs just refuse to listen.... lol

Thanks for reading.... Becky

alivenwell

So true! That's incredibly impressive. Over twenty years ago, I used to do a 4 mile walk. Ironically, people felt sorry for me, but now, it's in vogue. I bought a watch that monitors the number of steps I take, heart rate, oxygen levels and the other watch does my blood pressure. It's giving me a better idea of the numbers. Last week, I went to Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia. My watch probably counted car vibrations at 5 miles. Most days are far less than that.

alivenwell

Maybe a treadmill could be useful on rainy days. I finally got one and it has this plastic piece that goes in the front and the string on it goes around your waist. The entire treadmill automatically stops if it senses the plastic piece has been pulled out. I have a few free weights, those rubber bands that look like they could go across the room, a long back massaging black and grey massage stick and an exercise bike. I am scared to ride a bike now. Unless I could wear a sensor that beeps when I get close to something. There was a guy who ran the Boston Marathon who was totally blind. He had to have somebody run aside of him, but he wore equipment with sensors that picked up items.

alivenwell

BeckyT, they have started to do vision restoration in mice. Although we are not mice (I eat cheese), it might be worth looking into in your free time. That is done with proteins. For glaucoma, they are replacing the destroyed optic nerve with a wireless transmission to the brain's vision center. I am not sure if macula degeneration is simply placing a microscopic unit in that very tiny macula or if they are working around it with other technology/chemistry. I never thought people would get eye injections. But my glaucoma was caught when I was 18 years old. Early detection seems to be the trick. I wear sunglasses anytime I go outdoors. Right after chemo, I had extremely sensitivity to light. Some really nice person sent a young man to my house so I would not have to shovel bright snow. I wish I knew who he was.

BeckyTice

alivenwell, I never had the time for exercise or walking before hubby and I retired and moved to AZ. I did the "Walk Away The Pounds" tapes with Leslie Sansone and I had a treadmill, but I was 325 pounds and trying to exercise it off. I had gastric bypass too.....

I read they are coming up with virtual glasses that will let me see everything through my glasses.... but I can't afford anything like that yet.

My PCP wants me to learn Braille. I'm 70 years old... I don't want to learn another language. I would rather sew or crochet or hike or drive my car.

Oh pity me.... geeze.... It's only 4 AM where I am.... I have a long day to go... so I need to get on the good side of this day.

It's going to rain today.... we haven't had a real rain in Apache Junction, AZ for a couple years. I hope it drenches everything. I might just take my coffee out in the garage and watch the rain. That will get me back in the spirit. Maybe I'll "Walk Away The Pounds" while I can still see to enjoy it..... lol

I'm glad I had chemo. I'm glad my cancer is leaving me alone. I'm glad the Lyme Disease is leaving me alone. I'm glad hubby and I can enjoy this day together. It's just one eye... I'm lucky I still have another eye that is working. I'm lucky....

I JUST HAD A PERFECT BLOOD TEST! They didn't test for cancer. I asked them not to, but, everything else was PERFECT.... I'm lucky....

Thanks for reading,
Becky

They have been warning me about glaucoma for years. You are a brave soul to deal with it for so long.....

Carool

Becky, good to know that your blood test was so good.

And that you and your husband can do things together.

alivenwell, that’s fascinating and encouraging info about what scientists are doing to restore vision. I read that ophthalmologists (or ophthalmology?) are in the forefront of every other medical specialists in new ways to help people.

BeckyTice

Carool.... we don't do those walks anymore.... that's how I started walking. My depth perception and double vision makes walking or riding in a car nearly impossible. I have a walking stick I have to use to just walk around the block to get the mail.

I called the place where the last surgery took place to get my medical records. I learned that I don't have a clear caulk like thing in my eye.... it's oil.... that's interesting.... I'm going to read those reports and do a bunch of googling today....

The oil I read about has to be removed and replaced after a few months.... the caulk is permanent. I hope she was just reading about the 2nd surgery and not the final one..... we'll see.

Carool

Becky, I’m sorry I misunderstood about walking more than a short distance.

alivenwell

Check the May 21, 2021 issue of the NY Times. A person gained vision in one eye. That research was stopped with the pandemic but he kept doing daily walks with partial vision that could see pavements. That researched mentioned various methods of vision restoration. It was beyond my knowledge of biology but maybe it has potential. They also used methods of building a new retina on another area of the eye.

alivenwell

Link to NY Post:
https://nypost.com/2021/05/25/blind-mans-vision-partially-restored-after-algae-gene-therapy/