Detached retina

Posted by northoftheborder @northoftheborder, 21 hours ago

As if prostate cancer, spinal injury, and hormone-therapy and radiation side-effects weren't enough, almost half of the retina in my left eye detached itself yesterday evening.

On the bright side, at the ER last night I got called in from the waiting room after triage literally the second my behind hit the seat, and was home again in just over three hours. Long ER waits in Ontario are all over the news, but when it's a real emergency, they move fast.

They confirmed the problem with an eye exam and ultrasound, booked me in for treatment at ophthamology at 7:00 am, then sent me home for a few hours sleep. By 8:30 am, I'd been reassessed, had a procedure and was on my way home.

Now I just have lie in weird, uncomfortable positions until Wednesday afternoon, when they verify it worked (it seems to be, so far). I'm allowed to get up and move around for only 10 minutes every hour.

Thanks for listening. Like almost everyone in the forum, I've been through much worse, but I just needed to vent. 🙂

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gently | @gently | 21 hours ago

northofborder, this is a major success story, rather than a vent. Bless your recovery.

peterj116 | @peterj116 | 20 hours ago

Wow. You've really been through the wars.
Glad it's all sorted.

dailyeffort | @dailyeffort | 17 hours ago

North, so sorry you had to endure yet another unnerving addition to your extensive medical resume, and relieved that the treatment seems to be working. I'm looking forward to the day you share that this latest ordeal has been put in the rear view mirror. Thoughts and prayers.
Bill

mjp0512 | @mjp0512 | 14 hours ago

Wow, sorry you're going through more crap. Was there any trauma to cause this or did it just come apart by itself?

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | 11 hours ago

In reply to @mjp0512 "Wow, sorry you're going through more crap. Was there any trauma to cause this or did..." + (show)

@mjp0512 I had a lingering cold and coughed hard for several weeks (I don't cough normally with my spinal fusion, because my chest can't accordion like most people's do). The opthomologist said that was a possible cause, but she didn't sound too convinced. Most of the time these just happen.

vircet | @vircet | 11 hours ago

In reply to @dailyeffort "North, so sorry you had to endure yet another unnerving addition to your extensive medical resume,..." + (show)

@northoftheborder I am adding my own to @dailyeffort ‘s “thoughts and prayers” for you. ( In Dr Patrick Walsh’s Surviving Prostate Cancer, there were three paragraphs on “Faith, Prayer, and Spirituality” (pp. 420-421).)
In the book that I wrote and published in Amazon on Nov 25, the 10th (last) last chapter mentioned my own experience about “faith and the will to live” when I was so close to death many years ago, that a doctor friend in the church said I was so lucky to survive; of the three people he knew to have had the disease I had, I was the only who “lived and walked.” You have been through a lot and your story is already more compelling than mine. Blessings,

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | 11 hours ago

Interesting side story: ChatGPT's language model generated "reassuring" text suggesting it was nothing to worry about, just a lot of floaters dislodged by my coughing.

However, since ChatGPT doesn't have a medical degree, I went to the ER anyway and they begged to differ. The retinal detachment had almost reached my macula (the pinprick in the middle which lets me read and focus and see colours) — yesterday morning, the opthamologist wasn't willing to delay even 4 hours longer for surgery, because he said it might be too late, so he treated me right there and then with pneumatic retinopexy (gas bubble injection), which started showing improvement right away.

Even my nearly 50 years of computer experience (including AI and generative grammar) wasn't enough to keep me from temptation when the human-sounding text ChatGPT generated told me what I wanted to hear, thar everything was fine. I thought my experience and knowledge made me immune, but I barely resisted: I now realise that when I'm scared and vulnerable, it's playing with fire. If I'd waited another day, I might have lost sight in my left eye permanently, or at best, had to lie face down for 6 weeks hoping my macula would reattach.

ChatGPT account: deleted.

heavyphil | @heavyphil | 10 hours ago

In reply to @northoftheborder "@mjp0512 I had a lingering cold and coughed hard for several weeks (I don't cough normally..." + (show)

@northoftheborder Yup, especially if you are extremely nearsighted like I am. My ophthalmologist said that it ‘probably’ will happen but you can’t really do anything until it does. Excellent prognosis, though, so you are gonna be fine. Best,
Phil

xahnegrey40 | @xahnegrey40 | 10 hours ago

I had a torn retina yrs ago- it was scary but amazing how easily and quickly it was fixed with ARGON laser...I wish you a quick recovery...lots of blood flow in that area and it will heal up nicely I bet...the first 48 hrs are critical to not re injure...

hope they gave you some sleep medicine..and I hope you have someone to assist while you recover !!
Best wishes !