My eye problems

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Some of you will already have heard bits of this, but not all.

About a month or so ago, I woke up one morning with significantly worse eyesight than the day before. It was as if someone had smeared vaseline in my eyes. My reading speed had dropped by 80% or more. Eventually either my right eye got better or I realised that most of the problem was with the left eye. It got easier most of the time, and even when it was bad covering the left eye meant I could see okay with the right alone.

On Monday the 11th things got much worse. My right eye was about as bad as the left. Reading my book on the journey to work was impossible. I adjusted my PC's resolution to make everything as big as possible - still no good. I used the Windows magnifier to boost everything to a huge degree, and could at least read a few words at a time that way.

I saw an optician that day. The eye tests and the lack of effect of any of their lenses suggested it was medical rather than something they could fix. She wrote a letter for my doctor, instructing him to refer me to a specialist for an urgent appointment. She said I could expect to see someone within two weeks. I saw my GP the following morning, and he wrote the required letter.

It got a bit better, and by the weekend I was reading books quite comfortably again. Then this Tuesday morning, it was back to its worst. I gave up at about 11am at work, and came home. I couldn't get hold of my GP yesterday, but did this morning. He told me I could expect an appointment in 3-4 months. I pointed out that I was incapable of work, so he suggested I go to Moorfields Hospital, the only London one with an eye emergency department. So I went down there this morning.

It was nearly four hours of going into one room, having a test, getting some eye drops, wait a bit, then off with someone else. Seven separate lots of eye drops and lots of bright lights and straining left my eyes aching and runny by the time I finally saw the doctor. Cataracts, he said. Unusual in someone my age, but apparently the very large doses of beclomethasone, a steroid-based drug, for my asthma over the last 30 years was the explanation. I expressed surprise that these could come on so quickly. He said that they didn't appear overnight, but that you might not notice a gradual decline until it crossed some threshold. I pointed out that I had my eyes tested two months ago, and they were 20-20, and that it had been far from a gradual decline but a spectacular* overnight one. He pointed out in irritated tones that he had 15 years of training in this and did I have some basis for questioning his diagnosis? No? Good.

Apparently I could expect no improvement without an operation on both eyes. I am going to be put forward for this quickly (since it has been preventing me from working), so it will be weeks rather than months.

Except by the time I had got back to the tube station after this, and my eyes had stopped watering and hurting, I noticed that my vision was miles better. I thought I'd pull out the book I'd been unable to read a line of since Sunday - and I could read easily and comfortably, back to normal speed. My eyes are, at time of writing, the best they have been in over a month. Obviously I don't know if this will last.

Anyway, wish me luck. I hope the surgery won't be needed, but if it is I hope it comes quickly and is wholly successful.

*Yes, I am well aware of the irony of this word here, and like it.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

hope everything works out for the best.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck, Martin! I'm not sure how the health care system works in the UK, but can you seek a second opinion? The doctor sounded dismissive of your concerns.

― Larcole (Nicole), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck Martin! Hope it all goes well!

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, you are genuinely one of the nicest people I know. I hope everything works out well for you, it must be some shock. Good luck!

― David. (Cozen), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

cataracts which can temporarily get better again? hmmmm — i think larcole is right, you should definitely try and get a second opinion

on the other hand, the cataract operation is a straightforward and unrisky one, and and if it *is* cataracts then it isn't something weird and unknown and worse (i am quite distrustful of the steroid option for asthma, though of course mine is nothing liek as serious as yours)

anyway best of luck, martin: this totally suXoRs obv

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

my father in law and his own father both have had cataract surgery and it was quick with no complications. However, I would def. get a second opinion, because my father-in-law also recently lost most of his sight in one eye and it turned out to be a hole in his retina, which is significantly more serious than a cataract. Do get someone else to take a look.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck Martin, I hope everything turns out ok!

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been so sorry to hear of these problems. Health problems can be so scary and frustrating. Good luck...everyone else OTM irt second opinion. Hugs and good thoughts to you.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sorry Martin. Good luck.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I wish you the greatest luck possible, Martin, and echo what Cozen said. And this won't help at all -- but if it were me in your shoes, I would be absolutely panicking, so kudos for handling it so well.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Both my parents just had this done (they're both in their late 70's) and it came off without a hitch. However I can't believe cataracts can come and go in their effects. I thought once you had them it was a permanent situation until surgery.

Best of Luck!

― lawrence kansas (lawrence kansas), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope everything will be back to normal soon for you!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Take care Martin. Hope you can get some sort of satisfactory answer and that you'll be on the mend quickly!

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck Martin. I can't believe that cataracts would appear and disappear. I would think it'd be more of an eye infection that could cause swelling or something. But, of course I don't even have enough medical qualifications to apply a bandage.

― Dale the Titled (cprek), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

My vision has been perfect for the four hours or so since I left the hospital!

The next step is an appointment with the cataract specialists at that hospital, so that will be a second opinion. Obviously I will be reluctant to go for surgery for cataracts without being much more convinced, and without the problem reappearing.

I forgot to mention that the optician I saw last week said I had slight cataracts, but that was NOT the problem, and they couldn't cause such quick changes. I am more persuaded by her thinking so far.

Most importantly, thanks to all for the kind thoughts.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry that I didn't see this til now, but know I'm hoping you get well as quick as possible. Sorry that you have had such a difficult experience with those other doctors: the NHS can apparently make some people cranky, as well as unprofessional. This may sound weird, but get as many different medical opinions as you can; don't stop at a few. (I know Lars said so already, but it bears repeating.)

Is it possible that the condition could be a degeneration of some sort? (I know, only the specialist could tell that. But he/she could check for any symptoms.)

A hug and do keep us posted on what happens!

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey, Martin, best of luck. Both my parents had cataract surgery and it was a success.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeeps, Martin, that doctor wasn't a help for you at all, I'm thinking! My best for whatever happens next -- which, hopefully, will be a return to normal eyesight and then calm. :-)

― Thy Lethal Zen Ned (Ned), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck Martin and best wishes toward getting this all figured out and a smooth recovery!

I know I've mentioned it here before, but to all astmatics I must again praise the Buteyko method of breathing to help your condition. My dad had it pretty bad from the age of 6 mos and started this program at the age of 48 when his condition worsened and he became frustrated at the prospect of using steroids for the rest of his life. Within a year he was healthier than I've ever seen him, and he does not need an inhaler any more.

http://www.buteyko.co.uk/

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

my best, Martin

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

A few minutes ago, my left eye underwent a fast deterioration, a really marked decline in a few seconds. Right eye is still perfect. This seems so out of keeping with the doctor's explanation.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Our thoughts are of course with you. Keep us up to date. This does sound bizarre. Hopefully the catract specialist will be able to figure it out.

― Texas Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 19:14 (twenty-one years ago)

good luck Martin. why are there are so many doctors who are so horrible to their patients? And, as Texas Sam said, hopefully the specialist will sort things out to yr satisfaction.

― MarkH (MarkH), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

best of luck Martin!! this sounds really trying and terrifying, and like everyone here I hope you find a doctor with some insight and compassion.

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sorry to hear that, Martin. I wonder if this could be a serious case of floaters or a partially detached retina that moves in and out of position. I get floaters now and then but it's just bad enough to be annoying.

― nickn (nickn), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm very sensitive to eye troubles, and my god Martin do be well.

xp with nickn: As far as diagnoses, could it be something retinal? The blurred obstruction akin to "floaters" (which I think are bits of the retina sloughing off). The problem part is when there are tears (not cryign tears, rather rip tears) or inordinate sloughing that can cloud vision, and what little understanding I have of this problem might line up with your condition (intermittent and abrupt changes).

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I've always said that it is as if someone has smeared stuff on my eyes. I note that the dramatic improvement this afternoon followed loys of eye drops. This doesn't get me to an explanation, but it does make me wonder if it might be something at the very front surface of the eye.

At this point, the left eye is quite bad again, the right still rather good.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Floaters can appear to be a surface/corneal phenomenon.

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't just mean that it looks that way, it's just that the eye drops seems far more likely to have affected the surface or cornea than the retina, say. This is guesswork. I have the odd tiny floater, but I don't think that's the main point. I really don't know, I'm just speculating. In a way I'd like it to be cataracts, given that it is a standard and quick operation with an excellent success rate - if it's not that, I don't know where I am.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm, good point. In any case, here's hoping for the best.

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 21:18 (twenty-one years ago)

best of luck.
Please get another opinion on this. someone close had this sort of thing & it turned out to be a stygmatism?

― kephm, Wednesday, 20 August 2003 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, Martin, I too am sorry I didn't see this earlier and am riddled with concern for you; ditto Tep's congratulations on staying so calm.

I can't wait for you to see that specialist. I know someone who had vision problems as a result of medications and ... well, I don't want to be alarmist because her circumstances were different, but ... Yes, as everyone has said, get as many professional opinions as you can. And I'm sending out positive vibes to you ... can you feel 'em???

― jewelly (jewelly), Thursday, 21 August 2003 02:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck Martin

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Thursday, 21 August 2003 02:59 (twenty-one years ago)

i had my eyes tested today, it was kind of nice having someone take an interest in me that was completely impersonal & stuff...you know what i mean...maybe not...but anyway you can actually enjoy stuff like that, it's possible. anyway good luck man & here is a song for you :
http://www.angrysamoans.com/lyrics/LightsOut.jpg

― duane, Thursday, 21 August 2003 03:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, despite not being an eye doctor, I'm almost positive there is something amiss with your retina, since these are the exact symptoms my father in law had, and another friend was warned of by his eye doctors (he apparently was "at risk" for detached retinas). Best of luck, I'm sure it's rectifiable.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Thursday, 21 August 2003 03:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I am sorry to hear of your problems. Best of luck.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Thursday, 21 August 2003 04:07 (twenty-one years ago)

martin i have just found this thread and agree that you need much more investigation of why your problem seems to come and go so rapidly.
good luck! it sucks to have eyesight problems. i really hope this can be sorted quickly for you.

― donna (donna), Thursday, 21 August 2003 05:18 (twenty-one years ago)

good luck martin, hope all is well.

― H (Heruy), Thursday, 21 August 2003 06:29 (twenty-one years ago)

so sorry to hear about this martin. good luck with getting a proper diagnosis and getting the problem fixed.

― angela (angela), Thursday, 21 August 2003 07:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Best of luck, Martin. This kind of stuff terrifies me.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 21 August 2003 08:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Hadn't seen this til now. I hope everything works out for you Martin. My thoughts are definitely with you, pls keep us posted.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 21 August 2003 09:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck Martin. I had a friend who lost all vision in his left eye - turned out he had an overactive pituiary gland or something and there was a fluid buildup (something produced by said gland) that caused pressure against his optic nerve causing vision loss!

Also 'Steriod' is used in the chemistry sense as a class of compounds with a similar chemical structure - they differ from one another by having different side chains. Most hormones are steroids - like testosterone, estrogen and cortisone. Certains steroids are therefore used in oral contraceptives, as treatments for ashthma, as treatments for skin problems, and anabolic steroids are used by bodybuilders. I think some people assume that the sort that are used to treat asthma are the same as used by bodybuilders and therefore don't take them thinking they'll get hairy or something. I'm not saying anyone at ILX thinks this way, but I'd just like to clear the whole 'steroid' issue up in case there was someone out there who was confused. Not that Asthma steriods don't have some side-effects...

― marianna, Thursday, 21 August 2003 09:38 (twenty-one years ago)

All the best Martin - you definitely need a second opinion, I do wish doctors would actually listen to and believe in their patients' symptoms rather than go for 'best fit' all the time. i suppose they get a lot of hypochondriacs but still it must be very frustrating.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 21 August 2003 10:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry to hear about this Martin. Best of luck.

― robster (robster), Thursday, 21 August 2003 10:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Just discovered this thread and thought I'd offer my words of support.

I was born with cataracts in both eyes, left one fully formed and the right half formed. As such I had no sight in my left eye and blurred in my right eye, plus astigmatism which didn't help much. None of this was discovered until I was five. By then my parents were worried about me falling over all the time, but I'd still learnt to read and do things normally (which I find quite amazing). As such, at five, my left eye was operated on in the only way they knew how at the time (mid 70s), which was to drill a hole in the lens. Traumatic for a five year old! Three weeks in hospital, six months of eye drops and for little gain. But that's a side issue. Everything was basically correctable with glasses, and life continued with one eye for the foreseeable.

What my parents didn't tell me was that the cataract in the right eye was going to get worse, and that they expected me to be blind by the time I was 21. Luckily, that didn't happen. It happened when I was 31 instead. Much like your case Martin, one day my eyesight was just a hell of a lot worse than it was the day before, I can almost pinpoint the day it happened, suddenly I couldn't read my PC screen, or any books, and I hated bright lights. Like you, I saw a specialist who said that the cataract had expanded to the point where I could no longer see through it and they recommended I have a cataract removal operation as soon as possible. I had to stop work immediately and sit in a dark room (and the cinema, oddly enough) for about six weeks while my mother-in-law forked out the £2000 for the op to be done privately.

And although it seems very traumatic, the difference is absolutely incredible. I'm not sure from what you've written what kind of op you need, but I had my right lens removed and a plastic lens added in its place. Admittedly this was a fixed focus lens, and I now have three pairs of glasses for different focusing (one for close reading, one for computer work, one for distance), but it's made such a difference to my life. I am now learning to drive, which I could never do before, I can see things far in the distance which people with good eyesight can't see. While I had my right eye done privately (six weeks waiting list), my left eye was done on the NHS with a six month waiting list (it wasn't so important,and didn't make such a difference).

After the op, it takes about six weeks for full recovery, you have to be very careful about bending over so as not to put pressure on the eye, there'll be eyedrops aplenty, and it will hurt like buggery for a while. Oh, and it'll look like someone's punched you in the eye. If you have the choice, go for a general anaesthetic over a local (they usually offer general to younger people). And don't be afraid, it can only make your life so much better.

Good luck! If you need more info then mail me off-board.

― Rob M (Rob M), Thursday, 21 August 2003 10:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks, everyone. The good thoughts really help.

I don't know what to say about the specifics. The fact that it is coming and going still makes me doubt the cataract explanation, but really I'm pretty ignorant. Today it's quite bad - I'm needing to use the magnifier built in on Windows to read things. I'm going to stay pretty unhappy about all this until I am more convinced that someone really understands what is wrong. I'm not terribly scared of an operation, and I know that cataract surgery has a very good success rate, I am just not convinced it's necessarily addressing what is wrong with my eyes. To go through surgery and find that I still couldn't see would be almost unbearable, I think.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 21 August 2003 11:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, this is too bad. All I can say is I hope that you can get some better info from a second opinion that leads you in the right direction. Best wishes and keeping my fingers crossed for you.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 21 August 2003 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, please let me know if any of this trouble will mean that you'd need to rethink letting me crash at yer place in October, and I'll look for alternate spots to stay. Again, hope this all gets settled soon.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 21 August 2003 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Jesus Christ, Martin, that is horrible. My left eye is significantly messed up, so I'm especially terrified of optic problems. My heart goes out to you, man. Best of luck and I hope your find a solution to this.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 21 August 2003 14:18 (twenty-one years ago)

My sympathies, Martin.

I had a cataract in my right eye which 'frosted' it overnight! I had perfectly good vision in the eye (although it was fighting an amoebal infection) on the night of February 10th 1998. On the morning of February 11th I woke up with my right eye effectively blind. I could see light but no detail at all. It was like looking at a pane of frosted glass.

I had a cataracts operation which restored about 70% of vision to the eye (the 30% wasn't because of cataracts but because of the corneal graft I'd also had in the interim) but it eventually went blind for reasons to do with amoebas and veins. Cataracts on their own can be very successfully removed and the people at Moorfields know what they're doing. Don't worry (unless you have other, worse stuff going on in the eye as well).

― Nick Currie (Momus !), Thursday, 21 August 2003 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Paddy MacAloon to thread.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 21 August 2003 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Hang in there, pardner.

("Lights Out" is one of the all-time greatest songs in the history of rock n roll)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 21 August 2003 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, hope everything works out. Stay positive and keep us posted! xxx

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 21 August 2003 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Good Luck Martin, hope this all gets sorted out. I think you need a second opinion too.

― smee (smee), Thursday, 21 August 2003 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks again for all the kind words. Ned, if I need to have surgery and if I end up having that surgery around the time you're here there might be stuff to sort out, but it's too early to predict any of that now.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 22 August 2003 16:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Hope you find out exactly what is wrong and get it fixed ASAP.

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 23 August 2003 01:40 (twenty-one years ago)

It's very bad today - back to the worst it's been. Reading anything, even using the Windows magnifier, is very slow. It's really depressing me by now.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 23 August 2003 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

:-( *many good thoughts*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 23 August 2003 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

me too

― s1utsky (slutsky), Saturday, 23 August 2003 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Aw, Martin hon, good wishes and my sympathies galore.

Damn these eye problems, huh? Here's to hoping the very best happens for you, as well as for future advances in eye treatments and surgeries.

― Just Deanna (Dee the Lurker), Saturday, 23 August 2003 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I´ll tell you this, Martin. You´re WAY braver than I ever could be. I know it´s hard to keep a game face on, all things considered, but you´re hardcore, man. Know it. I wish I had the strength and courage to keep cool and calm under the given circumstances. I got WD-40 sprayed on my eyes when I was 10, and went blind for a day. After a long eyewash therapy session at the hospital, I managed to salvage 85% of my vision. I was told I would go blind eventually. When exactly? No one knew, but ten years have passed and it´s stayed the same. What I mean to say is you have to hang on in there and keep on at it. You´ve always got to hope for the best, which is why I only wish you the best. And nothing less.

Am I rambling again?

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Saturday, 23 August 2003 17:36 (twenty-one years ago)

It's nothing to do with bravery or toughness - I don't have too many options.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 24 August 2003 08:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I wouldn´t had even considered any options. I guess because I usually act a petty coward when confronted with that sort of situation.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Sunday, 24 August 2003 15:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Here is where Martin lets us know how his eye is doing!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Very good indeed today, thanks. But then I got home and found my appointment had arrived - and it's in October! Had my sight continued as it was, I might kick up a fuss, but it is close to perfect right now so I'm not too bothered. If it deteriorates badly again, October will seem an awfully long wait.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

From recent experience I suggest not touching your eye directly after dicing extremely hot red chili peppers. Nor any other part of your body.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Or better still, have nothing to do with such horrible foodstuffs.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Leave it to the English to call peppers "horrible foodstuffs"?

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, I can't believe I didn't find this thread until now. I really hope you're doing well.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I suggest not touching your eye directly after dicing extremely hot red chili peppers. Nor any other part of your body.

I suggest not dicing any part of your body especially your eyes if they are already causing some probs.

seriously, though, martin, eye problems are one [or two] of my biggest fears for myself and I hope that yours are very not serious and temporary.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Leee, most English people are very keen indeed on all that nasty spicy food. I'm not.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I feel a bit awkward to have been so jokey on this thread.

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

No offense done, I hope.

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Not at all, Leee! No one has said anything that has bothered me in the slightest here - I've just been really pleased that so many people give a damn.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, I hope your eyes hold out ok until October & then it's all fixable. Good luck!!

― lyra (lyra), Thursday, 28 August 2003 03:06 (twenty-one years ago)

good luck w. all this unpleasantness martin!

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Thursday, 28 August 2003 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I've only just noticed this thread... good luck with everything Martin.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 28 August 2003 07:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks again, all. My eyes are very good today, so I'm not down about it now.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 28 August 2003 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

That's good news, Martin. I hope everything continues to go well.

― Larcole (Nicole), Thursday, 28 August 2003 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, they have deteriorated again, and I'm only able to cope with any reading, even of absurdly large print, in bursts. I might not be around here so much if it continues this way.

Good news is the final court hearing for the divorce settlement happened on Friday and went smoothly, so everything is now signed and sealed, and we have a deal with which I'm very happy. I now have to sell this place and find somewhere else to live.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 7 September 2003 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Wish you all the luck poosible.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Sunday, 7 September 2003 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, I like you a lot, and I hope everything works out OK.

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Sunday, 7 September 2003 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Take care Martin.

― David. (Cozen), Sunday, 7 September 2003 14:45 (twenty-one years ago)

To echo the above, and then some.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 September 2003 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm so happy you've reached something satisfactory on the settlement! It's wonderful how you've been focusing on the positive through this whole thing...here's hoping everything turns out for the best because surely you deserve it!

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 7 September 2003 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin - I've been away on holiday and missed this thread until now. I'm so sorry you are having such a rough time with your vision and I really do think you need to get a second opinion.

I think the reason which your eyesight improved so dramatically after having those eye drops, is that the drops they use are ones which dilate the pupils so that they can see what's going on inside the eye. I'm no expert, but maybe your vision getting worse/improving suddenly has some connection to how dilated your pupils are and the fluctuations in the pressure behind your eye?

I'm all too familiar with those eye tests - a few years ago when having a routine eye test for new contact lenses, the optician discovered that I have something called Pigment Dispersal Syndrome, whereby the back of my iris flakes off and creates some sort of spectacular starburst pattern inside my eyes. It doesn't affect my vision or intra-ocular pressures at all, but it's apparently so rare that I'm called in to the eye hospital once a year so that all the junior doctors cane come and gaze into my eyes, which is quite nice except those eye drops sting, and the field-of-vision test where you have to watch random pinpricks of light gives me a terrible headache.

I hope you're feeling better today. Please ask your GP to refer you elsewhere for a second opinion ASAP. You're entitled to do this, and I think given the circumstances it is Urgent and Key.

Bestest wishes.

― C J (C J), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah martin much love!
I agree with CJ: get that
shit ATTENDED TO

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

grrr bad luck martin, you seemed so relaxed yesterday too!!

(it's not a side effect of RUIN i hope?) (actually that might be good, as ruin is avoidable)

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

What CJ said, and mark said, and Ned said, and what Haikunym said that CJ said, and toss in teeny and Christine, and ... whole lotta ditto.

― Tep (ktepi), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

ive been praying to st lucy for you, i think thats all i can manage, being that i am no opthomologist.

i love you deeply and want you to get as better as possible.

― anthony easton (anthony), Sunday, 7 September 2003 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

*adding to the love*

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

<3 <3 <3 <3
>>>>

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

get better soon martin.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Sudden thought has occurred to me : do you think you might have developed diabetes, Martin? It might be worth getting your blood sugar levels tested by your GP, especially if you have been feeling tired/more thirsty than usual - a side effect is diabetic retinopathy, causing sudden-onset blurred vision. It's entirely possible that you might be able to control the symptoms by just making some dietary changes. Worth asking about, perhaps.

― C J (C J), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:29 (twenty-one years ago)

They tested my blood sugar level, CJ - normal, which surprised me given how much chocolate I eat.

My GP's referral would apparemtly result in an appointment in 3-4 months, whereas I have an appointment with a specialist in four weeks now, so I'll have to wait on that.

Mark, surely you've noticed that I hardly drink at all? No more than two pints of beer of an evening, and that no more than twice a week, so I don't think that's a factor. Yeah, I was relaxed and comfy yesterday - when I'm with people is the time when I don't have to read anything. I was watching the football earlier with one eye, covering the worse one.

It's very bad today, so that's about all from me for now. Deep and huge thanks for all of the affection and concern shown here.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 7 September 2003 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I echo the concern, Martin. Hope the combined force of ILXPower helps you feel better.

― s1utsky (slutsky), Sunday, 7 September 2003 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I was going to write about how I had to get glasses last week and they make me feel funny. But that is trivial now. I really hope you recover: I would miss you if you left here.

― isadora (isadora), Sunday, 7 September 2003 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, I know you're not reading this now, but my wife (who has multiple sclerosis) thinks you should maybe ask about that and maybe get tested for it. That's one of the things they keep asking her: "tell us if your vision gets really blurry suddenly". Her father, who also has MS, used to get sudden blackouts in one of his eyes.

Again, good luck from one of your biggest fans.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Sunday, 7 September 2003 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Holy shit--totally missed this thread. Positive thoughts to you Mr. Skidmore.

― J (Jay), Sunday, 7 September 2003 20:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Hang in there, Martin. Bodies go off kilter every now and then, but they're just a small part of who we are. Have faith in yourself that you can overcome whatever this may be. You're strong and good and you will get through this.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Monday, 8 September 2003 00:29 (twenty-one years ago)

You've got my best wishes too Martin.

― Kim (Kim), Monday, 8 September 2003 01:08 (twenty-one years ago)

the powers of nyc ilx combine like voltron to send you good wishes: good luck martin!! feel better soon!!

― geeta (geeta), Monday, 8 September 2003 03:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, i can't believe that you are still suffering so badly. I hope some doctor offers some useful info soon. Glad to hear the settlement is all sorted & that you are happy with the outcome. Good thoughts for you, as always!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 8 September 2003 10:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks again, everyone. I certainly hope it's not multiple sclerosis. They did all kinds of tests, including for instance for diabetes, so I guess if this vision thing occurs as a sometime symptom of MS (oh no! My initials!) they will have checked for that too. I lost my favourite aunt to MS, which was horrific, so I very much hope that isn't it. (We weren't biologically related, BTW.)

It's no better today. Stupid screen resolution plus the Windows magnifier and I can just about read, but even then it's a strain. I couldn't even read my book earlier (and it has quite large print) with a magnifying glass.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 8 September 2003 11:47 (twenty-one years ago)

best of luck martin... sorry this is still going on.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 8 September 2003 12:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Hugs, Martin.
I'm really glad the divorce is finalized so you have one less thing to worry about.
What kind of place will you look for next (since your house will soon be on the market)?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Monday, 8 September 2003 18:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I hadn't seen this thread around for awhile, so I thought things may have gotten better.
Very sad to hear that they haven't.
Good luck, Martin.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 8 September 2003 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

The MS thought occurred to me too, but I'm not sure if your symptoms read like MS-related blurred vision. It's a very difficult disease to diagnose, however -- there isn't a simple blood test you can do, or anything. (Unless things have radically changed in the last few years.)

The thought of something happening to my sight is terrifying. I hope they figure out the problem soon and are able to fix it...

― Chris P (Chris P), Monday, 8 September 2003 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll be looking for a big two-bedroomed (probably - that gives an idea of the size I can afford) flat somewhere not too inconvenient for Central London. Probably either East or South-East London, as they are the cheaper areas - I can't afford a big place in the more expensive areas.

I'm hoping the eyes are at least good enough to start scanning ads very soon.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 8 September 2003 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Thankfully this got better during the course of yesterday, and I could even read a fairly small print book unaided, with both eyes open, on the way home from the FAP last night (combined with a good night out, I felt really happy last night), and it's stayed about that good today. Maybe the latest very bad spell is over for a while.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's hoping Martin!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 11:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm glad you're feeling a bit better Martin, hopefully the doctors can pinpoint the problem soon.

― Nicolars (Nicole), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

every good day
for martin skidmore is like
diamonds in my heart

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 13:06 (twenty-one years ago)

i hate Haikunym:
no-one else should ever try,
he does this so well.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't read too much and tire your eyes, Martin! You should be resting them as much as possible.

― C J (C J), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

But it's reading that I want to do! It's such a joy when it's comfortable, as it still is. I wonder if it is only coincidence that yesterday's improvement came soon after I took a couple of cold care capsules, since I had a streaming nose earlier? Seems unlikely, but I will try them again next time it gets bad.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Funnily enough, I mentioned your intermittently blurry vision to a friend of mine yesterday, and she said that she has been suffering from something similar for which the doctors and eye specialists can find no cause.

During July to September, her eyesight will get so blurred (for no apparent reason) that she can hardly see, and then after a few days it will suddenly clear. She seems to have pinpointed hers to being due to an allergic reaction of some sort - a bit like hayfever but without the streaming eyes/nose. It seems to happen at this time of year and she is convinced that it's something 'in the air' causing it, but allergy patch testing hasn't revealed the cause (if any). She takes an antihistamine tablet or two, or - like you did - a cold remedy tablet, and that seems to do the trick.

Given your history of asthma (and thus a predisposition perhaps to allergies), I wonder if it's something similar? It would be nice to learn it was more trivial - and treatable - than you had feared.

― C J (C J), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 16:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Best wishes Martin. If you get really concerned about your eyes or they deteriorate further, you should try going to the casualty/A&E department of your nearest hospital. They can then refer you on immediately.

― Saskia, Wednesday, 10 September 2003 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Saskia, it was going to the casualty department of London's eye hospital that got me the attention I have had. If it gets intolerably bad well before my next appointment, I will go back there.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

It sounds like FAPping is the key, Martin. Keep it up.

― nickn (nickn), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

They've got worse again. Today is the worst in weeks, and a couple of cold care tablets did nothing. I hope this isn't to be another really bad spell, because it's getting me down again already. Still weeks until the hospital appointment.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

It might be worth phoning the hospital outpatients' department to ask whether they have any cancellations in the next few days. If someone has cancelled, they might be able to offer you that appointment (especially if you were able to get there at short notice).

― C J (C J), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

That might be a good idea, but I suspect I'll be out of luck. I think they overbook with this in mind.

It was still awful earlier, but has improved some now - I feel like it is starting to deteriorate a little again already, but I might be wrong.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 18 September 2003 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Said it before, will say it again -- I refuse to be any sort of imposition on you when I visit if things get to be too troubling. Let me know and I will seek out alternate places to stay. Best of luck and hope things improve as they can.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 18 September 2003 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, you will be no imposition. Who knows, by then I might need a Guide Ned.

In fact, having someone to talk to means I won't need to be reading, which is the only thing that is really suffering.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 18 September 2003 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

That might be a good idea, but I suspect I'll be out of luck. I think they overbook with this in mind.

Wouldn't be surprised, but CJ's suggestion is still worth trying. At best, you'll be able to get this appointment taken care of now; at worst, you'll still have to wait.

Persistence might get you in the door, while the hospital might take your niceness for granted.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Thursday, 18 September 2003 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

It was my hospital appointment today. I think I managed not to be distracted by the fantastically gorgeous doctor, despite the low cut top, mini skirt and spike-heeled leather boots (really), and got better answers. It seems I certainly have cataracts, and the left eye one is bad - this makes some sense as that has been the worst one, by a long way. This needs surgery. The fluctuations are not down to cataracts and suggest some other problem, and she is referring me to a neurologist. I'm not sure how quickly that one will come, but the operation is a long way off. The doctor I saw 7 weeks ago said it would be six to eight weeks, but it will actually be next July. I explained that when bad it was severely hurting my ability to work, and that I have suffered from serious depression and was worried about my ability to cope with more bad eye spells when I didn't have imminent help to console me. She says she will put me in for a short-notice op if there is a cancellation, but she wasn't that encouraging about what difference that might make. I'm pretty miserable now.

One odd thing: I mentioned that I had had my best spell of the last couple of months after leaving the hospital last time. I said something about eye drops and she was utterly dismissive about that. Obviously this visit also involved drops - and once again I have that huge improvement. This is surely beyond coincidence, but how do I get this info to someone who can make something of it? It surely suggests that there is something happening other than cataracts (far from the surface of the eye) or something neurological. I wish I knew what sort of eye drops might be doing this...

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 6 October 2003 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Hang in there, Martin. You know we're all thinking about you. As I've found from this last period of going through my father's troubles, they're able to do some pretty amazing things these days. It's funny, my optometrist is really hot, too!

― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 6 October 2003 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

*hugs*

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Monday, 6 October 2003 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

in the 6 months or so before my gran had her cataracts fixed she was given a course of some form of eye-drops as a a stop gap, I'd ask around and push a bit harder especially as they want you to live with this for a year.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 6 October 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

It's funny, my optometrist is really hot, too

It's easier to diagnose eyes if they're slightly bugging out.

Which may sound entirely too flippant considering I've not posted on this thread before: I am of course horrified by your troubles Martin, and my thoughts are with you.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 6 October 2003 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Ed, how would I push harder? What do I do? I don't think I have any real grounds for complaint - the doctor today gave me time, answered my questions as well as she could and has signed me up for the surgery she has convinced me is necessary AND has arranged for me to see someone else. I don't think they are deliberately making me wait so long - it's partly because it needs a general anaesthetic, which they generally go for in younger people (haha, I'm a younger person in this context!), and also I have a very strong eye-clenching reflex - it's the way the NHS is.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 6 October 2003 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Good thoughts here, m'friend.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 6 October 2003 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

martin

i have been praying for you, and have been thinking about you, and i wish i could do something else.

― anthony easton (anthony), Monday, 6 October 2003 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd been wondering how you were doing, Martin. Ongoing health probs can be so overwhelming. Wishing all the best for you.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 6 October 2003 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Reading of your problems reminded me of an article about "Health Tourism" in the Standard tonight. (Summary)
Cataract Surgery
Waiting list = 6months
Private in UK = Bupa £1900-2900
Recommended EU Hospital - Middleheim Hospital, Antwerp 0032 32302212
Three weeks wait, £1000 for a shared room, three follow ups included.

Could be an option if your ability to work & quality of life are impaired.
Best wishes...

― Simeon (Simeon), Monday, 6 October 2003 21:20 (twenty-one years ago)

It was my hospital appointment today. I think I managed not to be distracted by the fantastically gorgeous doctor, despite the low cut top, mini skirt and spike-heeled leather boots (really)

When I was doing clinicals for my nursing assistant certification, the director of nursing at the facility I was at wore a micromini and spike heels every day.

But getting back to the thread: Good luck on the surgery. I'd pray for you if I believed in such things. Instead, I'll give you my best wishes.

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Monday, 6 October 2003 22:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks, everyone. I'm not at all sure about the private thing.I could afford that, and I guess there are limits as to what I could live with before abandoning my principles, but I do think that everyone who opts out of the NHS in favour of other approaches weakens it. Since I'm still far from convinced that the cataract surgery is addressing the main point, I'm unlikely to abandon my ideas that easily to speed such surgery.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Since I'm still far from convinced that the cataract surgery is addressing the main point, I'm unlikely to abandon my ideas that easily to speed such surgery.

I agree that an operation should not be the only choice. However, you have been somewhat impaired by this for a long time now. You have been wise in checking out other possibilities on the NHS. As I have said, try not to automatically dismiss the 'operation' idea, as they may be limited in what they can do. Anyway, I'm aware that you are the only one that can decide---much as we all want to help.

I'll keep positive thoughts going for you....

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 16:41 (twenty-one years ago)

ditto, Martin. Wishing you well from over here.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, I do believe that I have cataracts, and that the one in my left eye is bad enough to require surgery, and I will have said surgery. But given that there is clearly something else going on, and that much of the time my eyesight is tolerably good still, I'm far from convinced that this op will solve the problem.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

badger them for drops if they help though

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 17:13 (twenty-one years ago)

How do I badger whom? How do I get the info that I've had another excellent spell after a hospital visit to people who can interpret it? I suspect that the eye drops are anaesthetic and dilatory (as in the pupil) in intent, so won't resemble the ones I could get from a chemist anyway.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

talk to your GP about it - get them to find out what the eyedrops at the hospital were (this shd be in yr records, which will go back to yr GP) and ask whether you can go on a regular course of them

tell them abt yr friend's mum (ie ed's gran) who had a course of eyedrops blah blah - you think you should, as it's such a long wait

and don't be fobbed off - at the very least get yr GP to give you an actual medical reason why it's a bad idea

(also explain to yr GP why you think there's two different things going on, and get them to explain why you must be wrong if you think you are)

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Thinking of you Martin. I can't believe it's the first time I've seen this thread. I can't imagine how you feel other than to say that I've just been through a hellish is-it-or-isn't-it? diagnostic situation of my own and I think it's changed my life for the better. Ganbatte !! And may the Gasmen finally hit some form in your honour.

― darren (darren), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

You make good sense, Mark. I will book an appointment with my GP. I must admit he rarely fills me with optimism either. He's a rather dozy old upper class guy, with the manner you expect of a senior consultant. He's instead got a fairly seedy practice in one of London's cheapest areas. I've only found he does anything if you tell him what to do, including what to prescribe, and I'm not sure what to tell him in this case. I guess I'll leave it a week for the notes to reach him, if that is what happens.

Darren, we've had a fairly decent start this year, certainly in the context of two previous years where we scraped survival.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I've had those eye drops before Martin - I have something called 'pigment dispersal syndrome'(luckily this doesn't and will not affect my sight at all) so I have to go to the Eye Hospital in Oxford once a year for the trainee doctors to gaze into my eyes because it's such a rare phenomenon.

The eye drops they use to dilate the pupils are known as 'mydriatics', and they contain Atropine Sulphate. The prescribing name for them is 'Isopto Atropine'.

Incidentally, they always tell you that having those drops will make your eyesight very blurred, but it always has the opposite effect on me. It makes everything crystal clear, but being outside in sunlight really hurts my eyes after I've had the drops. They also make me feel horribly nauseous. The doctors say these aren't side effects, but it happens every time.

I hope you can get this all sorted out soon, Martin. Good thoughts being sent your way.

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 7 October 2003 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Ditto to all the good thoughts. Just saw my eye doctor today and apparently mine have gotten pretty crummy in the 4 years since my last appointment, but everything's OK. Hope you find the solution too, and fast!

― s1utsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 8 October 2003 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

four weeks pass...

Update! I talked to a doctor at my GP's practice (not my usual doctor) and he gave me a very good possible explanation, to do with the muscles that power the iris. This theory would explain why it varies so wildly, why bright light is very bad, even painful, why the anaesthetic drops at the hospital visits had some positive effect, and why the referral to a neuro-opthalmologist might be just the right thing. I don't know if he is right, but it is nice to hear a diagnosis that doesn't rely on my getting the symptoms wrong.

And I now have that neuro-opthalmologist appointment - for next February. Another long wait, a total of 6 months from first seeing a consultant, and who knows how long before any useful treatment?

Still, the eyes have been pretty tolerable nearly all the time for over a month now, so I shouldn't moan too much.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 7 November 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurrah! Good to hear that there's some sort of progress. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 7 November 2003 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Good news (except for the wait)! Have you been able to get a perscription for eye drops?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 7 November 2003 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Good to hear that you have a bit more understanding of the problem and a doc who listens to and considers all of your symptoms.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Friday, 7 November 2003 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

No prescription - I can't keep taking anaesthetic eye drops it seems.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 8 November 2003 11:14 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Updating this because my eyes have deteriorated further - try putting on the Windows magnifier (accessories/accessibility) and turning it up to 3 - I can't even read that comfortably now. If it stays like that I won't be around here too much in the near future, I'm afraid. I have some tests at the hospital on Wednesday, then finally my neuro-opthalmologist appointment is on February 6th, so maybe there is some help coming, if I'm lucky.

I'm pretty low at the moment - I can't read print at all most of the time, and not much on a computer screen either, and the deterioration is depressing me. My comfy chair is only about 7 or 8 feet from the TV, and yesterday some of the time I couldn't even keep track of where the football was. Even the two and a half weeks until that appointment feels like a very long time, and it is far from certain that they will be able to offer any quick help. It's been going on for six months now, and so far I have had zero help, unless you count an appointment for an operation that is still over six months away. Judging by the deterioration so far, I'll be lucky to be able to find the hospital without help in another six months.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Harsh Martin, I wish I could offer some worthwhile advice. Try to hang in there. *hugs*

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck, Martin.

― the icebox (nordicskilla), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Thoughts and prayers from Ormskirk. Good luck.

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeesh. *many good thoughts*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Thinking of you Martin. Hope the neuro-opthamologist person brings comfort or at least progress. In the meantime, take care xxx

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sorry to hear about all this. Best of luck, Martin.

― Arthur (Arthur), Monday, 19 January 2004 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

It's been a strange day, and my emotions have been up and down. The appointment with the neuro opthalmologist was today. He basically has no idea what is wrong with my fluctuating right eye, but suggests that the cataract in the left eye (surgery scheduled for 6 months hence) unbalanced things and overworked the right eye, and that maybe when the left is fixed the right might get better too. He really was that vague.

I emphasised that judging by the recent deterioration, I'll be unable to work well before then. I also told him that I'm in my worst depression in a couple of years, and that the suicidal ideation was certainly coming back. That I didn't think I could take six more months of this, and that if it cost me my job I felt I had little chance of surviving (this is all true, not a tactic). He said he'd send a letter to the cataract specialist asking for an earlier appointment, but didn't hold out much hope.

On the other hand, the eye drops they gave me, as usual, telling me that they would make my vision much worse for a while made them much better. The benegit is fading now, 7 hours on, but it's been nice to be able to read again fairly comfortably, for a bit - best eyesight in months.

So I told our office manager V. about it. She asked if sjhe could tell M. about it, a very senior person two tiers up from her, so four from me. I said sure, but why? She has influence in all kinds of places, I'm told. Okay.

A few hours later, V. comes to me and says she has spoken to M., who will apparently try to get me moved up. I've no idea if this will amount to anything, but it's something to hold onto while my eyes deteriorate again.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 6 February 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

This has been really distressing to hear over the months. I'm glad that it sounds like there's some hope with connections there.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 6 February 2004 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm glad, too.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 6 February 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Take care, Martin, :/

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Friday, 6 February 2004 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

xoxoxoxoxoxox

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 6 February 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Good thoughts to you Martin, as always. Thanks for keeping us updated. Hoping for the best for you...

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Friday, 6 February 2004 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

You're in my thoughts, Martin. Hang-in there - life's too good to give-up on, even if you're in one of those little valleys at the moment. You will come back up and you will feel joy and wonder again.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Saturday, 7 February 2004 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

As I've been worried about this as time went on, it sounds like there is a positive change about to happen, even if tis a slight one. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, as always. I know tis tough to handle, but tis clear that we're all willing to keep you afloat.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Saturday, 7 February 2004 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

best wishes

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 7 February 2004 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, lots & lots of luck. I miss your posts around here!

― lyra (lyra), Saturday, 7 February 2004 23:55 (twenty-one years ago)

And I miss reading a lot of it. Today has been really bad - I've only been able to read anything, and then with extreme difficulty, for a few minutes in a spell, then I've needed a long break. I was watching football a little while ago, and while there have been occasions recently when I couldn't see the ball a lot of the time, today was the first time I couldn't even see a player running in to take a penalty, let alone the ball. Days like this are hard to take: newspapers, magazines, books, comics, email, message boards, reading websites, computer games are all out quite often, but if even some of my favourite TV becomes unwatchable I won't have too much left to keep me distracted from my misery and anxiety. I love music, but I don't just sit and listen to it with nothing else happening very often.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 8 February 2004 00:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Been following your fight with concern, Martin. We have still to meet - I'm sure that will be rectified at the next London FAP or Pub Quiz - but your health is something I am willing to get better.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 8 February 2004 00:45 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah ditto martin. haven't said anything yet but i have been keeping on the thread and wishing for your recovery. allbest

― mark p (Mark P), Sunday, 8 February 2004 00:46 (twenty-one years ago)

hey martin take care : /

― cozen (Cozen), Sunday, 8 February 2004 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, I know Apples, at least, have very good text-to-speech software built in. It's possible windows does, also-- you might be able to use that to read websites. It should work fairly well with ILX, although possibly not quite as well on graphics intensive sites. A friend of mine who is blind uses an Apple laptop, and manages to use the Internet fairly easily with text-to-speech software; I think she uses some customized software, too, but says that a fair amount is easily available. I know it might big a jump to think about using that, but if it would keep you less cut off, it might be worth doing. Good luck again.

― lyra (lyra), Sunday, 8 February 2004 03:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Minor updates: I was back at the hospital today for tests about maybe getting glasses to help me cope with reading. The optician decided nothing in that line could help, which was what I'd been saying anyhow.

Still, after an appalling Saturday-Sunday, the eyes have been much better since - a solid 8/10 at least scored against the usual standard of the last couple of months, and after that weekend if feels even better than that. I've also discovered that I can probably get it done privately for just over a thousand pounds, so if the op doesn't get brought forward, and they deteriorate any more so that my job is put in danger, I can afford that option, much as I dislike it.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 12 February 2004 23:54 (twenty-one years ago)

That's good to hear -- obviously a hit to the pocketbook is no good, but if it's affordable it's there as needed. Grand that things are holding out in the meantime. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 February 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin - I really think it would be worth pestering your GP to write again to your Consultant Ophthalmologist to reiterate how badly all this is affecting you, how it might mean that you lose your job, how you have a history of depression which is being made worse by all this stress.

I know you told them all this at the hospital already, but knowing the way Consultants work I think it would be useful to try this approach too - there's a weekly Hospital Consultants' meeting at which they discuss/prioritise patients, and they really only take notice of requests made in writing via a GP.

It's well worth making a fuss, if it means your surgery date on the NHS can be expedited.

In the meantime, very best wishes from me.

― C J (C J), Friday, 13 February 2004 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

This has been really distressing to hear over the months. I'm glad that it sounds like there's some hope with connections there.

Me too. I'm really hoping things work out and that your surgery date can be moved up.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Friday, 13 February 2004 18:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Take care mate, I hope things work out ok.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, I hadn't heard from you for a while and I was worried about you. Sorry to hear the bad news. I hope that things work out ok, too.

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Saturday, 14 February 2004 05:02 (twenty-one years ago)

GREAT news! I got a letter from the hospital today, and they have brought it forward to March 8th! Just three weeks away! I might be able to read normally again soon! I'm really happy and relieved!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 16 February 2004 23:56 (twenty-one years ago)

That's wonderful, Martin. I'm hoping for the best for you.

― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 16 February 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

That's awesome! Best wishes for as straightforwad a procedure as possible.

― Leee Majors (Leee), Monday, 16 February 2004 23:59 (twenty-one years ago)

that's great. good luck martin.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 00:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Wonderful news Martin, been following your troubles with concern, hope this brings you results :)

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck, man.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurrah, this is grand! :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Yayay! Lots of luck :-)

― lyra (lyra), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 02:58 (twenty-one years ago)

YAYAYAYAYAY! This is fab news. Martin, take care of yourself, old bean. You know there's a lot of love for you here. If it's helping you to update us, carry on! I hope the depression is ebbing with your operation being so close now.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)

:-)

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 09:39 (twenty-one years ago)

That's great news Martin! Hope this finally sorts things out.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 09:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Great news martin, good luck.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 09:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Excellent news Martin! We're all behind you (your ILX dreams come true...) ;)

Good luck!!!

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 09:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Fingers crossed that everything is soon back to normal for you!

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 09:54 (twenty-one years ago)

blimey, I had completely missed Martin's eye problems. Best of luck! I hope very much everything works out for you.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 10:10 (twenty-one years ago)

martin, i'm so happy that this is happening soon! good luck with it all, and keep us updated.

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 11:58 (twenty-one years ago)

My depression has ebbed a lot since I read that letter yesterday - every time I've been struggling to read (they are pretty bad most of the time right now) I've been able to think "Only a couple more weeks!" and it hasn't bothered me much.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 13:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm glad things are looking better for you, Martin (no pun intended - well, maybe a little. :) Do take care of yourself.

― Andrew (enneff), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 13:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Martinn I always enjoy your contributions so I hope you'll be better soon. RILKISNA IDACHA!

― LIliya, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Congratulations, Martin! I hope everything goes well.

You need to update your Amazon wishlist so that people can send you some recovery gifts. ;-)

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Heh heh, that's a fine idea!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

good on ye, boyo. oh, wait: GOOD ON YE, BOYO. GOOD LUCK.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

fantastic Martin. I hope it works out well.

― Viva La Sam (thatgirl), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks for the kind words, everyone! People giving a damn about me is one thing that has made the misery a little more tolerable over recent months.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't contributed to this thread yet but I have been reading it. I heartily second all good wishes offered, and hope everything goes OK for you.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I got a letter from the hospital today, and they have brought it forward to March 8th! Just three weeks away! I might be able to read normally again soon!

Wahey! After all the grief, tis about time you can get an actual remedy! As you know, I've been pulling for you to get well. As has been said, a thousand quid is a pinch, but worth your piece of mind.

(grin) Soon, you'll be back to shivering at the winter matches and cursing the players instead of dealing with commercials....

You need to update your Amazon wishlist so that people can send you some recovery gifts. ;-)

That, or we could just contribute to a fave charity (even if tis you);>

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

This isn't costing me a thousand pounds - the NHS are actually coming through for me! I'm delighted to save the money and my principles, which I was completely ready to break, but I didn't like it.

I don't have a favourite charity - I am mostly opposed to them, but maybe that's a subject for another thread.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

the NHS are actually coming through for me!

Excuse me, while I recover from the shock that the NHS actually have a useful purpose these days beyond fixing teeth and the occasional broken toe.

Still, tis wonderful news that you'll be able to save your principles and your pocket.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:30 (twenty-one years ago)

hello!
I'm not an eyedoctor but ophthalmology is my passion and I want to become an ophthalmologist.
My Mom has cataracts, and I've gotten eye surgery with 3 weeks notice, so I know the emotions that come along with finding it out. I also got the surgery bill today and know the panic at seeing the big numbers! Ahh!
No offense but your doctor seems kind of rude to see him/herself as above you, because he's educated.
The procedure that is used most commonly today to treat cataracts is called Phacoemulsification. Phaco means lens, which is the part of the eye that is the cataract, making your vision shaky. Emulisifcation means to emulisify it.
According to what my 5 eye doctors told me, and the research I'd done online for the past year, they put a .3mm hollow needle in the back of your eye, use ultrasound to break down the cataract, and suck it through the needle. Then they take an foldable IOL, (intraocular lens meaning lens for inside the eye) and put through the needle, and fit it in place. They can lessen or strengthen the power of the lens correcting any nearsighted, farsighted or astigmatism. They even have bifocal IOLs which correct presbyopia, which is when you need reading glasses. It's really cool. Good luck with your surgery!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope all goes well, I'm sure it will!
-Natasha

― natasha lushina, Wednesday, 18 February 2004 03:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I had my pre-operative assessment today. All fine. Apparently I'll be in and out in one day, despite the general anaesthetic. I will then wear a patch for one day (white gauze - I asked about pirate-style patches, but they don't do them), then it will take a week or two for the eye to recover from the operation, so it will be at least mid-March before I have good vision again. I'll apparently need a week off work, which is what I had already pencilled in anyway. I'm looking forward to it.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

:-) :-) The news gets better and better, hurrah! :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 22:42 (twenty-one years ago)

i know you don't know me but i've read up on your plight and i'm happy for you

― joan (joan), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 22:46 (twenty-one years ago)

All the best Mr Skidmore. My thoughts are with you.

― Matt (Matt), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Excellent, Martin, hope it goes smoothly.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 23:08 (twenty-one years ago)

oh good. best wishes

― isadora (isadora), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 23:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay Martin. Good luck with this, good to meet you t'other day!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 09:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin good luck! I hope everything works out for you sans pirate eye patch.

― Chris V (Chris V), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin - I wish you the very best of luck with this.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's another Can't Believe I Missed This Thread post. Best of luck Martin.

ps. I checked out the accessibility options on my computer and then spent half an hour trying to get everything back how it was, CURSE YOU!

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I've given up using the magnifier on my PC at home, as it screws the thing up completely as often as not. I use it at work with no great problems, though.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Arrr, best of luck to ye matey, arrr.

― Leee = y'know... whitey (Leee), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Skidders, congrats! See this as a double bonus:

1) Time to heal, and

2) Allowing others to deal with work politics for a while.

(doing a bouncy little jig of joy....)

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 22:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, the operation is tomorrow. I feel less trepidation than I had expected. It is very routine, and it does have a very high success rate - and I'm not sure that I'll be able to cope if it's not a success. Anyway, I should be out later the same day, so I will update this if I feel up to it.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 7 March 2004 15:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Very best wishes for tomorrow Martin! I'm absolutely certain that everything will be fine.

― C J (C J), Sunday, 7 March 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Best of luck, man.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Sunday, 7 March 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Many good thoughts.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 March 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin be brave and strong and true. Relax if you can. We love you.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Sunday, 7 March 2004 16:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck, Martin!

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 7 March 2004 16:37 (twenty-one years ago)

best wishes!

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 7 March 2004 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Good luck Martin! My grandma just had a cataract removed on Wednesday and is doing ok.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Sunday, 7 March 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Thinking of ya, Martin.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Sunday, 7 March 2004 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh man, I feel as though I should've been keeping up better around here than I have.

Martin, I'm so sorry you had to go through what you went through, but I'm overjoyed at the prospect of better vision which is coming very soon. You will be in my thoughts as we ALL hope for nothing but the best tomorrow.

― Many Coloured Halo (Dee the Lurker), Sunday, 7 March 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Hope it all goes well Skidders!

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 7 March 2004 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

All the best, Martin!

― Paul Eater (eater), Sunday, 7 March 2004 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll be thinking of you, Skidders! I'm sure you'll trump through just fine....Don't blame you for being wary, but just think of the relief you'll feel after.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Sunday, 7 March 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Operation today! It was a success, as far as we can tell so far. I get to take the patch off tomorrow, but they did take it off briefly to check it out, and the improvement was obvious even then (despite a strange red tint, presumably from a little blood in the eye), so I'm very optimistic of how it will turn out. Also there is no real pain - just a slight soreness - and I feel far better than I expected after the general anaesthetic. I'm pretty happy right now!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:25 (twenty-one years ago)

FAntastic news Martin! I hope it keeps improving. :)

― Viva La Sam (thatgirl), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:27 (twenty-one years ago)

http://starstarstar.net/martin.jpg

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:30 (twenty-one years ago)

aw. good news.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd like to thank everyone for the support and good wishes all through this - and Teeny especially, for that pic!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I was gonna start a new thread to welcome you back with, but then the server crashed.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Excellent news, Martin! I'm glad you didn't have any trouble with the anaesthetic, too.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Wonderful!!! xxx

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, Martin, that's fantastic! I'm glad it's gone well.

― cis (cis), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurrah! :-) Much happiness! Teeny should make pictures for everyone when they're finishing a crisis!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

haha, 'crisis'...I read too much porn.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:04 (twenty-one years ago)

No wonder Mr. Teeny's smile is so beatific.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

crisis? porn? i'm lost. . .

― Viva La Sam (thatgirl), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I missed this whole saga until now. I am so glad I was able to read directly to happy resolution. Speedy recovery Martin.

― Hunter (Hunter), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 03:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Right on Martin! Grebt news.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 03:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurrah for Martin! Here's to continued success in your recovery and journey toward regained good sight. And hopefully this will mean that you will be able to enjoy everything you were previously unable to enjoy in large doses, from reading to just enjoying the beauty of your own surroundings.

― Many Coloured Halo (Dee the Lurker), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:06 (twenty-one years ago)

woo-hoo!

and what dee said!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:52 (twenty-one years ago)

yay martin!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurrah! I can breathe normally again! (I have been holding my breath for weeks)

Glad it's all gone so well, Martin. You must be so relieved.

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 07:59 (twenty-one years ago)

hey all right!!

― g--ff (gcannon), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 08:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay Martin, good news my friend.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 08:54 (twenty-one years ago)

This is great news, Martin.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 08:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Very good news indeed. I hope this is the end of your problems.

― Madchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 09:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay Martin - I know how much you've been looking forward to this moment - hope everything works out fine.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 09:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Fantastic news Martin.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 09:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I've dreaded looking at this thread as I keep expecting bad news but it's fantastic that my worst fears aren't coming to pass. I hope you have a speedy recovery, Martin.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 09:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I took off the patch a little while ago, and it's great! I've had the computer set to make everything as big as possible for months, and sometimes used the Windows magnifier too - and this morning I've reset it to sensible resolution, and everything looks sharp and clear! I can read again! I am so happy! And thanks again for all the support and kind words and thoughts through all of this. It's been something of a nightmare, but all the signs are that it is now over.

The downside is that the new lens they've inserted is fixed. I went for a short focal length for reading purposes, but it does mean that it doesn't focus at distance. I will get glasses for that in due course. They prefer fitting long length ones, but since I don't drive these days and don't play any sports, I think that I'd need the short length at least ten times as much as the long one.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Excellent news Martin, I am so happy for you. I am glad your trials have had a positive outcome.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuckin A!

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Excellent!

― Ricardo (RickyT), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:00 (twenty-one years ago)

alrighty Martin! good news to hear!

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, this is fantastic news. THREE CHEERS TO YOU.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Wondrous! :-) You made the right choice for lens there, I'd think. Hurrah!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I can read again! I am so happy!

Awesome!!

― Andrew (enneff), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

This is fantastic news. I'm glad everything has worked out so well!

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

congrats, i'm so happy to hear that it all went well!

are you going to let the girls of ILX help you pick your new sexy specs?

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Colette if anyone wants to help me pick glasses I will be happy for their input. I don't know how it works, what they cost, anything - I'd managed to get to 44 without ever needing glasses. I think I go for an examination in three weeks, when it will have settled down, and presumably get the relevant prescription then.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.kimbacan.com/HTML/Gallery/ocf%20web/glasses.jpg

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh what good news. Glad you're so much better.

― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Nice going, Martin. Hope you have no further problems.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 16:58 (twenty-one years ago)

what everyone said

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Clap, clap, clap!

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 02:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay Martin!!! I'm so glad it's worked out so well!!!!!

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 03:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Stay well, Martin.

― jim wentworth (wench), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 04:13 (twenty-one years ago)

martin, you have truly been through the fuckin' wringer in the last three years. let this finally shut the door on all that. forward!

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 04:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, I am so pleased for you. I have hesitated to weigh in. I don't really like the "I sympathize with you cause here's my problem" thing so I stood back and hoped for the best. I can relate due to my horrible vision. I am lucky that my pathetic eyesite is correctable but I know the fear of blindness and am so happy that you are one of us that can see again. And the added extra is that glasses, even though it sucks to wake up in a strange girls bed and not be able to see, are undeniably hot. The coolest guys always wear glasses. Smiles your way!

― Speedy (Speedy Gonzalas), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 07:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay yay yay yay yay! Such good news.

UCL should pay for yr eye test and at least part of any glasses you have to get, Martin, as you work primarily with the old VDU things. So you can get even more hott specs.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 10:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Oddly, the eye is a bit achey today, but only a bit. I was really happy last night - it took me over three months to finish my last book, which was an average of about 4 pages a day, split between commuting and reading in bed. Last night in bed I read 45 pages with no effort. It feels really good to be able to do that again.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 10:33 (twenty-one years ago)

can any of you help me?! i am not joking, for about a year now, i keep double blinking and for a few seconds. this constant blinking is starting to get embarrasing, i think it might have something to do with me costantly playing computer games. serious responses only please.

― gaol clichy (clichy), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 10:37 (twenty-one years ago)

serious reponse - go to a doctor or an optician.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 10:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, I imagine the ache is merely a little bit of gleeful overuse. Gaol, go to a doctor. It might be RSI related tick.

― Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Martin, all sorts of weird pains come in the week after total anesthesia. Don't sweat it.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I'm not worrying about it - it's very minor, and I had expected worse. I was just mildly surprised it hurts more today than yesterday.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been so glad to hear that you're seeing better since the surgery, Martin. Here's to a speedy recovery!

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

Brief update: had my post-op assessment today, and all is well. The right eye has settled down to a steady poor state (not as bad as the left was) so they have decided I need the same op on that one, and have booked it for October 1st. I don't mind waiting now, since I can read comfortably, but it will be nice to have two good eyes.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 29 March 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Doubtless! But at least you've been through the procedure once and know the score. Hope that will go well and glad that everything is as it should be for the left eye now. Rah!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 29 March 2004 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

This is just such great news. I'm so glad it's working out OK.

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Monday, 29 March 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

five months pass...

New news: I have my pre-operative assessment tomorrow, for my second op, scheduled for October 1st. I can't imagine what would prevent it happening, so I should have functioning stereo vision again after that. The right eye is by now bad enough that when playing tennis a week or two back I realised that if I covered my left eye, I could only make out one of the opponents at the other end - Marianna had on an orange t-shirt, which stood out well - let alone the ball.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 20 September 2004 15:31 (twenty years ago)

In bocca al lupo, Martin!

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:31 (twenty years ago)

I'm afraid I have no idea what that means. Are you insulting me?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:44 (twenty years ago)

he's saying you look like a wolf.

― cºzen (Cozen), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:47 (twenty years ago)

halve him.

― cºzen (Cozen), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:47 (twenty years ago)

mouth to the something or another!

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:57 (twenty years ago)

La buona fortuna Martin, spera che vada bene

(Good luck Martin, hope it goes well)

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 20 September 2004 16:59 (twenty years ago)

I think he was saying you are hungry like the wolf.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Monday, 20 September 2004 17:08 (twenty years ago)

Well, he does live next door to LeBon...

― Leon Czolgosz (Nicole), Monday, 20 September 2004 17:14 (twenty years ago)

I'm a bit scared to try to beat him up at the FAP on Wednesday. This is the man who nearly avoided defeat at thumb wrestling twice against Suzy, who weighs several pounds.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 20 September 2004 18:34 (twenty years ago)

Good luck with this martin, here's to better things!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 07:26 (twenty years ago)

Martin, I must also point out that Thumbelina there fell to his defeat even though I had given myself a slight handicap: I played with my right hand, and am *severely* left-handed.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 07:28 (twenty years ago)

Good luck Martin! Hope it goes well.

(Miss Pessimist advises being prepared for the very unlikely event that it doesn't go according to plan to minimise potential depressive effects - has that come out like I intended? I hope so)

― Madchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 09:22 (twenty years ago)

Good luck Martin!

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 09:24 (twenty years ago)

This is what comes of being busy at work, I miss this info. Good luck indeed!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 12:01 (twenty years ago)

It was all routine, except they were short-staffed so I was there for almost four hours! Op happening on the afternoon of October 1st.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 16:32 (twenty years ago)

I'm off to hospital in the morning! I imagine it will be as routine as it was last time, in which case I will report back tomorrow night sometime.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 30 September 2004 22:07 (twenty years ago)

"Our assessment: during the wait your eye has become a new species of fern and we must preserve it in its current form"

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Thursday, 30 September 2004 22:26 (twenty years ago)

Fortunately it all went well, and I feel okay, if a little drained. It's covered until tomorrow, so I won't know what difference it has made until then, and whether it will now give me the same vision in both eyes.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 1 October 2004 17:20 (twenty years ago)

Glad it seems to have went well, though!

― Leon Czolgosz (Nicole), Friday, 1 October 2004 17:26 (twenty years ago)

Break a leg on the vision front, Martin. It could turn you into a tennis ace.

― Michael White (Hereward), Friday, 1 October 2004 17:27 (twenty years ago)

Yes indeed! I'm sure it'll be fine.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 1 October 2004 17:28 (twenty years ago)

Good luck Martin! This has been going on for so long at you, I hope it is the beginning of the end of it all getting sorted :-)
Quickly.
With no pain.

― donna (donna), Friday, 1 October 2004 17:45 (twenty years ago)

HELLO MARTIN: today I almost bought 'lone wolf & cub', volume. 1, because I vaguely remember you saying it good and it was there. should I spend the six pounds?

― cºzen (Cozen), Friday, 1 October 2004 21:57 (twenty years ago)

piss off you gock-eyed cunt

― jesus, Friday, 1 October 2004 21:59 (twenty years ago)

it's an answer, at least.

― cºzen (Cozen), Friday, 1 October 2004 21:59 (twenty years ago)

best of luck Martin.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 1 October 2004 23:00 (twenty years ago)

Yeah Martin, I know it'll be all good. A lot of foul shit seems to happen to you but you always smash froo it. Good times!

― LC, Friday, 1 October 2004 23:07 (twenty years ago)

David, LW&C is one of the great comics! If you like Kurosawa samurai movies, I'm sure you'll like this too.

I've taken my patch off. It doesn't feel like it's adjusted properly yet, but it's already a very big improvement, and no pain at all, so I'm pleased.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 2 October 2004 08:38 (twenty years ago)

― cºzen (Cozen), Saturday, 2 October 2004 08:48 (twenty years ago)

hurrah martin!

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 2 October 2004 17:43 (twenty years ago)

*merry*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 2 October 2004 17:52 (twenty years ago)

*cheers and kisses Martin"

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Saturday, 2 October 2004 21:31 (twenty years ago)

I went to Ricky T's birthday FAP tonight. I was worried I might be out on my feet by the time I got there, but as it turned out I felt okay - a bit tired was all.

I think the eye has improved in the course of the day - early on the ideal focal length was very short (about a foot), and I think it's increased a little already, maybe by 3-4 inches, so I hope it will get up to similar to the other eye over the next day or two. They told me on the first op that it often took a couple of days to settle into its permanent state. It was hard to tell then - I had two lousy eyes, so the big improvement was instantly wonderful; this time I already had one good eye to compare it to, so the fact that it's not instantly as good as that is slightly disappointing, and I don't know how it went last time, really.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 2 October 2004 22:24 (twenty years ago)

Latest update: the focal length has increased by over 50% since I took the patch off. The eye still feels a little uncomfortable, so it may have some more settling to do. At least now there is a perfectly good distance, for reading a book or computer screen (about an arm's length), where both eyes are in sharp focus.

Otherwise I feel really low - but I expect that is just the draining effect of the general anaesthetic and the op, and will fade over the next day or two.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 3 October 2004 21:44 (twenty years ago)

I hope so. Glad the eyesight seems to be getting better, though.

― Leon Czolgosz (Nicole), Sunday, 3 October 2004 21:45 (twenty years ago)

All will indeed improve, good sir. Just give it a little more time!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 3 October 2004 21:52 (twenty years ago)

yay Martin, here's to your eyeball health!

― rainy (rainy), Monday, 4 October 2004 03:14 (twenty years ago)

yay

― Professor Challenger (ex machina), Monday, 4 October 2004 15:09 (twenty years ago)

Hope things continue to improve Martin x

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 4 October 2004 15:14 (twenty years ago)

Glad to hear of the improvement Martin. Let's hope this continues and all things are well in your world before too long! x

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 06:55 (twenty years ago)

M old thing, I think you missed a trick in not getting them to install LASERS in your eyes as part of the surgery. Just imagine the japes.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 10:04 (twenty years ago)

B-but what if it goes wrong and he can't control the lasers - like CYCLOPS?!

(Excellent news BTW Martin!)

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 10:31 (twenty years ago)

glad to hear that it went well, martin! hope it continues to improve, and that you feel better as the anasthetic wears off.

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:10 (twenty years ago)

My muscles still ache, but the eye seems to have settled down, in that I've observed no changes in the last 24 hours - it is a slightly shorter focus than the other one, but they overlap enough that it isn't a problem. I am surprised, though - they told me they had carefully calculated it to be the same. Still, I'm pretty happy with it, since the overlapping focal area is just in the right place.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 13:09 (twenty years ago)

Does all of this make you more cognizant of all eye/sight/ vision metaphors? An eye for an eye - blindness of the soul - etc. i imagine it would be very haunting to grapple with vision and be aware of the metaphorical references.

― aimurchie, Tuesday, 5 October 2004 14:14 (twenty years ago)

Not really, no - it did a little when it was very bad, but that has faded away again since the first op in March.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 14:54 (twenty years ago)

Have your hearing, sense of smell etc. returned to normal after the last few months of sensory superpowers?

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 15:55 (twenty years ago)

Yes. I have therefore got rid of the red costume.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 17:09 (twenty years ago)

But your bum is on my lips, your bum is on my lips!

― LC, Tuesday, 5 October 2004 17:28 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

martin how are your eyes these days? my mother was just declared legally blind last week at 53 years old....she has age related macular degeneration. she can't make out faces anymore.

― bingo (Chris V), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 14:18 (nineteen years ago)

Completely stable - fixed lenses, so it'll stay that way. I still have perfect short-distance vision, so perfect for reading and computer work, and it's not bad at a distance - I think I'd be borderline for passing a driving test eye test without getting glasses, but otherwise I manage fine without them.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 18:57 (nineteen years ago)

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