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Original poster

Retinal detachment- I'm terrified

22 replies

dollsurgeon · 19/09/2021 05:48

I went to my local hospital tonight with frightening vision symptoms. They think my retina is slowly detaching.

They wanted me to go to the nearest eye hospital tonight. It is an hours drive away. I don't drive. I'm on the autism spectrum. I have a few friends, but they were all out tonight and didn't answer my phone calls. And I hate imposing on them. Because of my autism, our friendships are unequal enough as it is.

The hospital doctor arranged with a local opthalmologist to arrange a special Sunday office appointment tomorrow at 10 o clock. It's 12;45 am now. I'm scared to death, and my symptoms are much worse than when they started 4 hours ago. It got much worse right after they told me they couldn't help me at the local hospital.

I'm afraid of it completely detaching before then. I'm on disability and I had thought that there were some organizations that helped people without transportation to get to far-off hospitals. But apparently not.

I feel so alone now. This is the scariest night of my life. I feel like even God has abandoned me.

OP posts:

Scarydinosaurs · 19/09/2021 05:50

Can you get a taxi to the hospital?

BasiliskStare · 19/09/2021 05:52

@dollsurgeon You are not abandoned. You only have 4 hours to get through now to your appointment. Easy for me to say because I would be scared too , but do come back after appointment and say how it went. My thoughts are with you x

Pepperama · 19/09/2021 05:57

Try friends again, your vision is more important than unequal friendships.

And then I’d ring the eye hospital and say that your symptoms are getting worse. Is waiting till tomorrow a bad idea? If yes explain that you can’t find a way to get there, is there anything they can do to help? I’d have thought it’d a case for an ambulance if there’s risk of vision loss.

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Scarydinosaurs · 19/09/2021 06:10

I have had problems with my retina and I would expect at your appointment today you’ll just be sent to the hospital as it needs surgery. The sooner you have it the more chance you have of saving your sight.

Get a taxi and go now.

Original poster

dollsurgeon · 19/09/2021 06:12

Thank you everyone for your caring. It's actually almost 10 hours till 10 o'clock, I forgot to mention I am not in UK.

I don't have enough money on me for a taxi to the eye hospital. And I think that I can not turn up there without being referred by a doctor here. But maybe I should try calling them anyway. I'm going to call them now.

One friend has just returned my call but can't help because her DM has been ill and can't be left alone. I think I'll see what the eye hospital says and will then phone another of my friends.

OP posts:

PathOfLeastResitance · 19/09/2021 06:13

This sounds horrid for you and I hope you have a positive resolution later today. Could you pack a bag with the essentials in to feel like you are doing something?

BasiliskStare · 19/09/2021 06:21

Ah my maths was out there then - I had assumed UK - sorry. . In which case I hope you find someone to talk to and with deteriorating symptoms I definitely think you could ask for an ambulance.

Or ride it out and if you feel critical ring 999 or whatever is the equivalent for emergency ambulance rather than a transport sort of thing ( not sure how it all works - someone I am sure will explain better

You do have my thoughts - probably not great - but for what they are

Original poster

dollsurgeon · 19/09/2021 06:22

That's a good idea about packing a bag. Thank you. I'm currently on hold at the eye hospital.

OP posts:

Original poster

dollsurgeon · 19/09/2021 06:34

It's my fault-I should have remembered to mention that I am not in the UK. I forgot that this is a predominately UK forum.

I just spoke with someone at the eye hospital. She said that they don't provide transportation and that even if I got there now they don't have any retina specialists there until morning. I can't believe one of the most respected eye hospitals in the US wouldn't have at least one specialist there all the time.

OP posts:

Bagelsandbrie · 19/09/2021 06:43

@dollsurgeon

It's my fault-I should have remembered to mention that I am not in the UK. I forgot that this is a predominately UK forum.

I’ve had the same thing happen to me in rural norfolk…! (Uk). I had a suspected detached retina and they told me I had to wait until the Monday to see someone (this was Saturday night) as they didn’t have a specialist at the hospital and wouldn’t be able to operate until then at the next nearest one anyway…! So try not to panic too much. I ended up seeing a private optician and they said a few hours here or there doesn’t actually make that much of a difference- even though obviously you should get seen ASAP. That reassured me a bit. Mine turned out not to be a full retinal detachment but a posterior vitreous detachment. I’m -9.50 both eyes with all sorts of issues and am high risk for these things. I hope you manage to get seen and sorted soon.

Original poster

dollsurgeon · 19/09/2021 06:50

Thank you, that's reassuring. I'm trying not to think of what is ahead of me. I suffer from anxiety to begin with, and have a phobia of anything medical. Right now I just wish I weren't me.

OP posts:

Aphrodite31 · 19/09/2021 06:59

So sorry, OP - hope they see you soon. They can do a lot to help so fingers crossed this will all be sorted v soon Xx

Aphrodite31 · 19/09/2021 07:00

More than anything I think you need someone with you, so find someone or go sit at the hospital

Original poster

dollsurgeon · 19/09/2021 07:20

I've calmed down a bit. Though I'm still terrified.

I am going to try to get some sleep. 8 hours to go now.

Thank you everyone-your kindness and advice have really meant a lot to me. I'm sorry I didn't mention any of you by name-my mind goes blank under stress.

I'll let you all know how I make out.

Thank you all.

OP posts:

sueelleker · 19/09/2021 10:29

@dollsurgeon

It's my fault-I should have remembered to mention that I am not in the UK. I forgot that this is a predominately UK forum.

They should take you in anyway; my doctor diagnosed a detachment and sent me to the eye hospital (UK here) They took me in straight away, although I had to wait 4 days before they could fit me in for the operation. I think it's so that they can monitor you, and make sure you don't do anything silly; I wasn't even allowed to bend over in case the pressure behind the eye made it worse.

AntiSocialDistancer · 19/09/2021 10:34

Sleep on your front

Best of luck in the morning.

AnnaMagnani · 19/09/2021 10:35

Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in eye hospital overnight unless your eye is falling out so don't panic - if they needed to do emergency surgery they would do it but practically every eye emergency is 'we will see you in eye clinic in the morning'

Hope you are OK and good luck with your appointment.

Original poster

dollsurgeon · 19/09/2021 18:36

I've just gotten back from a very thorough examination at the Ophthalmologist.

He says that I do not have a retinal detachment, but rather a vitreous detachment, like a previous poster had. He says that it doesn't need anything done about it right away, but he wants to keep monitoring it. His office will contact me tomorrow to set up an appointment in a month's time. He told me to call if I experience certain symptoms in the meantime.

He said it probably had to do with being severely nearsighted since childhood , since that causes eyeballs to elongate.

I'm going to go to bed now, as I didn't get much sleep at all last night. And I can't see much to do anything, since my eyes always take an unusually long time to get back to normal after being dilated. I have my computer at 400 % right now.

My dear friend took me today, and was a great comfort to me. She scolded me for saying that I was inconveniencing her. She is truly a saint, and I will be forever grateful.

I want to thank everyone who posted such kind, caring, and reassuring words. Thank you all so much.

OP posts:

BasiliskStare · 19/09/2021 18:46

@dollsurgeon If they say they do not need to see you for a month - that sounds like good news to me

& what a nice friend

Bagelsandbrie · 19/09/2021 19:38

Aw I’m glad it’s not a retinal detachment- I was the poster who mentioned posterior vitreous detachment. That’s what I had too. I have to admit I’m still struggling with mine 6-8 weeks on. My vision hasn’t settled yet but I’m relieved it’s not my retina. Like you I am very short sighted. It’s such a worry isn’t it. Lots of

ReallyNeedToPrioritiseMe · 19/09/2021 19:50

Apparently I have quite an impressive vitreous detachment (very very short sighted). The young optician who diagnosed made me come back repeatedly so she could monitor it..
This was a few years ago. An older optician then told me not to worry (I guess unless something big changed).
Never been a problem. Occasionally I get a noticeable floater, and that’s annoying
I hope your ok, OP. You were completely right to get it checked, but glad you had reassurance too

Original poster

dollsurgeon · 20/09/2021 01:53

Thank you all again for your kind words, advice, and shared experiences.

I hope all the posters with similar vitreous issues continue to do well.

I think I will hide this post now, as I want to put that awful night behind me.

Thank you all again.

OP posts:

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