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General health

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Original poster

i am in excrutiating agony and no-one cares.

37 replies

wannaBe · 17/03/2008 11:04

woke up at midnight last night with horrendous pain in my right eye - i mean excrutiating to the point that I have been awake since.

So went up to the hospital this morning where a lovely nurse took a look, said she was sure that there was nothing in the eye and that it looked very cloudy so could be indicative of glaucoma or something similar, so rang opthalmic clinic who said to go straight up there and they would fit me in.

so in I go, and the opthalmologist looks at my eyes and says I have a cateract in my right eye and the pressure is increased, possibly because of it. but there's really not much they can do so "take these drops and I'll see you in two weeks, and hopefully the pain will have decreased by then." and "really there would be no point removing the cateract because you can't see anyway so it would achieve nothing". er apart from to illeviate the pain perhaps? he was very specific about the cateract and the impact it has had on my eye.

OP posts:

bundle · 17/03/2008 11:05

bloody hell wannaBe

where do you live?

HereComeTheGirls · 17/03/2008 11:07

Can you get painkillers from GP to tide you over until the drops hopefully work?

I would tell them in two weeks that although removing it won't help your sight, you would like to be free of excruciating pain from increased pressure, in future?

BoysAreLikeBunnies · 17/03/2008 11:07

Oh no WannaBe

Can you get to the doc to get some strong painkillers?

Obv paracetamol is not going to be any use

sleepycat · 17/03/2008 11:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

wannaBe · 17/03/2008 11:11

I'm in Swindon bundle.

am currently dosed to the hilt on paracetamol and nurifen which are making things more bearable and am hoping the drops will work soon.

I guess I need to give it time but it seems that these people don't give a stuff unless they can achieve a result - ie not much point fixing an eye not worth fixing.

OP posts:

ArmadilloDaMan · 17/03/2008 11:27

that is horrific wannabe.

I hope the drops start working soon.

bundle · 17/03/2008 11:28

wannabe, I was going to suggest if you were say within an hour of London to drop into the A&E at Moorfields eye hospital, they're terrific there.

Bimblin · 17/03/2008 11:31

I second Moorfields. Or The Great Western Eye Hospital also has an eye A&E, and its much nearer to Paddington.

crimplene · 17/03/2008 11:32

Hi WannaBe

Huh? WTF? Right, so they could operate and get rid of the pain and they don't have to worry about the risks to sight of the surgery, so surely that would make it the more obvious treatment in your case. If the glaucoma is being caused by a cataract (and from your description of excruciating pain) it sounds like actue closed angle glaucoma. I would have assumed that surgery would be the correct treatment. I mean, how are drops meant to unblock a blocked drainage angle?

Methinks your analysis of the situation is right. Is there any way you can see another ophthalmologist?

(((hugs)))

Original poster

wannaBe · 17/03/2008 12:37

well I think if the pain is no better in a couple of days I will go back. and ask for a referral to somewhere like moorfields where they know what they're doing.

Crimplene I think it is definitely a glaucoma as the shape of my eye is now different.

but even the nurse at the hospital pointed out "as your sight is not at risk they won't consider you as much of an emegency as someone whose sight is" .

OP posts:

sparklyfairypie · 17/03/2008 12:42

Can you get something stronger from Dr if pain is troubling you? eg cocodamol? xxx

WhenIrishSquonksAreSmiling · 17/03/2008 12:46

oh wannabe, that's awful.

Do they understand how much pain you are actually in, or do they think it's a bit uncomfortable?

You can't stay in so much pain. Could you ring your own doctor and explain what is going on - get them to kick up some shit for you?

TotalChaos · 17/03/2008 12:51

hope the pain lifts soon, and sorry you seem to have had such appalling treatment.

Tiggiwinkle · 17/03/2008 13:34

I do sympathise-I have had pain due to a rise in pressure in my eyes as a result of Iritis (like sleepycat) and it is really horrible. I would insist on a second opinion.

crazedupmom · 17/03/2008 16:01

Disgusting attitude.

I would have thought they would have looked into having it removed.
My brother had a cataract removed even though it was very slight and not even causing much problem.

Go and see your doctor.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 17/03/2008 16:22

Thats really poor Wannabe. Did you get slotted into an emergency slot? If so and it wasn't a consultant you saw then I wouldnt necessarily take what they said about not removing the cataract as gospel. Hopefully you'll see some one more reasonable next time.

As for now, I'm sorry you are in so much pain - I think that it really stinks that they would leave you like that. Its not acceptable.

Original poster

wannaBe · 17/03/2008 17:51

well I have taken as many painkillers as I can for now and it still hurts. roll on bedtime when I can put in more drops and take more paracetamol and nurifen and hopefully sleep.

I just hope the drops start to do some good soon because I can't go on like this for another two weeks.

OP posts:

Original poster

wannaBe · 18/03/2008 10:31

still in pain today although bearable with painkillers . also eye feels really irritated today for some reason - could be the drops?

have decided that I will go back on Thursday if no better, and if no help here then I will go to Moorfields - will pay to go private if I have to.

OP posts:

TotalChaos · 18/03/2008 10:32

sorry you still feel rough, hope you get some decent treatment soon.

Wolfgirl · 18/03/2008 10:58

NOt sure can I offer you anything Wannabe, but I will pray for you. If thats OK with you, that is LOL

Janni · 18/03/2008 11:10

Wannabe - So sorry to hear your horrendous story. The NHS gives priority to those who shout the loudest - the stoic patients can get overlooked. Glad to hear the drops are helping but if it becomes excrutiating again go back to the clinic and say you're not moving till you get an appropriate referral because you cannot live in excrutiating pain when an operation is possible.

I second what others have said about Moorfields.

2shoesistheeasterbunny · 18/03/2008 11:49

no advice but do hope it stops hurting soon.

Wolfgirl · 18/03/2008 11:57

Pray delivered will keep praying for you. x

crimplene · 18/03/2008 14:51

WannaBe - sorry I didn't get back online later. No, I wasn't doubting that it's glaucoma at all - it just sounds like it's the more uncommon acute type where the drainage angles are actually physically blocked, which can be done by a hypermature cataract swelling up. They probably don't see it very often as all cataracts would be operated before they get anywhere near that stage normally.

I think you're being exceptionally patient waiting until Thurs. You know they have a walk-in eye A&E at Moorfields, so you might not need to pay privately. I just can't understand any reason, other than the idea that if they can't restore sight, there's no point, why they shoudn't have got you in for the surgery quick and got rid of the pain.

morningpaper · 18/03/2008 15:01

That's terrible Wannabee, poor you!

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