Alexander-M
Gold $$ Contributor
My main reason to share this with all of you is to make you aware that even small signs should not be ignored. A wasted trip to the doctor, only to learn that nothing is wrong, is infinitely better than being a day or two late, which can result in major problems.
• If any part of your body goes numb, even if for just a few seconds: seek medical help immediately!
• If you lose part of your vision, even if temporary, seek medical help immediately!
• If you see a shadow/shade/curtain appear in your vision, see your eye doctor immediately!
This is a very long story, but I will try to make it as short a possible.
Easier to do it chronologically –
2017
Dec 01 – My right leg went numb and I felt wobbly for 30 seconds; OK after that, and I did not do anything about it.
Dec 02, 03, 04 – I lost my right peripheral vision, both eyes, for several minutes. I called my optometrist, and she said that the peripheral vision loss indicated I would be getting a migraine, but since it happened with both eyes, it would not be a detached retina.
Dec 05 – Went to see my regular doctor; he did not find anything wrong or abnormal, but scheduled an MRI.
Dec 07 – The MRI indicated that I had suffered a Brain Infarct.
Dec 08 – The neurosurgeon told me I had suffered three TIA’s (Transient Ischemic Attacks) and scheduled two tests to check my heart, brain, and vascular system.
Dec 12 – CT Angiogram and 2D Echocardiograph – no permanent damage – everything A-OK.
Dec 18 – Cancelled previously scheduled Laser eye surgery as follow-up for earlier cataract surgery.
Dec 19 – Decided to have a scheduled eye check that was to follow laser surgery, and BECAUSE I had seen a shade on the top of my left eye vision. It was then that my optometrist discovered my left eye RETINA HAD DETACHED at the lower edge, hence the shade at the top of my vision. This was totally unrelated to the TIA’s!
Dec 20-21 – I underwent Emergency Surgery (vitrectomy with oil) to reattach the retina. Success! Post op visit the next day went well also. I spent three days with my head down.
Dec 27 – Follow up check-up indicated everything was OK. I spent several weeks of reduced activity. Looking through the oil seemed as looking through glass of water.
2018
Jan 23 – Six-week check-up. Everything was fine, I could now return to normal activities, and surgery to remove the oil was scheduled for March 07.
Mar 07-08 – Surgery to remove oil went well, as did post op visit the next day. I could see well, but had double vision – the left and right images were separate, and it was as drunken people are portrayed in movies. (I‘ve never been drunk so I don’t know if this is correct.)
Mar 15 – Follow up check-up: Everything looked great, and no more double vision. Next visit with the doctor in three months! Back to 100% normal!
Mar 18 – I started to see a grey shadow at the bottom of my left eye, but it disappeared as soon as it appeared, several times. I also started to have double vision when I looked up and left.
Mar 22 – The grey shadow was more persistent, so I decided to contact the doctor on Friday.
Mar 23 – I went to the doctor’s office and explained to the receptionist what was happening. They would contact me later.
Mar 26 – Talked to the doctor’s office again as my symptoms were not any better, maybe worse. They scheduled me for an appointment the next day.
Mar 27 – Oh No! I had a DETACHED RETINA – AGAIN! This time it was the upper portion that was detached – yes, the same eye.
Mar 28 - I underwent Emergency Surgery (vitrectomy with gas) to reattach the retina. Success!
Since it was an upper detachment, the use of gas allowed me to stand up normally. I spent only one day with my head down, and that is long enough.
Mar 29 – Post op visit went well. I have to take it very easy for a couple of days, then can do more. Next visit is April 5. The weight limit for lifting is 30 lb, so I should be fine with my F-Open rifle and NEO rest. The doctor is concerned about the impact of the recoil, but we will discuss all of this at the April 5 visit.
Needless to say, I missed a lot of visits, trips, etc. around Christmas time. I did some shooting and some reloading. But I will miss the first F-Class match next Thursday at the BRRC, and not sure about any other matches in April. Hopefully, I will be able to shoot in May.
Unfortunately, besides missing some matches, I cannot work in my shop until I have both eyes fully functional. I am not about to use power tools while not having depth perception.
The first match I may be able to shoot will be CIHPRS at Atterbury on April 28, but this may be wishful thinking. After that, I hope to shoot the May 3 F-Class monthly match at BRRC, the Regional CIHPRS on May 19 & 20 at Atterbury, and the Sierra Cup on May 26 & 27 at BRRC.
NOTE: By the way, everyone was surprised about the TIA's, as I was not a candidate for one. Although I am 72, I am in good physical shape, have zero family history of anything like this, I exercise everyday (weights, elliptical, pull-ups, push-ups, burpees, and walking), and watch what I eat. Blood pressure averages 116/68, heart rate 72, low cholesterol, and at 5' 10-1/2" (have shrunk one inch) I weigh around 175 lb.
As far as the retina detachment is concerned, I understand that there is nothing that I did to prompt one to happen, other than I am near sighted, and the slightly elongated eyeball is more prompt to retina detachment. That the same retina detached at a different location is baffling.
Hope to see you at the range - - soon!
Alex
• If any part of your body goes numb, even if for just a few seconds: seek medical help immediately!
• If you lose part of your vision, even if temporary, seek medical help immediately!
• If you see a shadow/shade/curtain appear in your vision, see your eye doctor immediately!
This is a very long story, but I will try to make it as short a possible.
Easier to do it chronologically –
2017
Dec 01 – My right leg went numb and I felt wobbly for 30 seconds; OK after that, and I did not do anything about it.
Dec 02, 03, 04 – I lost my right peripheral vision, both eyes, for several minutes. I called my optometrist, and she said that the peripheral vision loss indicated I would be getting a migraine, but since it happened with both eyes, it would not be a detached retina.
Dec 05 – Went to see my regular doctor; he did not find anything wrong or abnormal, but scheduled an MRI.
Dec 07 – The MRI indicated that I had suffered a Brain Infarct.
Dec 08 – The neurosurgeon told me I had suffered three TIA’s (Transient Ischemic Attacks) and scheduled two tests to check my heart, brain, and vascular system.
Dec 12 – CT Angiogram and 2D Echocardiograph – no permanent damage – everything A-OK.
Dec 18 – Cancelled previously scheduled Laser eye surgery as follow-up for earlier cataract surgery.
Dec 19 – Decided to have a scheduled eye check that was to follow laser surgery, and BECAUSE I had seen a shade on the top of my left eye vision. It was then that my optometrist discovered my left eye RETINA HAD DETACHED at the lower edge, hence the shade at the top of my vision. This was totally unrelated to the TIA’s!
Dec 20-21 – I underwent Emergency Surgery (vitrectomy with oil) to reattach the retina. Success! Post op visit the next day went well also. I spent three days with my head down.
Dec 27 – Follow up check-up indicated everything was OK. I spent several weeks of reduced activity. Looking through the oil seemed as looking through glass of water.
2018
Jan 23 – Six-week check-up. Everything was fine, I could now return to normal activities, and surgery to remove the oil was scheduled for March 07.
Mar 07-08 – Surgery to remove oil went well, as did post op visit the next day. I could see well, but had double vision – the left and right images were separate, and it was as drunken people are portrayed in movies. (I‘ve never been drunk so I don’t know if this is correct.)
Mar 15 – Follow up check-up: Everything looked great, and no more double vision. Next visit with the doctor in three months! Back to 100% normal!
Mar 18 – I started to see a grey shadow at the bottom of my left eye, but it disappeared as soon as it appeared, several times. I also started to have double vision when I looked up and left.
Mar 22 – The grey shadow was more persistent, so I decided to contact the doctor on Friday.
Mar 23 – I went to the doctor’s office and explained to the receptionist what was happening. They would contact me later.
Mar 26 – Talked to the doctor’s office again as my symptoms were not any better, maybe worse. They scheduled me for an appointment the next day.
Mar 27 – Oh No! I had a DETACHED RETINA – AGAIN! This time it was the upper portion that was detached – yes, the same eye.
Mar 28 - I underwent Emergency Surgery (vitrectomy with gas) to reattach the retina. Success!
Since it was an upper detachment, the use of gas allowed me to stand up normally. I spent only one day with my head down, and that is long enough.
Mar 29 – Post op visit went well. I have to take it very easy for a couple of days, then can do more. Next visit is April 5. The weight limit for lifting is 30 lb, so I should be fine with my F-Open rifle and NEO rest. The doctor is concerned about the impact of the recoil, but we will discuss all of this at the April 5 visit.
Needless to say, I missed a lot of visits, trips, etc. around Christmas time. I did some shooting and some reloading. But I will miss the first F-Class match next Thursday at the BRRC, and not sure about any other matches in April. Hopefully, I will be able to shoot in May.
Unfortunately, besides missing some matches, I cannot work in my shop until I have both eyes fully functional. I am not about to use power tools while not having depth perception.
The first match I may be able to shoot will be CIHPRS at Atterbury on April 28, but this may be wishful thinking. After that, I hope to shoot the May 3 F-Class monthly match at BRRC, the Regional CIHPRS on May 19 & 20 at Atterbury, and the Sierra Cup on May 26 & 27 at BRRC.
NOTE: By the way, everyone was surprised about the TIA's, as I was not a candidate for one. Although I am 72, I am in good physical shape, have zero family history of anything like this, I exercise everyday (weights, elliptical, pull-ups, push-ups, burpees, and walking), and watch what I eat. Blood pressure averages 116/68, heart rate 72, low cholesterol, and at 5' 10-1/2" (have shrunk one inch) I weigh around 175 lb.
As far as the retina detachment is concerned, I understand that there is nothing that I did to prompt one to happen, other than I am near sighted, and the slightly elongated eyeball is more prompt to retina detachment. That the same retina detached at a different location is baffling.
Hope to see you at the range - - soon!
Alex
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