• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Stroke and Retina Detachment X2 - Please, listen...

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 12CT Angiogram and 2D Echocardiographno 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 07-08Surgery 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 27Oh 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
 
Last edited:
Glad to know you are doing find. I was in the medical field for 37 years and according to your outcome you are one of the lucky ones. It is a good thing that you went to your Dr. immediately. In the future anything goes numb even if it resolves see your physician immediately because there is always an underlying problem.
 
only wish my detached retina surgeries had gone as well.
5 surgeries later i have little useable vision in my left eye.
while i am right handed i am left eye dominate, and cannot wink left by it's self.
almost 60 years of shooting left, my right eye has no clue what to do when i try to shoot
right handed, sold all but one of my left handed guns and have started over. it happened
months after my national win. at least i have that.
 
Thanks for sharing, Alex. This is an important lesson to everyone not to ignore even the smallest warnings their body gives them; the consequences may not be small. I'm glad that your surgeries appear to have been completely successful and am also hopeful that you will not be revisited with this again in the future. Looking forward to seeing you at Bucksnort in the near future!
 
Nando,

Glad to see you are on the mend. You are very fortunate to have such a good outcome. Glad to hear it. Here's to a full recovery and many more years of great shooting.:);)

Paul
 
Nando,
Thanks for sharing. I enjoy your posts and always read them. I am thankful your mind is still strong and hope you are able to shoot again soon. If you don't already have one, build an F-open rifle in 6mm to minimize recoil. Take care of yourself.

--Jerry
 
I think of the saying, "ten feet tall and bulletproof" Most of us probably feel or have felt like that. But, when you body is telling you somethings not right...Go see a doctor! Hope you continue to get better.
 
Guys, thanks for your comments and PM's - much appreciated!

Jerry - thank you. I understand the potential benefits of a 6 mm rifle regarding less recoil, but I am primarily interested in 1000 yards now. I had just installed a new barrel (*) on my 284W Open rifle, and was in the process of getting some rounds through it when the second retina detachment occurred. I was able to shoot about 100 rounds in February, and it was looking good with several 10-round groups of under 0.4 MOA at 600 yards.

I don't expect winning much of anything at 1000 yards, but instead my goal is to achieve High Master Long Range. I started to shoot F-Class rather late in life, have a lot to learn, and many of the shooters I have had the pleasure and honor to shoot with have an overwhelming amount of knowledge, which take many years to acquire. Last year I made Master - Long Range, and was hoping for the HM this year.

Over the last three years I won a few matches and made High Master, mid-range - all at 600 yards, shooting F-T/R. But I did not think I would be capable of doing the same (HM, that is) at 1000 yards with the 308.

(*) The 'old' 284W barrel is fine; only about 1000 rounds, but I did not want to wear it out in the middle of the season, whether 2018 or 2019, and not have another barrel ready to go.

Thx!

Alex
 
We ain’t spotting you no extra points for this Alex.. lol You are the most improved shooter I know of that started from scratch this late in life. The power of the WILL to WIN can be any age it seems...
I hope everything works out with this so you can continue your quest!
 
Last edited:
Thanks for sharing. I used to tell the guys at work that we should talk more about some of our health problems so we could all be educated instead of trying to hide our problems.

I am glad you caught it early and are healing.
 
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 12CT Angiogram and 2D Echocardiographno 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 07-08Surgery 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 27Oh 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
I am glad to hear you are doing well. its good you were persistent. Your post is a great service to everyone because we never know what will happen to us and the medical profession in my experience is getting less and less thorough because they are pressured by the insurance companies. its interesting i take my dad on medicare to the doctors, emergency room ect and he gets good treatment but me on medical insurance not so much.
a person needs to be vigilant these days with their healthcare these days thats for sure or youll fall through the big cracks
 
Thanks for sharing, the detail + descriptions, symptoms & treatments are very helpful as well.
All the best for a speedy recovery and getting back to shooting especially.
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,791
Messages
2,203,214
Members
79,110
Latest member
miles813
Back
Top