Last week COULD have been the pits:-(

But I'm not letting it get me down. (B/G's are in the 90's) So that's not
too bad.

Wednesday @ eye docs was all good news except for the formation of a
cataract on my left eye. That's not too bad except that it is me good eye
(can you rent a seeing eye dog for a short while?) Next day @ reg doc's, had
a test to evaluate the blood flow in me arms & legs. Not had this test
before. Flow is a little restricted in me left leg<shrug> Don't know just
what this means<sigh> I still feel great! I am back to me TM. Have given
up trans fats. Eating better than I have for a long time. So has any one
else had this blood flow test & what might I do to improve the flow?

Nana TIA

"nana wilson" <nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:RLydnR-m8Ic02jHYnZ2dnUVZ_qqrnZ2d@comcast.com...
> But I'm not letting it get me down. (B/G's are in the 90's) So that's not
> too bad.
>
> Wednesday @ eye docs was all good news except for the formation of a
> cataract on my left eye. That's not too bad except that it is me good eye
> (can you rent a seeing eye dog for a short while?) Next day @ reg doc's,
> had a test to evaluate the blood flow in me arms & legs. Not had this
> test before. Flow is a little restricted in me left leg<shrug> Don't
> know just what this means<sigh> I still feel great! I am back to me TM.
> Have given up trans fats. Eating better than I have for a long time. So
> has any one else had this blood flow test & what might I do to improve the
> flow?
>
> Nana TIA
>

Nana,

I had cataracts removed from both eyes last summer (about two weeks apart).
Cataract surgery is now so routine that the surgery itself only took about
15 minutes. I had no-stitch surgery, and there was absolutely no pain. The
ophthalmologist used drops of some sort to numb the eye, so I did not even
need any injections in the eye area. Of course, there was an IV in the
hand -- but, again, so pain. I could see better just one day after surgery
than I had for many years. I do now have glasses, but I could legally drive
even during the period when I was waiting for vision to stabilize before
buying new glasses (about 6 weeks). Not everyone will react in the same
way, of course, but I would advise you to be sure you have an
ophthalmologist who has performed a great many of these procedures and then
not worry about it. As I said earlier, this is really a rather routine
procedure now -- very different from what my grandmother faced years ago.

MaryL

MaryL wrote:
> Nana,
>
> I had cataracts removed from both eyes last summer (about two weeks
> apart). Cataract surgery is now so routine that the surgery itself
> only took about 15 minutes. I had no-stitch surgery, and there was
> absolutely no pain. The ophthalmologist used drops of some sort to
> numb the eye, so I did not even need any injections in the eye area. Of
> course, there was an IV in the hand -- but, again, so pain. I
> could see better just one day after surgery than I had for many
> years. I do now have glasses, but I could legally drive even during
> the period when I was waiting for vision to stabilize before buying
> new glasses (about 6 weeks). Not everyone will react in the same
> way, of course, but I would advise you to be sure you have an
> ophthalmologist who has performed a great many of these procedures
> and then not worry about it. As I said earlier, this is really a
> rather routine procedure now -- very different from what my
> grandmother faced years ago.
> MaryL
=====================================
Good info...thank you. My wife is still contemplating
the procedure. Could you expand on how you feel
about the surgery now that you've had time to adjust
and is your vision what you hoped it would be?

--

John Inzer

In alt.support.diabetes on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 22:33:59 -0500 in Msg.#
<RLydnR-m8Ic02jHYnZ2dnUVZ_qqrnZ2d@comcast.com>, "nana wilson"
<nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote:

> But I'm not letting it get me down. (B/G's are in the 90's) So that's not
> too bad.
>
> Wednesday @ eye docs was all good news except for the formation of a
> cataract on my left eye. That's not too bad except that it is me good eye
> (can you rent a seeing eye dog for a short while?) Next day @ reg doc's, had
> a test to evaluate the blood flow in me arms & legs. Not had this test
> before. Flow is a little restricted in me left leg<shrug> Don't know just
> what this means<sigh> I still feel great! I am back to me TM. Have given
> up trans fats. Eating better than I have for a long time. So has any one
> else had this blood flow test & what might I do to improve the flow?

I'm 55. I had cataracts come on very quickly very strong in mid to late
2005. I had my left eye (non-dominant) eye done in October or November 2005
& everything went fine in general*. I had the other, my right (dominant) eye
done in January or February 2006 & everything went fine.

For the first time since I was a pre-teen I can walk around & do things
without glasses. I have a pair of glasses for distance that I only use
sometime while driving during the day, always while driving at night &
sometimes at the movies or anything where you're far away from a stage or
lectern or something like that. I have reading glasses that I, literally,
use to read books, menus, etc. I was used to grabbing for my glasses to get
up & go to the bathroom in the middle of the night - couldn't see the clock
without them, etc. I'd worn 2 different kinds of bifocals & had even tried
trifocals for a few years! I LOVE having correction in my lenses inside my
eyes. All of my healing went fine. Before the surgery I had HUGE glare
problems - everywhere, all the time. Now I have some glare problems outside
during the day.

*I had to sleep with this shield over my eye for awhile after the surgery &
I hated it, But, then, I'm an insomniac, so anything uncomfortable that
keeps me from getting to sleep annoys me.

*The first surgery they just put me lightly under & I remembered everything
everyone said, etc. & did. I'm claustrophobic & being draped over most of my
face was driving me nuts even with O2 under the draping for me. The second
eye they put me out a little more & it was all cool.

My father has had the tests about blood flow more than once. I don't think
they've given him any particular advice on anything to do except running
tests, checking meds, and reminding him to keep moving, not to just sit,
etc. ... to walk a little when he can, off & on.

Glad you're not letting things get you down! Keep it up.

--
DonnaB : ^> <*>
06-07-06 Diagnosis T2 hbA1C 8.1, D&E & Metformin 500mg.
09-11-06 hbA1C 5.0

"Don't change horses in mid-stream." - American western proverb

nana wilson <nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote:
: But I'm not letting it get me down. (B/G's are in the 90's) So that's not
: too bad.

: Wednesday @ eye docs was all good news except for the formation of a
: cataract on my left eye. That's not too bad except that it is me good eye
: (can you rent a seeing eye dog for a short while?) Next day @ reg doc's, had
: Nana TIA


Nana,

Last summer I had to have the cataract removed form my good eye, the onl
one with focusing ability. As i had to have a bandageon it when iI came
home, I had to have someone with me so get home. After the first night, I
only wore that protective bandage for sleeping for about a week or 10
days(can't remember which) and, although not perfect, i was seeing fine to
function, if not read.

It is now about 6 months since the surgery and I have 20/50 in the good
eye (corrected0 rather than the 20/200 (corrected) I had before the
surgery. I am reading comfortably with a pair of drugstore 2x
magnificaion glasses adn will have my final check with the surgeon in
about a month to see if my perscription needs to b fine tuned.

I still have the wet macular degeneration in the eye, but reatments have
made real improvements there. I don't expect perfection and may well
never drive again, but it is a lot better than the alternative, which is
what pappened in my left eye nearly 10 years ago.

In general, cataract surgery is not a big deal even with only one focusing
eye. It is, of course, easy for me to say that now. I was terrified at
the time.

Wendy

Thanks for the responses. I have had cataract surgery on me right eye a few
years back, It is considered 'legally blind'. (Cataract due to face (&
eye) hitting the dash of a car crash in 1964) So I know what to expect from
that kind of thing. I am more concerned about the diminished blood flow in
me left leg. Me Mom had to have a bypass performed on her left leg a few
years ago. It was supposed to be in preparation to have her knee replaced.
She was 80 yo. @ the time. After four months, one cardiac arrest incident,
numerous infections, she finally came home. And she IS NOT having the knee
replaced!! I am 62.5yo. & have had one stent in me heart all ready. So
that is why I was a little concerned about the decrease in the blood flow.
Because of me family history.

Nana Sorry I as not too clear:-(


"W. Baker" <wbaker@panix.com> wrote in message
news:eoioqc$ls4$1@reader2.panix.com...
> nana wilson <nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote:
> : But I'm not letting it get me down. (B/G's are in the 90's) So that's
> not
> : too bad.
>
> : Wednesday @ eye docs was all good news except for the formation of a
> : cataract on my left eye. That's not too bad except that it is me good
> eye
> : (can you rent a seeing eye dog for a short while?) Next day @ reg doc's,
> had
> : Nana TIA
>
>
> Nana,
>
> Last summer I had to have the cataract removed form my good eye, the onl
> one with focusing ability. As i had to have a bandageon it when iI came
> home, I had to have someone with me so get home. After the first night, I
> only wore that protective bandage for sleeping for about a week or 10
> days(can't remember which) and, although not perfect, i was seeing fine to
> function, if not read.
>
> It is now about 6 months since the surgery and I have 20/50 in the good
> eye (corrected0 rather than the 20/200 (corrected) I had before the
> surgery. I am reading comfortably with a pair of drugstore 2x
> magnificaion glasses adn will have my final check with the surgeon in
> about a month to see if my perscription needs to b fine tuned.
>
> I still have the wet macular degeneration in the eye, but reatments have
> made real improvements there. I don't expect perfection and may well
> never drive again, but it is a lot better than the alternative, which is
> what pappened in my left eye nearly 10 years ago.
>
> In general, cataract surgery is not a big deal even with only one focusing
> eye. It is, of course, easy for me to say that now. I was terrified at
> the time.
>
> Wendy

I might add that I am interested in knowing if any one else has had this
problem, & what can be done @ home ( exercises, supplements )to prevent this
from getting too far gone ( clogged). You can understand why I would be
reluctant to have any surgery because of what me Mom went through.

Nana.........Forgot to all that.


"nana wilson" <nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:n8WdnQFxSuIIcDHYnZ2dnUVZ_oernZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Thanks for the responses. I have had cataract surgery on me right eye a
> few years back, It is considered 'legally blind'. (Cataract due to face
> (& eye) hitting the dash of a car crash in 1964) So I know what to expect
> from that kind of thing. I am more concerned about the diminished blood
> flow in me left leg. Me Mom had to have a bypass performed on her left
> leg a few years ago. It was supposed to be in preparation to have her
> knee replaced. She was 80 yo. @ the time. After four months, one cardiac
> arrest incident, numerous infections, she finally came home. And she IS
> NOT having the knee replaced!! I am 62.5yo. & have had one stent in me
> heart all ready. So that is why I was a little concerned about the
> decrease in the blood flow. Because of me family history.
>
> Nana Sorry I as not too clear:-(
>
>
> "W. Baker" <wbaker@panix.com> wrote in message
> news:eoioqc$ls4$1@reader2.panix.com...
>> nana wilson <nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> : But I'm not letting it get me down. (B/G's are in the 90's) So that's
>> not
>> : too bad.
>>
>> : Wednesday @ eye docs was all good news except for the formation of a
>> : cataract on my left eye. That's not too bad except that it is me good
>> eye
>> : (can you rent a seeing eye dog for a short while?) Next day @ reg
>> doc's, had
>> : Nana TIA
>>
>>
>> Nana,
>>
>> Last summer I had to have the cataract removed form my good eye, the onl
>> one with focusing ability. As i had to have a bandageon it when iI came
>> home, I had to have someone with me so get home. After the first night,
>> I
>> only wore that protective bandage for sleeping for about a week or 10
>> days(can't remember which) and, although not perfect, i was seeing fine
>> to
>> function, if not read.
>>
>> It is now about 6 months since the surgery and I have 20/50 in the good
>> eye (corrected0 rather than the 20/200 (corrected) I had before the
>> surgery. I am reading comfortably with a pair of drugstore 2x
>> magnificaion glasses adn will have my final check with the surgeon in
>> about a month to see if my perscription needs to b fine tuned.
>>
>> I still have the wet macular degeneration in the eye, but reatments have
>> made real improvements there. I don't expect perfection and may well
>> never drive again, but it is a lot better than the alternative, which is
>> what pappened in my left eye nearly 10 years ago.
>>
>> In general, cataract surgery is not a big deal even with only one
>> focusing
>> eye. It is, of course, easy for me to say that now. I was terrified at
>> the time.
>>
>> Wendy
>
>

In alt.support.diabetes on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:51:56 +0000 (UTC) in Msg.#
<eoioqc$ls4$1@reader2.panix.com>, "W. Baker" <wbaker@panix.com> wrote:

> Last summer I had to have the cataract removed form my good eye, the onl
> one with focusing ability. As i had to have a bandageon it when iI came
> home, I had to have someone with me so get home. After the first night, I
> only wore that protective bandage for sleeping for about a week or 10
> days(can't remember which) and, although not perfect, i was seeing fine to
> function, if not read.
>
> It is now about 6 months since the surgery and I have 20/50 in the good
> eye (corrected0 rather than the 20/200 (corrected) I had before the
> surgery. I am reading comfortably with a pair of drugstore 2x
> magnificaion glasses adn will have my final check with the surgeon in
> about a month to see if my perscription needs to b fine tuned.
>
> I still have the wet macular degeneration in the eye, but reatments have
> made real improvements there. I don't expect perfection and may well
> never drive again, but it is a lot better than the alternative, which is
> what pappened in my left eye nearly 10 years ago.
>
> In general, cataract surgery is not a big deal even with only one focusing
> eye. It is, of course, easy for me to say that now. I was terrified at
> the time.

Oh, good point. I was pretty nervous before having it as well!!!

--
DonnaB 09-11-06 hbA1C 5.0
06-07-06 Diagnosis T2 hbA1C 8.1, D&E & Metformin 500mg.
09-11-06 hbA1C 5.0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSzSBum9uvQ Jake Gyllenhaal on SNL

"What breaks in a moment may take years to mend." - Swedish proverb

"nana wilson" <nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:RLydnR-m8Ic02jHYnZ2dnUVZ_qqrnZ2d@comcast.com...
> But I'm not letting it get me down. (B/G's are in the 90's) So that's not
> too bad.
>
> Wednesday @ eye docs was all good news except for the formation of a
> cataract on my left eye. That's not too bad except that it is me good eye
> (can you rent a seeing eye dog for a short while?) Next day @ reg doc's,
> had a test to evaluate the blood flow in me arms & legs. Not had this
> test before. Flow is a little restricted in me left leg<shrug> Don't
> know just what this means<sigh> I still feel great! I am back to me TM.
> Have given up trans fats. Eating better than I have for a long time. So
> has any one else had this blood flow test & what might I do to improve the
> flow?
>
> Nana TIA
>
Hi Nana,
I had cataracts removed Last year...It only took three years to really start
causing problems. I was told they were the type of cataracts that are seen
in younger people...and diabetes seems to help speed their growth. The
surgery wasn't bad at all. I did have a shot in the muscles of the eye ...to
keep it still...They gave me sodium pentathol just long enough for the
shot..I didn't feel anything. The surgery only took about 15 minutes...Thank
Goodness... I have Claustrophobia ,and I probably couldn't have lasted much
longer. They put you under a plastic sheet...because of my claustrophobia
they put a cage on my chest to raise the plastic....My Surgeon did about 20
eyes on his surgery days. The prep took more time than the surgery. I left
with a bandage on my eye which I was allowed to remove after a few hours.
Unfortunately he couldn't make my eye sight as good as he wanted
to(astigmatism..he said my eye was shaped like a football) My eyesight
was-7.50 before the surgery...after the surgery it was -450 and -4.25...but
even a nicer surprise was 6 months later my eyes were -3.25 and -2.25....I
would have still not have to wear glasses but I see so much better
everything is sharper and brighter.
I have never had a blood flow test. Hope someone can come by and answer your
question. Sounds like you are working hard to be in good health.
Jacquie

"nana wilson" <nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:-audnewjLrxgczHYnZ2dnUVZ_sCinZ2d@comcast.com...
>I might add that I am interested in knowing if any one else has had this
>problem, & what can be done @ home ( exercises, supplements )to prevent
>this from getting too far gone ( clogged). You can understand why I would
>be reluctant to have any surgery because of what me Mom went through.

Hi nana wilson,
I have this problem
They measured the bloodflow in my legs and feet
The procedure itself is completely painless
The same as a normal bloodpressure test , however this time with more and
high-tech sensors connected to a computer.I did try some of the medication
but did not find yet any thing usefull
Here is a website with a lot of info :

http://www.umm.edu/patiented/article...n_000102_7.htm

The keywords : "intermittent claudication" and "Periferal Artery Desease"
if you want to Google

hth
Gys
T2
Neuropathy in my hands and feet
Dammaged periferal arteries causing cold feet even in normal weather
Metformine , Tramadol , Lyrica , Alpha Lipoic acid , Evening Primrose oil ,
Magnesium , cinnamon , diet and exercise

Thank you so much for the web site! The University of Maryland is right in
me own back yard. Until I had this test the other day, I had no idea. I
have no pain in me leg or have I ever had any. I do take statins & ACE
inhibitors. I am back to walking on me TM. So maybe it can help.

Nana


"GysdeJongh" <jongh711@planet.nl> wrote in message
news:45ad44b0$0$2019$ba620dc5@text.nova.planet.nl. ..
>
> "nana wilson" <nnaoj5@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:-audnewjLrxgczHYnZ2dnUVZ_sCinZ2d@comcast.com...
>>I might add that I am interested in knowing if any one else has had this
>>problem, & what can be done @ home ( exercises, supplements )to prevent
>>this from getting too far gone ( clogged). You can understand why I would
>>be reluctant to have any surgery because of what me Mom went through.
>
> Hi nana wilson,
> I have this problem
> They measured the bloodflow in my legs and feet
> The procedure itself is completely painless
> The same as a normal bloodpressure test , however this time with more and
> high-tech sensors connected to a computer.I did try some of the medication
> but did not find yet any thing usefull
> Here is a website with a lot of info :
>
> http://www.umm.edu/patiented/article...n_000102_7.htm
>
> The keywords : "intermittent claudication" and "Periferal Artery
> Desease" if you want to Google
>
> hth
> Gys
> T2
> Neuropathy in my hands and feet
> Dammaged periferal arteries causing cold feet even in normal weather
> Metformine , Tramadol , Lyrica , Alpha Lipoic acid , Evening Primrose oil
> , Magnesium , cinnamon , diet and exercise
>
>

"John Inzer" <oobie@doobie.xyz> wrote in
news:fYCdneLh08F96zHYnZ2dnUVZ_rOqnZ2d@comcast.com:

> MaryL wrote:
>> Nana,
>>
>> I had cataracts removed from both eyes last summer (about two weeks
>> apart). Cataract surgery is now so routine that the surgery itself
>> only took about 15 minutes. I had no-stitch surgery, and there was
>> absolutely no pain. The ophthalmologist used drops of some sort to
>> numb the eye, so I did not even need any injections in the eye area.
>> Of course, there was an IV in the hand -- but, again, so pain. I
>> could see better just one day after surgery than I had for many
>> years. I do now have glasses, but I could legally drive even during
>> the period when I was waiting for vision to stabilize before buying
>> new glasses (about 6 weeks). Not everyone will react in the same
>> way, of course, but I would advise you to be sure you have an
>> ophthalmologist who has performed a great many of these procedures
>> and then not worry about it. As I said earlier, this is really a
>> rather routine procedure now -- very different from what my
>> grandmother faced years ago.
>> MaryL
> =====================================
> Good info...thank you. My wife is still contemplating
> the procedure. Could you expand on how you feel
> about the surgery now that you've had time to adjust
> and is your vision what you hoped it would be?
>

John,

I also have had 2 cataract operations, though mine were a year apart.
After the 1st I just wished I'd had it done earlier! It was so
incredible being able to see colors properly again, I asked my Wife to
take a day off of work just so we could drive around the island (I live
in Hawaii) just to see the sights.

Cataracts normally form very slowly, so you don't actually notice the
changes. The day after the surgery, when they took off the eye patch, I
was just astonished at how everything looked. One of the most noticible
things for me were the icons on my computer. I had no idea they were so
colorful and sharp.

The second surgery was less dramatic, mostly because I'd already had the
experience, but was none the less rewarding. I see amazingly better, and
could go back to reading printed material (Newspapers, magazines),
something which was too difficult to bother with before.

Tell your Wife to make the earliest appointment she can, and enjoy!

Larry L [in Honolulu]
Type-I for 45 years so far

"John Inzer" <oobie@doobie.xyz> wrote in message
news:fYCdneLh08F96zHYnZ2dnUVZ_rOqnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> MaryL wrote:
>> Nana,
>>
>> I had cataracts removed from both eyes last summer (about two weeks
>> apart). Cataract surgery is now so routine that the surgery itself
>> only took about 15 minutes. I had no-stitch surgery, and there was
>> absolutely no pain. The ophthalmologist used drops of some sort to
>> numb the eye, so I did not even need any injections in the eye area. Of
>> course, there was an IV in the hand -- but, again, so pain. I
>> could see better just one day after surgery than I had for many
>> years. I do now have glasses, but I could legally drive even during
>> the period when I was waiting for vision to stabilize before buying
>> new glasses (about 6 weeks). Not everyone will react in the same
>> way, of course, but I would advise you to be sure you have an
>> ophthalmologist who has performed a great many of these procedures
>> and then not worry about it. As I said earlier, this is really a
>> rather routine procedure now -- very different from what my
>> grandmother faced years ago.
>> MaryL
> =====================================
> Good info...thank you. My wife is still contemplating
> the procedure. Could you expand on how you feel
> about the surgery now that you've had time to adjust
> and is your vision what you hoped it would be?
>
> --
>
> John Inzer
>

Hi John,

I am *very* pleased that I had the surgery. I did not experience the
dramatic change in color perception that many do because I did not wait as
long to have the surgery. Also, I still wear glasses but that was expected
in my case. I had severe astigmatism, and optic nerves are on their sides
(for want of a better description) -- which means that my eyes are
constantly working to focus, although that is done without my even being
aware of it. As a result, the ophthalmologist thought the surgery would
probably cut my astigmatism in half, and that is exactly what happened.
Some people have an implant in one eye for distance and in the other eye for
closeup, which may eliminate the need for glasses. I was not a good
candidate for that, so I opted for distance in both eyes. You wife should
discuss this with her doctor. Still, the overall quality of vision improved
*dramatically* after surgery. I had been finding it more and more difficult
to read small print even with glasses, and the telephone directory was
almost impossible. Now, that is no problem! I could even drive legally
without glasses after surgery. However, I was advised to have prescription
glasses because of my astigmatism and was told vision would be "sharper."
They were right! I did soon learn that my eyes had adjusted to the
prescription, so now I don't have such good vision without glasses as I had
following the surgery -- but I would still recommend doing it this way.

I would *strongly* recommend that your wife consult with an ophthalmologist
who does *non-stitch* surgery. That is what I had, and it is remarkable.
However, most ophthalmologist still haven't been trained in that procedure
and/or have not done a lot of the surgeries yet. You want to get someone
with a lot of experience. Your wife will need to wear a patch at night for
about a week after the surgery. That is to ensure that she will not
unconsciously rub her eye while she is asleep. She will also probably be
instructed to wear sunglasses for awhile anytime she goes outdoors. I was
given heavy wrap-around sunglasses in the "kit" that was provided. She will
have drops to put in her eyes on a regular schedule. In my case, I was told
to do that until the bottles were completely empty. I had two types of eye
drops. One bottle lasted about 2 weeks, and the other lasted about a month.

Oh, yes. Following the first surgery, I still had *one* eye that needed my
original prescription. I was told to have the lens removed from the eye
where I had had surgery and *not* use the original lens because the eye with
the lens implant might adjust to that prescription. The optical service
where I buy my glasses removed it and also substituted a piece of clear
glassin its place to "balance" the glasses (which also provided a little
extra protection for the eye while everything was healing).

Good luck to your wife! I hope her experience was as positive as mine.

MaryL

Nana, I never even heard onf this test, but that doesnt mean others
havent. You are on a good path . I am glad to hear you are taking
charge of your diabetes and diabetes isnt taking charge of you.

Loretta

--
In tribute to the United States of America and the State
of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and
terrorism.

In alt.support.diabetes on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:21:46 GMT in Msg.#
<Klbrh.11765$w91.2442@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink .net>, "jacquie"
<happikat@nospam.net> wrote:


> ... I was told they were the type of cataracts that are seen
> in younger people...and diabetes seems to help speed their growth.

Me, too! I was told that mine were the type seen in younger people also &
that they were the worse kind because they were at the very back of the
lens. Mine went from 'zero to 60' so to speak in 6-8 months, scary fast.
They kept asking me if I had diabetes. And, I kept replying that I did not
but that I always had that checked because of family history. Months after I
finished with all of the glaucoma surgery & healing & got new glasses, etc.
I was diagnosed!!

--
DonnaB 09-11-06 hbA1C 5.0
06-07-06 Diagnosis T2 hbA1C 8.1, D&E & Metformin 500mg.
09-11-06 hbA1C 5.0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSzSBum9uvQ Jake Gyllenhaal on SNL

"A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the
unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected & outlast
the unbearable." - Billy Graham (1918-) US evangelist, READER'S DIGEST, 3-93

I kept on cleaning my glasses trying to get that darn smudge out of the
middle of them. My Dr also said that since I grew up in AZ the sun could
have damaged the eye and caused the cataracts to form as I aged. I went to
Green Valley(Retirement Community) for my pre-op and follow up...I tell you
I felt really young...most of the people I saw were in their 70's and 80's.
One man called me Young Lady...I could have hugged him...LOL. It is so nice
to see isn't it?
Jacquie
"DonnaB shallotpeel" <shallotpeel@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:aqrsq25g5ven24ah58ctka2h3kvme7sqjm@4ax.com...
> In alt.support.diabetes on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:21:46 GMT in Msg.#
> <Klbrh.11765$w91.2442@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink .net>, "jacquie"
> <happikat@nospam.net> wrote:
>
>
>> ... I was told they were the type of cataracts that are seen
>> in younger people...and diabetes seems to help speed their growth.
>
> Me, too! I was told that mine were the type seen in younger people also &
> that they were the worse kind because they were at the very back of the
> lens. Mine went from 'zero to 60' so to speak in 6-8 months, scary fast.
> They kept asking me if I had diabetes. And, I kept replying that I did not
> but that I always had that checked because of family history. Months after
> I
> finished with all of the glaucoma surgery & healing & got new glasses,
> etc.
> I was diagnosed!!
>
> --
> DonnaB 09-11-06 hbA1C 5.0
> 06-07-06 Diagnosis T2 hbA1C 8.1, D&E & Metformin 500mg.
> 09-11-06 hbA1C 5.0
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSzSBum9uvQ Jake Gyllenhaal on SNL
>
> "A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the
> unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected & outlast
> the unbearable." - Billy Graham (1918-) US evangelist, READER'S DIGEST,
> 3-93

Thanks Larry,

This is very useful info, my wife will
happy to receive it.

Sorry it took so long to reply.

John Inzer



> John,
>
> I also have had 2 cataract operations, though mine were a year apart.
> After the 1st I just wished I'd had it done earlier! It was so
> incredible being able to see colors properly again, I asked my Wife to
> take a day off of work just so we could drive around the island (I
> live in Hawaii) just to see the sights.
>
> Cataracts normally form very slowly, so you don't actually notice the
> changes. The day after the surgery, when they took off the eye patch,
> I was just astonished at how everything looked. One of the most
> noticible things for me were the icons on my computer. I had no idea
> they were so colorful and sharp.
>
> The second surgery was less dramatic, mostly because I'd already had
> the experience, but was none the less rewarding. I see amazingly
> better, and could go back to reading printed material (Newspapers,
> magazines), something which was too difficult to bother with before.
>
> Tell your Wife to make the earliest appointment she can, and enjoy!
>
> Larry L [in Honolulu]
> Type-I for 45 years so far

Thank you for the excellent reply....
my wife will be very interested in
reading about your experience.

Sorry it took so long to thank you.

John Inzer

MaryL wrote:
> "John Inzer" <oobie@doobie.xyz> wrote in message
> news:fYCdneLh08F96zHYnZ2dnUVZ_rOqnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> MaryL wrote:
>>> Nana,
>>>
>>> I had cataracts removed from both eyes last summer (about two weeks
>>> apart). Cataract surgery is now so routine that the surgery itself
>>> only took about 15 minutes. I had no-stitch surgery, and there was
>>> absolutely no pain. The ophthalmologist used drops of some sort to
>>> numb the eye, so I did not even need any injections in the eye
>>> area. Of course, there was an IV in the hand -- but, again, so
>>> pain. I could see better just one day after surgery than I had for many
>>> years. I do now have glasses, but I could legally drive even during
>>> the period when I was waiting for vision to stabilize before buying
>>> new glasses (about 6 weeks). Not everyone will react in the same
>>> way, of course, but I would advise you to be sure you have an
>>> ophthalmologist who has performed a great many of these procedures
>>> and then not worry about it. As I said earlier, this is really a
>>> rather routine procedure now -- very different from what my
>>> grandmother faced years ago.
>>> MaryL
>> =====================================
>> Good info...thank you. My wife is still contemplating
>> the procedure. Could you expand on how you feel
>> about the surgery now that you've had time to adjust
>> and is your vision what you hoped it would be?
>>
>> --
>>
>> John Inzer
>>
>
> Hi John,
>
> I am *very* pleased that I had the surgery. I did not experience the
> dramatic change in color perception that many do because I did not
> wait as long to have the surgery. Also, I still wear glasses but
> that was expected in my case. I had severe astigmatism, and optic
> nerves are on their sides (for want of a better description) -- which
> means that my eyes are constantly working to focus, although that is
> done without my even being aware of it. As a result, the
> ophthalmologist thought the surgery would probably cut my astigmatism
> in half, and that is exactly what happened. Some people have an
> implant in one eye for distance and in the other eye for closeup,
> which may eliminate the need for glasses. I was not a good candidate
> for that, so I opted for distance in both eyes. You wife should
> discuss this with her doctor. Still, the overall quality of vision
> improved *dramatically* after surgery. I had been finding it more
> and more difficult to read small print even with glasses, and the
> telephone directory was almost impossible. Now, that is no problem! I
> could even drive legally without glasses after surgery. However, I
> was advised to have prescription glasses because of my astigmatism
> and was told vision would be "sharper." They were right! I did soon
> learn that my eyes had adjusted to the prescription, so now I don't
> have such good vision without glasses as I had following the surgery
> -- but I would still recommend doing it this way.
> I would *strongly* recommend that your wife consult with an
> ophthalmologist who does *non-stitch* surgery. That is what I had,
> and it is remarkable. However, most ophthalmologist still haven't
> been trained in that procedure and/or have not done a lot of the
> surgeries yet. You want to get someone with a lot of experience. Your
> wife will need to wear a patch at night for about a week after
> the surgery. That is to ensure that she will not unconsciously rub
> her eye while she is asleep. She will also probably be instructed to
> wear sunglasses for awhile anytime she goes outdoors. I was given
> heavy wrap-around sunglasses in the "kit" that was provided. She
> will have drops to put in her eyes on a regular schedule. In my
> case, I was told to do that until the bottles were completely empty. I had
> two types of eye drops. One bottle lasted about 2 weeks, and
> the other lasted about a month.
> Oh, yes. Following the first surgery, I still had *one* eye that
> needed my original prescription. I was told to have the lens removed
> from the eye where I had had surgery and *not* use the original lens
> because the eye with the lens implant might adjust to that
> prescription. The optical service where I buy my glasses removed it
> and also substituted a piece of clear glassin its place to "balance"
> the glasses (which also provided a little extra protection for the
> eye while everything was healing).
> Good luck to your wife! I hope her experience was as positive as
> mine.
> MaryL



--

John Inzer