Wellness

[BirkiLady]

Does anyone know if Medicare and Supplement (BC/BS) would cover this procedure? From researching it, it's about $8,000-$10,000. Today, I'm not as queezy as yesterday and am considering having it done. Much more anxious to see the specialist and ask questions! 

Many thanks for your answers and comments. My appt. will be on Wednesday and my son is going with me! Still feeling like a wimp, but who cares? This has been a nasty year health-wise. Might as well add something else to the mix! 

[PamfromCT]

@BirkiLady, I am sorry to hear about your new issue.  I know all you have been through, and I do understand that fractures in one’s back are quite painful.  I do hope your eye problem can be resolved and your vision restored quickly.  

I do do know how you feel.  Seems like it is always something.

Just a word of advice, given with my best intent.  Before any dental work, make sure your dentist is aware if you are on Prolia.  I am not sure if you are on it or not.  I have friends my age, and our joke is that we are vintage cars going to the shop for work.  Can’t laugh all the time, though.  I wish you all the very best!  Keep everyone informed.  Take care.  Pam

[Gracies Mom]

I had a tear in my left retina 25 years ago--found during a routine eye exam--had to rush over to a retinal specialist right away or risk losing my sight (and I read for a living!).

The retinal doctor said I had two tears in that eye---had the laser procedure done in his office with NO anesthesia or numbing.It was the worst thing I ever had done without something for the pain---however---it was over within 15 minutes---had pain the rest of the day, but nothing horrible.

Now, 25 years later, my retina is fine--the laser did a great job.

I am examined every six months by my regular ophthamologist and he makes sure to carefully look at where the tear was--the retina is as good as new since the surgery.

The other eye is also examined carefully--you are of higher risk for a tear to happen in the other eye--but, so far, thank God, my other eye has been fine.

Risking your sight is nothing to make light of--if there is a problem, get it taken care of quickly. Once a retina detaches, it might not be able to be fixed.

Good luck!!

[chrystaltree]

You are not a wimp at all, our eyes are so vital that any mention of a problem and possible surgery scares the average person.  It's good that you are taking your son with you.  I don't have a whole in my retina, I have slight tear.  I always had poor vision in that eye and my retina specialist thinks that I probably had that tear since childhood.  Over the years, I cornea problem with that eye and now I'm legally blind in that eye.  I am fortunate because I have perfect vision in my good eye.  Several years ago, I was referred to a cornea specialist who recommended a cornea transplant.  I was on the fence, the cornea guy made it seem like it was quick simple and I'd get vision in that eye.  I have friend who is a physician and I spoke to her about it and she urged me to hold off until she did some research.  It turns out there is high rate of failure in cornea transplants, the recovery is difficult, they aren't always effective and with my retina problem, many surgeons would not view me as good candidate for a cornea transplant.  Wow...  After that I went for a second opinion, the second surgeon did not rule it out but she was not nearly as enthusiastic as the first guy.  She said it was a possibility but risks out outweighed the benefits since I had perfect vision in my other eye and I was doing just fine.  I was so happy that I mentioned it to my friend and that she set up that second opinion for me.  I have all the eye tests every 4 months just to make sure that tear is not getting worse and also to make sure everything is ship shape with my other eye...It's the only functioning eye I have so they watch it closely for any problems.  I say all this to stress the importance of second and even third opinions.       

[morganjen]

I had never heard of this before until a women in our building at work had to have surgery. I do remember hearing that she had to have her face propped down for a certain amount of time afterwards. She seems to be doing fine now, and that was about two years ago.

[BirkiLady]

@PamfromCT  Thanks for remembering about the Prolia! How sweet of you. Unfortunately, a fourth fracture happened in my back in September for no apparent reason.

The ortho. surgeon wanted to use a cement-type procedure to fill the disc. I happened to have an appt. with my Rheumatologist later that week. He was astounded at the thought of filling one problem and not bothering to take care of the entire cause.

So, my wonderful and knowledgeable Rheumatologist took me off Prolia and I'm now giving myself Foleo shots daily (for 18-24 months) to build strong bones quickly. Then, I'll return to the Prolia injections every six months.

Ironically, today I did have a bridge replaced and (as usual) didn't use any numbing stuff at all (allergic to that stuff). My DDS tries to talk me into using very small doses, but it's not worth the migraines and hives. I always tell him I'll raise my left hand if I'm in severe pain . . . but it's never bad enough to need anything. He's also very, very good and dental work has advanced to far from when I was a kid and was white knuckled even with anesthesia! 

Thanks, again, for your kind reminder! 

[BirkiLady]

@chrystaltree  Your advice sounds much like what my Dr. gave me yesterday. In lieu of my other health issues and how bad this eye has been for so long, it may not be worth taking the risk. And, it is a risky surgery according to him. We'll see what the specialist has to say. May go for a third opinion or, like you, live with it (if possible).

I was so rattled yesterday, I didn't ask! Can't believe how undone that diagnosis made me feel. Everything else, I've handled by myself and calmly asked questions. Then, shared what I planned to do with my family. What a whimp that turned me into! Oh well, life goes on today. (But I'm so glad my son is going with me next Wednesday. He'll ask pertinent questions!)

Delighted to hear you are living well with your eye as is. Are you able to drive? That's on my list of questions, of course, since I live alone. 

[BirkiLady]

@morganjen  Yes. That's so the jell, which is inserted into the eye, is able to adhere and fill into the space (or hole).

Right now I'm unable to sleep on my stomach due to the fractures in my back, which is one of the reasons my Dr. suggested I not have the procedure done. He didn't feel I'd be a good candidate for a successful recovery and it could result in total blindness instead. We have lots of issues to address before making any decisions.

[PamfromCT]

@BirkiLady, I hesitate to overwhelm you with information, but...I do feel obligation to share info.  Even if it something that proves to be irrelevant at the time.  Clears my conscience.

I continue to feel badly for your fractures.  It certainly seems like you are getting good treatment.  I hope and pray you are much better soon.

I had to leave the endo doctor who treated me for osteoporosis.  He had a solo practice and simply could not afford to pay for Prolia vaccine, waiting for slow insurance reimbursement.  He referred me to a university (and all his other Prolia patients), where they agreed to continue Prolia shots for me even though I technically don’t meet the criteria anymore—after years on Prolia.

The takeaway - current thought is that high doses of calcium are not good for one’s heart.  Now they tell me!  Just call me a test subject!  Anyway, I am to take my multi-vitamin in the am, then 2 Caltrates in the pm.  Here comes the kicker.  I am a coffee hound.  Now I am limited to 10 oz a day!  And that includes decaf.  Now that is really a tiny bit over a big mug a day.  Now I eat a very low fat diet, little sugar, etc.  Maybe water and cardboard will do it?  I hope I have made you laugh!  

[BirkiLady]

@PamfromCT  Difficult for coffee drinker to cut back from what I've heard. Have you been able do so? Holy Cow! It's always something, isn't it? As far as the cutting back on sugar, that's been known for a long time. Diabetes is raging in America. Didn't know about the calcium. That's interesting. 

Hope you have blood work done every few months to monitor all of those thing. I do. And my PCP checks my heart regularly. It's the weird stuff that seem to be going hay-wire in my old age!!