Small mercies, but very small ones

[lexin]

Even the diabetes books don't tell you how rubbish having diabetes actually is, and I suspect it gets even worse if you have any of the complications that can come about from having it ill-controlled.

I visited my optician yesterday. The bad news is that my prescription is out of date – my right eye has changed again. My eyes always change from one appointment to the next; that's why I can't have lasik or any of those nice things. But she won't issue new glasses until my diabetes is under control. This is not entirely bad news – I am thus saved £300 – but it does mean that I'm sometimes struggling to see properly.

Next week she will do a diabetic retinopathy test. She insists. So I've booked it in for the latest appointment she'll reasonably do it, which is 3pm.

Meanwhile, this morning, I get a letter from the local NHS clinic, for, guess what? A diabetic retinopathy test. And yes, I have to go to both; they won't rely on my optician to notify my doctor. The second test is on 5 July and it's in the morning, so I've booked the afternoon off as leave. I suppose I can listen to a talking book while being unable to see properly. Or even less properly than I can already see. If you see what I mean.

Plus, Tesco, bless their little cotton socks, did not send me sufficient salad to keep me going until the weekend so what I'm going to eat, I don't know.

Friday, I have to go to the dentist and I'm shaking in my shoes. I don't know what he'll find as I haven't been for more than two years.

OK, first world problems. I know there are people who would give their eye teeth to have my life.

Comments

[pickledginger]

Well ... getting two opinions on the State of the Retinae might be a good thing. Annoying as ... heck, but still.

And audio books sound like a good solution.

And ... gosh, I guess that means you have another vision test to look forward to this summer. By which time, you may be seeing better, but ... bah, humbug. (Ran out of sunshine.)

[lexin]

Well, yes. I suppose. Humbugs r us.

[lyorn]

Even if others have it a lot worst, chronic illness = never a fun thing. Same with not being able to see properly, or not having food in the house.

[lexin]

It's not having salad in the house which pisses me off the most at the moment.

[ephemera]

(Drive by comment from someone who's been wrangling adult-onset diabetes for several years now: please ignore at will if this isn't welcome)

I used to absolutely *loathe* the retinopathy tests, until I ran into a tech who offered to try and take the scans without the eye drops - if you have naturally reasonably large pupils it can be done. I've since asked the various nurses and techs at all my appointments, and they've all been willing to try - and succeeded in getting the shots they need. Not knowing you, or your pupils, I don't know if that might be an option for you, but I mention it in case it's something you can suggest to whoever is at your appointments. Not having to have the drops (to which my eyes overreact to massively) makes the test really very minor and un-botherful.

(Also - yeah. It sucks. Not always, but especially at first, it sucks. A certain amount of railing at the universe is entirely reasonable, and one develops new habits which make it suck less, but the adjustment is something of a PITA)

[lexin]

You know, I'm sure I've had photos done of my retinas without the drops, so I'll suggest that.

At the moment I'm trying to develop a diet which helps my blood sugar and which I can live with long term. It's proving something of an uphill struggle!

All comments are welcome!

[raincitygirl]

Ouch. I hope the diabetes stuff gets easier soon.

A friend's husband was diagnosed about five years ago, and apparently the first year was really hard, but since then it's become much easier to manage. So, I guess, hang in there for another eleven months,a nd it'll get better?

[lexin]

Well, fingers crossed. Perhaps I'll stop whinging about it soon...but don't hold your breath!