Anyone Have Knowledge & Or Experience RE. Macular Degeneration??

silver7 · Jul 21, 2011

Seems I have the beginning of it in one eye. The initial step in the treatment is literally a "poke in the eye w/a sharp stick". They stick a needle directly into your eyeball. And yes it's as bad as it sounds. They hit me w/the treatment so fast that I didn't have time to ask all the Q's I now want answered. This is something that will be done every 30 days or so until???? What's the success rate? How long do I have till sight in that eye is gone, etc? Anyone? My next appt is 8/15!

hno:

Betallsports · Jul 21, 2011

That sounds painful :smoking:

Here the best i could come up with....

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amd.htm

taking a guess here that yours is Age-relate.... because we all know How "Young" you are.

Hope you feel better

silver7 · Jul 21, 2011

Thanks Bet. That has some interesting material. After enduring possibly the worst 11 hrs I can remember following the eye "gouge", I'm debating is the long term gain vs my age related mortality, worth it? Not being morbid, just realistic. This is something I hesitate to discuss w/my kids, given emotional nature of the subject. Basicly I'll be 79 soon, and w/all my other health issues, heart being the main one, I'm laying 3x1 I won't hit 80. I have to decide whether to continue, or just say F it and ride it out. Thanks again.

Betallsports · Jul 21, 2011

silver7 said:
Thanks Bet. That has some interesting material. After enduring possibly the worst 11 hrs I can remember following the eye "gouge", I'm debating is the long term gain vs my age related mortality, worth it? Not being morbid, just realistic. This is something I hesitate to discuss w/my kids, given emotional nature of the subject. Basicly I'll be 79 soon, and w/all my other health issues, heart being the main one, I'm laying 3x1 I won't hit 80. I have to decide whether to continue, or just say F it and ride it out. Thanks again.

hey bro... Don't want to hear that shit !
80 years old is NOT Old. I have a friend of mine ( maybe you met him Vegas at the bash )
But he just turned 85... very active... and sure he's slowing down and has some heath problems. He wants to live until at least 120 ( lol ) but he always says,
The Beat goes on !

I'm sure you will be fine. Just go with it and see how it turns out.
You have Kids ! and probably Grandkids .... and i'm sure they would want you to do what takes to kept on going.

I believe that unless you just can't walk, Talk, and do......You go on with Life.
When the Guy Upstairs says it's Time, You're Know.

wolfie_cr · Jul 21, 2011

ask your doctor what his prognosis is about this whole thing, if there is a reasonable (or even slight) chance of success.......I will take it

from what I read , it involves central vision , are you affected in both eyes or one?

regardless...........keep going strong , you may end up making it to 90 easily

silver7 · Jul 21, 2011

Thanks guys for the encouragement!! Just 1 eye, and I don't notice any of the symptoms associated w/this. Looked @ the graph many times, and all the lines look fine 2 me. As far as my gloomy outlook re. my mortality, part of the problem is the nomadic life I've led. Left HS in the middle of my Sr. to join the military, right after Korea had broken out in June of 1950. Hence no classmates to speak of. The military life for me was great, hundreds of pals. But with the moving around it's difficult to maintain those relationships. My best friend of all, died of cancer, 25 yrs ago. The ones I kept in contact with are all gone. Price of the "Golden Years". Sounds like I'm feeling sorry for myself, I'm not as I have great kids (5) & Grankids (8). Played a lot of BB in the svc. made every Base team I was ever at, and there were some really good ones. And of course the ladies, so all in all I guess I'm just an "Old Bastard" who can't accept the fact that I'm NOT what I once was. Whoa is me. Thanks as always for listening men. BOL to all of you, even BP!!:toast:

wolfie_cr · Jul 21, 2011

you should get a 2nd opinion , worst case they will confirm it , its not a good thing to go through treatment when you are not sure its necessary

oldmanTED · Jul 21, 2011

Silver7

Sorry to hear my friend, but as BAS said, it is likely related to the aging process. My mother had macular degeneration late in life and just let it runs it's natural course without any treatment and it really didn't affect her daily activities. She passed away at the age of 83 so you might want to ask your doctor what is the upside and downside should you decide to treat or not treat the disease. As always, my best wishes to you and your family.

Bucky · Jul 22, 2011

A friend of mine - his wife started losing her vision to macular degeneration. Her doctor started her on a cancer drug. Apparently, a side effect is that it stops the bleeding in the tiny little blood vessels in the retina/macula area.

It stopped the deteriotion but could not reverse the effects of the damage that had already ocurred.

silver7 · Jul 22, 2011

OMT, this is exactly what I intend to do @ my next appt., 8/15. #1 What's the upside/downside considering my age and the progression of the disease. If the progression is so slow until there's loss of sight in the eye vs my ultimate last hurrah, I may just say pass. Also what's the % or degre of success w/this procedure? Thanks for the concern & same to you. Same to all.<><>