What is Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, is a genetic eye condition. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many peop...
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well my name is richard ive had RP since i was about 11 never really bothered me until my later teenage years ,i remember one time i was going to a party walked into this persons backyard with dim lighting and walked straight into there pool fully clothed thats when it had really started to bother me i started noticing more and more how poor my night vision was becoming numerous incidents i have walked into trees,chairs,children,trip over curbs,steps anything you could think of it is to the point i dont want to go to bars,clubs,dancing even some restraunts have such a dim lighting i feel uncomfortable entering i constantly bump people and they look at me like im crazy and when i try to appoligize i cant even focus on there eyes half the time and to top it all off last year they took my license , im only fucking 24 years old the prime of my life and i have to ask my parents to pick up my date it sucks but i try to stay so positive about everything but sometimes i think i let RP get the best of me so thats why im here just to see how others deal with it i know just by reading some of the other topics there is mental help here for me and hopefully i can help someone to well any comments i would appreciate
Posted on 08/07/09, 05:08 am |
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Hi Richard! I'm Jill. I was diagnosed with RP last year and I'm 50. I've had trouble with lighting for a long time and also driving in busy intersections...little did I know until last year that I had virtually no perephereal vision and an advanced case of RP. My whole life has changed since then. I had my license pulled too and had to quit my job..fortunately I have very supportive friends and a husband who loves me. I've learned alot in this short time since my diagnosis and have started learnin to use my white cane. I do have central vision but it's my poor light adjustment and no side vision that keep me off balance alot. I don't use the cane very often yet but it comes in very handy, even as a way of notifying people that I'm visually impaired. I walk alot and have found ways to be productive and busy outside of the house. I can certainly understand how frustrated you must be at times. I am really grateful that I have some vision and that leaves me alot of options in life. I go to a homeopath which has really helped my overall health and has to help my eye health as well. It has also helped me to understand some of the thinking that I may need to change in order to stay as positive as possible. I consider myself very fortunate to be my age and have as much vision as I do. I am healthy and am able to enjoy my life. I do think you will find this group to be supportive and I hope you enjoy it here. 
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Wow Rich, just read your post. You sound like me except I many years older, but totally emphathize with what you are feeling and going through especially in public places. We used to go dancing and always loved it, but now its way too hard to be in dimly lit places. Let me know if I can encourage you or help in any way. Glad that you are able to be honest and vulnerable. Take care. Anna
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Hi Rich, I'm Mike and feel for you buddy, you're too young to have to feel that way. I was able to have a career and drove until last year. I'm now 39, and I feel like I'm 70 sometimes.
As a guy I also feel like less of a man when it comes to providing and being able to protect myself if I had too.... I miss a lot of gestures for hand shakes, I doubt I'd ever see someone was about to take a swing at me. That's why I'm so nice to everyone:-) Also, I went to a low vision support group earlier this year. It was offered in my state, it was helpful to meet others and hear their frustrations. I also had the best sight of anyone, so it helped with the "feeling sorry for myself" stuff. The FFB and NFB are also great places to meet others with vision problems. Hang-in there and feel free to chat anytime.
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