Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
As if it wasn't bad enough to deal with RA......I was told a couple days ago I need a Vitrectomy. I have something called macular puckering of the retina and while we've known this for about 10+ years, something happened a few months ago.....
Up until them I had been symptom-free. Then, very suddenly, I felt like I was looking through a light fog [right eye only]. Saw the ophthalmologist and he wanted to wait a couple months and retest. Did the retest two days ago and my right eye is significantly worse. Need surgery to correct the hole in the retina before my retina detaches.
I'm busy researching this - after all, it's my EYE!!!!!
My cousin had a retina detachment a few months back and I recall the post-op was miserable. They drain the vitreous fluid [gel] from the eye and insert a gas bubble. So you have to stay in one position for a few weeks. That will drive me insane. But, it's my EYE, so I'll do what I have to.
Have any of you had this surgery? Can you tell me your experience?
Thanks in advance.
Lynn in California
While dealing with RA, I have dealt with half a dozen hand surgeries and a knee replacement, hepatitis C (with several liver biopsies), C-Diff, migraines, skin cancer, and having a bone marrow biopsy that turned out to be just a big scare, plural effusion (that was related to the RA)....and I am facing cataract surgery.... I also divorced and lost both parents and my eldest daughter.... and, after all that, I STILL have RA!! Life goes on....
But I do wish you the best of luck with this scary surgery. I hope it is successful and easy to endure.
Juli