A Needle in the Eye...not all that great

[1BigDog]

Hang in there Don...prayers sent.

[kbran]

Beth and I send our prayers for you Don. Kinda know whay you are going thru, with the surgeries i'v had on my eye and a gas inserted to hold the retna makes for a lot of pain and headaches, but just don't know about having a needle in the eye while awake,ouch. Take care of yourself and do what the Docs say.

[TDunc]

Prayers for healing.

[saddlebum]

Wow I really don't know what to say. Sure hope you get through this ordeal OK.

P/S hang in there and no matter what they do don't give away any Venture secrets.

[BuckShot]

Freebird - I'm at a loss

 

 

I just can't think of anything comforting to say except that prayers for recovery over this latest setback are sent your way.

 

Don,

Dick couldn't have said it any better. Prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

[noahzark]

The visit went downhill from that point. I have never been too crazy about shots but I had a total of 4 needles put in my eye yesterday. The worse was the very first one...the "numbing" shot. That one was followed by an injection of some chemical that is supposed to neutralize the natural chemical in the eye that is causing the blood vessels to grow.

 

Don, if that stuff is anything like my diabetic retinapothy treatments, I'd like to make a minor correction to your description: That was NOT a needle they put in there to "drain the swamp," it was a garden hose. The injection to neutralize the chemical . . . I had a similar injection, but it was a cancer treatment drug (fairly new) to stop the bleeding in the eye. I've had a crap-load of laser surgery--both eyes--and the other type on the left eye, and will have to have more at the end of September. Overall, ain't doin' that bad--can still ride, drive, etc., unless I want to use it as an excuse for not doing stuff.

 

I stuck a screwdriver in my eye one time and did not like it at all.

 

AtlantaDragonslayer, you weren't by any chance uploading 50 cal ammo on a B-52, were you? That was fairly common occurrence on the a$$end of the bull.

[Squeeze]

Well Don, i can't add anything to what has been said already,but be assured, i'll keep you in my Thoughts and sure keep my Fingers crossed for a positive Outcome for you.

[cecdoo]

All the best to ya Don:fingers-crossed-emo Hoping for a positive outcome. Craig

[SteveW]

Hi Don

I think its all been said. Just take it a day at a time and do your best.

Steve

[friesman]

It's been a long time since I've posted an update on my health situation here. Not that I've been trying to hide anything but there just hasn't been much to report since the surgery and radiation a year ago. I've been back to Boston twice for follow-up visits and have been told each time that the tumor is shrinking and things look like they are supposed to at this point.

 

That all changed last Friday. I had been in Evansville, IN all week and was having no problems. When I woke up on Friday morning, my eye was a little red and it felt like I had an eyelash or something in it. I also had a slight headache at that time. I really thought that I had somehow gotten something in my eye during the night and it would be better in a day or two.

 

Went through the weekend thinking at times that it was getting better but at other times, feeling that it was getting worse. Headaches had gotten very bad and I was taking Tylenol to address it. Woke up on Monday morning and got ready to head out to Michigan for the week. Stopped by the post office on my way out and by the time I was finished there, my head was throbbing, eye was very red and hurting like heck and I knew that I was NOT going to make it to Michigan.

 

Went back home and called my local eye doctor. She got me in around noon and did not like what she saw. She says that the pressure was slightly high and was causing my headaches but also a lot of blood vessels growing in the eye where there should not be any. She immediately got me an appointment at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic. The appointment was for Wednesday but she was so worried about the pressure that she had me come back to her on Tuesday so that she could make sure it hadn't gotten too much higher.

 

So, went to the Cole Eye Institute yesterday for what turned out to be a four hour ordeal. A LOT of tests to determine that I have now developed Neovascular Glaucoma in the eye that I had the radiation treatment done on. Turns out that about 16% of the people who have this radiation treatment will develop Neovascular Glaucoma. I'm one of those lucky few.

 

The visit went downhill from that point. I have never been too crazy about shots but I had a total of 4 needles put in my eye yesterday. The worse was the very first one...the "numbing" shot. That one was followed by an injection of some chemical that is supposed to neutralize the natural chemical in the eye that is causing the blood vessels to grow. That injection resulted in my eye pressure going from about 20 to about 74 and another massive headache. Simple to remedy that. All they had to do was insert another needle into my eye and draw off some of the fluid. Once couldn't be enough though so they had to do it a second time. The worse part is that they tell you that you absolutely must be still and NOT jump. I dare any of you to try and NOT jump when they stick a needle in your eye. They told me that it really wouldn't hurt much...I call BS on that.

 

So, these were all temporary procedures to address the immediate pressure, inflammation and pain. Next week I go back to see a Glaucoma specialist to find out what the next steps are but it will almost certainly involve more surgery.

 

The goal now is to address the Glaucoma while hopefully saving the eye but I was told that removing the eye may be the only option either now or in the future.

 

Finally made it home yesterday evening and I tell you, my eyes were so dilated that I couldn't even stand to look at the screen of this laptop. I needed to add Snarley's rally to the countdown page and add the Ladyrider's shirts to the merchandise section and it was all I could do to get those two little things done. Never thought I would need sunglasses to work on the website.

 

Anyway, that's been my week and the reason that I haven't been posting very much. Things WILL get better. It's just another little bump in the road.

 

DOn, i feel for ya. I hope that you never have to go thru that type of procedure ever again. Its almost inhumane to ask someone to watch the needle going into your eye......and then get told not to move??? How the heck is that possible, youre a better man than me if you did it without moving.

I hope all goes well for you Don and that you never, EVER have to do something like that again.

Brian

Edited August 5, 2010 by friesman

[99silver]

Don,

Get some rest, break out the guitar and get lost in it for a while and try ( I did say try )

to get your mind off of you worries.

The prayers are flowing, just try to relax and get well.

Gary

[hunter 1500]

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.

[1 Canuck]

Ditto on what everyone has said so far. Great to read that you have a positive attitude and it Will get better.

I don't think I would have felt a thing if that was to happen to me...I would have passed out before the needle reached my eye or would have decked the doc first.

[massey130]

don't worry about thinkin how you could add a radio button for venture assistance on a garage available for oil changes during travel. You may not be in Louisiana any time soon, but if ya R, you can change you oil here.

 

prayers sent and angels dispatched.

[dray]

prayers sent form our home to you and yours

 

Dray and Carol

[eusa1]

Don,

i'm typing slow and large, to help make it easier to read..lol

I will behave and not stir too much turds untill further notice.

please get well soon.... then the gloves come back off.

take care boss!

mike:happy34:

[FuzzyRSTD]

Really hate to hear of the misfortune Don. I certainly will be remembering you and yours in our prayers. Sometimes things like that happen to the best of us all, and I do believe you are one of the best. I also believe in the Lord taking care of things. So just hang in there my friend.

James

[Ky. Rider]

I will pray for you and hurt for what you are going through until the news of your health gets better. Best wishes always. Bill

[EFudd]

Thanks for the update Don.

Best wishes and hope you are on the road to recovery.

 

 

Jack

[lz1]

Hey Freebird:

 

You are in our thoughts and prayers. Take it easy and let that eye heal. Your talents on this website are needed long term so let that eye get some rest.

 

Blessings

LZ1

[Venturous Randy]

Thanks for the update big guy as I have been thinking about your situation.

I had my bout last year with my second cataract surgery. The 1st one went very good, but due to a mix-up at the VA, I was sent home and then called back. Unfortunately, I had eaten a bowl of cereal in the meantime and after all the prep work and while laying on the operating table, I was told that due to me eating five hours earlier, they could not put me under. Like an idiot, I agreed to let them do cataract surgery with me wide awake. Not good. They had to stop part way thru and give me oxygen as my blood pressure got so high...duh.

RandyA

[Sideoftheroad]

This was starting to read just like a tv show I watched last night about parasites that get inside us. The symptons were starting to read the same. Long story short, teenage boy had a hemorrage in his eye ball. Ended up being a maggot using the inside of his eye for food.

 

Praying for your health to improve and speedy recovery.

[Rick Haywood]

It's been a long time since I've posted an update on my health situation here. Not that I've been trying to hide anything but there just hasn't been much to report since the surgery and radiation a year ago. I've been back to Boston twice for follow-up visits and have been told each time that the tumor is shrinking and things look like they are supposed to at this point.

 

That all changed last Friday. I had been in Evansville, IN all week and was having no problems. When I woke up on Friday morning, my eye was a little red and it felt like I had an eyelash or something in it. I also had a slight headache at that time. I really thought that I had somehow gotten something in my eye during the night and it would be better in a day or two.

 

Went through the weekend thinking at times that it was getting better but at other times, feeling that it was getting worse. Headaches had gotten very bad and I was taking Tylenol to address it. Woke up on Monday morning and got ready to head out to Michigan for the week. Stopped by the post office on my way out and by the time I was finished there, my head was throbbing, eye was very red and hurting like heck and I knew that I was NOT going to make it to Michigan.

 

Went back home and called my local eye doctor. She got me in around noon and did not like what she saw. She says that the pressure was slightly high and was causing my headaches but also a lot of blood vessels growing in the eye where there should not be any. She immediately got me an appointment at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic. The appointment was for Wednesday but she was so worried about the pressure that she had me come back to her on Tuesday so that she could make sure it hadn't gotten too much higher.

 

So, went to the Cole Eye Institute yesterday for what turned out to be a four hour ordeal. A LOT of tests to determine that I have now developed Neovascular Glaucoma in the eye that I had the radiation treatment done on. Turns out that about 16% of the people who have this radiation treatment will develop Neovascular Glaucoma. I'm one of those lucky few.

 

The visit went downhill from that point. I have never been too crazy about shots but I had a total of 4 needles put in my eye yesterday. The worse was the very first one...the "numbing" shot. That one was followed by an injection of some chemical that is supposed to neutralize the natural chemical in the eye that is causing the blood vessels to grow. That injection resulted in my eye pressure going from about 20 to about 74 and another massive headache. Simple to remedy that. All they had to do was insert another needle into my eye and draw off some of the fluid. Once couldn't be enough though so they had to do it a second time. The worse part is that they tell you that you absolutely must be still and NOT jump. I dare any of you to try and NOT jump when they stick a needle in your eye. They told me that it really wouldn't hurt much...I call BS on that.

 

So, these were all temporary procedures to address the immediate pressure, inflammation and pain. Next week I go back to see a Glaucoma specialist to find out what the next steps are but it will almost certainly involve more surgery.

 

The goal now is to address the Glaucoma while hopefully saving the eye but I was told that removing the eye may be the only option either now or in the future.

 

Finally made it home yesterday evening and I tell you, my eyes were so dilated that I couldn't even stand to look at the screen of this laptop. I needed to add Snarley's rally to the countdown page and add the Ladyrider's shirts to the merchandise section and it was all I could do to get those two little things done. Never thought I would need sunglasses to work on the website.

 

Anyway, that's been my week and the reason that I haven't been posting very much. Things WILL get better. It's just another little bump in the road.

 

 

I feel for you brother. I have been going through similar things for the last couple of monthss myself. I lost my eye sight in the left eye while on a 5000 mile trip. I have had surgery since I returned home and the vision is better but still like looking through the winshield of a car on a rainy day with it fogged over and no wipers going. The needle thing is scary in the eye but they put me under to do mine. Just for a few minutes then they cut mine open in three places and went to work.

 

Hang in there bro and I'll be thinking of you while you go throught these trying times

[Freebird]

Just a little update. I spent another 5 hours at the doctors today. The injections that they did last week DID dissolve the blood vessels that were preventing the eye from draining properly and causing the high pressure but it was a temporary fix. I would have to get those injections every 4 weeks if I continue to treat it in that manner and even then, it would only work for so long. Sooner or later it will require surgery so rather than subject myself to those shots ever 4 weeks, I've opted to go ahead with the surgery. Part of the decision is also based up the fact that for some reason, those shots are NOT covered by insurance companies and the cost $867.00 EACH.

 

So, on Wednesday August 25th, I will be going in for more surgery on the eye. It will be a combination of pretty much everything they know how to do. Laser, conventional, etc. They are also going to remove the cataract while they are in there because he said that this surgery WILL cause cataract problems and if they don't remove it now, we will be going back and doing it within a year.

 

Now this surgery would not typically be problematic but because of my ocular melanoma in that eye, he warned me that it does carry some risk. Though I have had radiation on the tumor (that is what is causing this to begin with) and the tumor is shrinking, they cannot be 100% certain that there are no cancer cells floating around somewhere in my eye. He says that there is a small chance that this surgery could cause my cancer to matastesize. Unfortunately, there are really no other options and it's just a chance that I have to take.

 

So, I'm in very little pain right now and am going to push this out of my mind for a few days but please keep me in your prayers week after next.

[eusa1]

Don,

 

ok you drive a hard bargain, but i will behave untill your back on top of your game!! but again the gloves will come off and i will be back to my mean and hatefull discontent and all around trouble making on the forum, just as soon as your able to keep me in cheque..

 

all b/s aside, we will all be pullin for you and wishing for your speedy recovery!!

 

b + my friend!! be positive!

 

ride safe, ride often..mike/cherie