Barb, my advice to you is to go to a few Dr's, get a few opinions, have them make note of everything. Be sure to detail to them what you wrote here and type yourself up a health database in Word that lists Dr appts, main Dr's, Dr's consulted, medications, past medications (even if you've tried them & couldn't tolerate) any tests, as well as a detailed pain history - what brings it on, reaction to meds, side effects, and if you can, include pictures. You say arthritis in your hands- see if you can find some medical pics and edit them with a detailed legand like my & . Notice on the pics the marks are different colors, each color represents a different pain sensation (throbbing, stabbing, numbness). I have found that the Dr's I go to appreciate my pics & my detailed pain history chart. I just had my 2nd court hearing Nov 3rd. Yesterday I posted on another post in the health forum (link below). I hope that my fight will be over. One thing I had going for me was a few years back I had my neuro type a letter about how long I can sit or drive in a car. My Ex & I were arguing over where half-way was for a drop off point for my son. Even after mapping it, he still thought that since he couldn't take a direct route to get there that his time factored in. Anyway, at my last hearing, that letter along with a few others about my limitations may have gotten me disability since that vocational expert "found" jobs for me, like a bank teller,(ruled out due to medications) but since I couldn't walk fast, sit long, bend, those jobs were ruled out. He'd then suggest another list, which then got cut down from letter 2. Each letter's limitations were read, until we got to the last one. It was suggested I could be an "information clerk" (whatever that is) or an "order clerk". Information clerk was ruled out due to my divorce attorney asking where the jobs were located (he really rocked!), since they were out of my driving range, that went. The order clerk went after my attorney asked specifically what kind of store. He then ruled that out due to medications, & limitations. I'll say one thing, my disability attorney going on maternity leave might have been the best thing to happen to me. It just happened that my divorce attorney took on her work load for letters A through K. Since I know he can argue cases (haven't lost a case against the Ex) I wasn't worried going in there this time. I thanked him on the way out & told him how much better he was than her, he said she's a good attorney altho I haven't seen that. Punky, (((HUGS))) man, I could have written that post! I know all too well about emailing people, even people who also suffer from pain- they don't want to hear it either. I got an email from one "friend" who also suffers from pain. We used to vent to each other, I enjoyed chatting & emailing with her. One day, I made a post at another place about new problems (colon / stomach related) I was having. No one replied- I was shocked. They supposedly were my "friends" it was a rough time, I was at that place where you wonder why you stick around. We chatted & I mentioned no one replying, she then hit me with a wake up call, pretty much what you said. I don't remember if she even mentioned my new problems in that email, but I made a vow not to update everyone about my health. If someone emails asking, I'll say there is no change, or something to that effect but won;t get into it. I don't think anyone could prepare us for what this does to a marriage. This has to be the worst year for us, the 6 years we've been togather. He used to be patient & loving, now he's moody & loses his temper & throws things. Recently a "paver" came flying 2 ft to my right. It has been the worst year for my "dark cloud", I can't wait until 2005. Every time I turn around something else happens. I'm dealing with failed back surgery (fused Nov 2003), a daughter with problems in school due to ODD (funny, she's fine home), an Ex that blames me for her problems, a son who's father I fought & won for him to go to a really good art college, dropping out due to depression, my son then moving to CA to get away from it & having to move back for our next court battle against his "father" to enforce an order that he finish paying the loan he was ordered to pay. Unfortunatly he beat us to filing, & now my son is faced with the realization that his "father" cares more about $5,000 then him. Add to this my back problems got worse after surgery; all the 2nd opinions I went to said the fusion is fine, and my most recent colon / bowel / stomach problems. How much can a person take? I know there are people in much worse shape than me, but even knowing that doesn't help when hit with other things popping up that I don't need. I just want to be able to do things again, to go to work & have money to spend. I want to be able to go on an airplane & go on vacation. I want to take my daughter to the beach & swim in the ocean without worrying about the tide, or someone knocking into me. I want to take her to Great Adventure & ride a roller-coaster again. Heck, I'd be happy to walk the park! lol Who has $40 to rent a scooter? I'd love to bake & sew again & ride the Harley we bought right before I stopped working. Thankfully, there is gardening. The one place I can go & take my frustrations out on the dirt or prune the perennials down, or even rip them out when they get invasive. I save jobs like this for those bad mood days. I now pot up any invasive plants I pull out & will start selling them in the spring. I purchased a shelf / greenhouse from BJ's wholesale club & have it set up inside. I started trying to grow clematis from seed, it's actually coming up (let's hope it's not weeds). I also started a few rose cuttings, knock on wood, but so far they aren't dying- woohoo! I've been trying to root roses for years with no luck. I just harvested rose hips last weekend & will try to grow from seed. Hopefully, this will give me something to do in the winter months. This is the greenhouse I have if anyone is interested. I'm sure it can be found cheaper, I paid $25 for it. Best price I could find was $50, oh well, not allowed to mention the site here. On preview of post, it said this vendor not allowed. If anyone wants the link, email me. It is $49.99 with $2.95 shipping. I found a few on Ebay, but shipping kills you. You know, I'd really like to see a venting forum. Here is a link that might be useful: My responce on another post.

Reporting back one month and five days after surgery. The procedure itself was a breeze. I only recalled being awake the last few minutes of the one hour. No pain whatsoever. Just a numbness on the forehead for a few hours afterwards, much less than from dental work! Yes, the one week of strict downward positioning and enforced inactivity was a bore. Never had time move so s--l--o--w--l--y! On the plus side, I got to know of every radio talk show host on air. Waking hours, I alternated between the vitrectomy chair or standing head bent at a railing or slung over the back of the couch like a cat at rest. Vitrectomy chair. There are a number of variations. If you wish to read or use a laptop computer or watch TV (via a small reverse mirror), check out exactly what options are available from your supplier. The chair above comes with a support for reading etc. Plus, the headrest expands so the user can wear glasses if necessary. The one I was shipped had none of these options. Night-time was the hardest--on the vitrectomy pad and head contraption: face down, my hands grasping the sides. I managed two hours at a time, up to four at the end. Never could sleep more than 4 hours altogether, vs. my usual six hours. Great though for vivid dreaming! Vitrectomy sleeping pad. (Velcro connects the pieces.) This is the type I used, except I moved the blocks underneath to the sides so I could grasp them. There are many variations that you might find more comfortable. For instance, I hung my legs off the back of the bed; some pads include another angled pad to raise your lower legs. The second week, I was able to position normally during the day, but had to sleep on my side; I jammed myself onto the couch. mrs. worthy administered the eye drops. Frequently and copious on a strict schedule as little as two hours apart the first day after surgery. But not painful at all. The bubble blocked vision, other than perception of light and dark, for a couple of weeks, gradually dissipating by the end of the third week. The good news: After the fourth followup exam, my surgeon declared the hole repaired. However, full clear (corrected) vision will take a year or so to return, he says. I can drive safely, but reading is all with the other eye. The anticipation was much worse than the actuality!

I treated my Akita for 2 years for glaucoma - 3 different eye drops twice a day - for a whopping $300/month. Then one weekend, the pressure just went to hell. By Monday afternoon, both her eyes had been removed. She was almost blind anyway & I just wanted to stop the pain. I was an absolute wreck about it - but decided I would not let her know how upset I was. Once her cone of shame came off, she was terribly depressed. I would force her to get up 3-4 times a day. We would walk the house - determine where things were. I laid down a couple different types of carpeting (like down the hall & in the kitchen) so she would know where she was, etc. Two years later (Kita is now 11 years old) - other than the fact that she doesn't run anymore (also has some arthritis), you wouldn't know she was blind. She knows where she's going & what she wants to do when she gets there. Was the best decision I've ever made to have her eyes removed. A couple of months ago, we moved from a ranch home to a two story. I was very concerned about Kita & the steps. Only took her two days to master the steps. Obviously I was worried about nothing. I chose to have her eyelids sewn shut - they put a silicone ball in the socket so the lids don't sink in. She just looks like her eyes are closed. It is a hard decision to make - but the best decision is the one that takes away your baby's pain. You might want to check around for pricing for this surgery. I had it done in the Nashville, TN area & surgery for both eyes was less than $1000. Good Luck to all of you & best wishes.

Hi Cleo.. I'll share my experience but there really isn't a simple answer to your question. I went through a number of ophthalmologists before I found one who could help. The first (back when I could have stopped my issue from progressing to this point), told me that not only couldn't he do anything for me-- he said, I should have had the surgery as a kid. He was not nice about it at all-- and threw all kinds of shade at my parents. I was treated as a kid, the amblyopia was addressed and I never had a problem again until I was in my 50s. Another ophthalmologist used prisms.. and another yet wanted to do vision therapy. I also saw two different surgeons. You are right, I am going to a dr at Wills Eye Hospital in Phila. He is the head of the Strabismus Center there which is a part of Pediatric Ophthalmology. I haven't used them for refraction or glasses so I don't know how they do with that approach to resolution but I DO know that they do handle all approaches. My only remaining solution was the surgery. I also need reading correction-- but readers would never work for me. I have such an extreme astigmatism that readers aren't useful for me. This makes my glasses prescription very complicated-- prisms + large correction for astigmatism + progressive for reading. I complicate it even further because I have specific needs for work so I have glasses optimized for specific distances-- specifically a laptop and projection screen (for when I lead meetings). This is where my ophthalmologists have let me down-- I really needed an optometrist who understood my specific "real life" needs from my glasses AND an eyeglass shop that would also work with me and their lab. I was lucky enough to find all of that-- could you find the same at Wills? Maybe. I haven't tried their eyeglass shop (but it is literally across the hall from the Strabismus Center). My best advice is to keep trying until you find someone willing to listen to you... and also someone who understands the way the brain works to overcome issues like ours. If I were you, I'd go right to Wills.. but that doesn't mean that's your only option. I just know that they not only "get" it but they know the tests to perform in order to get to the root of your vision problems. My only complaint about them is that they move very quickly. They weren't especially "delicate" with me -- the Dr told me what my problem was... and how he would fix it. No real support beyond that. "what if I don't want to do surgery, what are my options?" "surgery is the fix. That's it." .. while I appreciate that he gave it to me straight, he just wasn't a soft touch lol. In the end, I needed a fix.. not a hug.. so I am happy I went there. Hope my experiences help you-- but my most important thing to share is my encouragement to stick with it. Be patient and don't give up!