Eye Exam 3: Rise of the Hemorrhages

Well, I'd like to be able to say that my third trip into Lansing Opthamology was filled with splendor and wonder, and that I found out things would go well and I'd live happily ever after, but that wasn't the case. After the angiogram, I met with Dr. Pearlman and another specialist, Dr. Saxe. They looked over the photographs taken earlier and weren't very "pleased." I apparently have small hemorrhages (damn I hate spelling that word) in quite a few places, and because things are so far along, the laser surgery doesn't seem to be much of an option, which is a drag.

Dr. Saxe explained the details of the other option, the cryogenic freezing surgery, and his explanation wasn't exactly optimistic. It basically involves cutting through the outer layer of the eye (in the white part), and sliding a probe of some sort back to the 'bad' part of my eye, and then inserting the cold stuff in through the probe. Because of the nature of the surgery (cutting and snaking something in there, then giving my eye frostbite), it's possible that the procedure will do more harm than good, and my sight might actually get worse instead of better. The other side of the coin is that if I don't do anything, my sight will get worse, with 100% certainty, possibly leading to total blindness in my right eye. So, there's really not much of a choice.

Chances are about 99% that I'll be heading in for surgery this coming friday down in Ann Arbor, at the University of Michigan eye clinic. Doctors at UofM tend to be top notch, which gives me more confidence that things will go well as possible. That helps, because the rest of it isn't that promising.

Alex :: 01/18/2005, 9:22 pm :: Reply

That's awful. good luck man. Keep me posted. I really hope this goes well for you mike.

stacey :: 01/18/2005, 9:23 pm :: Reply

I love you mikey and will be praying for you everyday! You will get through this.

Stacey :: 01/19/2005, 11:25 pm :: Reply

Well, I'm Mike's sister....I can call him Mikey if I want to :)

Bianca :: 01/18/2005, 10:09 pm :: Reply

Oh my, I'm so sorry Mikie...that's horrible! I will definitely pray for you. But hey, look at the bright side, you know whats wrong...now you can fix it. I hope that the surgery goes really well. Just be brave...and let the doctor do the rest.

Manju :: 01/19/2005, 12:59 am :: Reply

mikey i... errr wait j/k =P

good luck dude! hope things go well.

Mike Neir :: 01/19/2005, 8:33 am :: Reply

Haha... I should totally smack you for that.

Brad :: 01/19/2005, 5:58 pm :: Reply

we'll be thinkin' good thoughts for you, man

hang tough

Ross S. :: 01/21/2005, 4:48 pm :: Reply

Man, sorry to hear about the situation. Hope all goes well.

Ramona :: 01/21/2006, 11:09 am :: Reply

I too am not pleased with this practice. My doctor does not seem to listen to my explanations of what I think is going on, he was reluctant to call my doctor in California to discuss my diagnosis despite the fact that he has seen me for more than 25 years and is world famous. Also, he freaked when I told him I sleep in my lenses for a month at a time. I have done this for most of the past 15 years and my eyes have only gotten better. My CA doctor was one of only two or three allowed by the FDA to test extended wear hard lenses. I doubt Lansing doctor has called CA doctor. He agreed to call me after he spoke to CA doctor, but only reluctantly and to get me out of the office.

My situation is not dire but in the past six months he has not given me a clear diagnosis or prognosis. Perhaps I have something serious in the future, but I have been left totally unclear about this.

I am sorry about your situation. Your operation sounds difficult and understandably very scary.

I will add you to my meditations.

Send me news of your recovery if you can.