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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsMy brother is on his way to the ER and I'm freaking out
He had what he described as a big 'floater' in his eye, yesterday, and he said his vision is just off in that eye. He went to a local emergency care clinic , this morning, and they sent him to the ER so an Ophthalmologist can check it out because it can be a sign of a TIA. His vision is clear enough to drive and my niece lives close to the hospital so if he needs someone to pick him up, she's available. That leaves me to sit and worry but he will call me as soon as he knows something. Worst case scenario, if I have to head to the hospital, the roads don't seem too bad, despite another winter weather advisory. It would just take me a while to get there.
And, of course, Madoc is being a Super Jerk, today, knocking everything on a flat surface to the floor. Hopefully he runs out of energy, soon.
So I've taken an Ativan and am doing some deep breathing exercises to calm down. So far, neither is making a dent.
Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)It must be terrifying to wait and not know what is happening.
Ocelot II
(115,280 posts)maxsolomon
(32,992 posts)If he's getting attention right away, that's good.
My right eye detached from the retina 2 years ago, but it was complete, with no flashing lights. All I got out of it were annoying AF floaters, no surgery.
Whatthe_Firetruck
(546 posts)I had a couple of floaters and it was something I could live with.
Then I was washing the dishes some years ago, when a bright flash of light traveled from the bottom right corner of my right eye to the top center, accompanied by pain in my eye. My local eye doctor confirmed a tear, so I made an appointment with the VA to get it tacked down with "lasers" (cue Austin Powers finger quotes). The procedure was rather uncomfortable, but did the job. My next regular eye appointment showed the site of the tear surrounded by little round burn scars that keep it from getting worse
In the aftermath of the tear I got a new constellation of floaters. It took a bit longer to get used to them, and to this day I can unfocus my eyes and dart them quickly from side to side to watch the delayed motion and dance of the floaters. My optometrist says he can see them in my vitreous fluid.
redwitch
(14,933 posts)I pray he will be fine and you can relax. Its hard to wait though. A virtual hug from me to you. Shall I give Madoc a talking to about his behavior?
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)Nothing knocked over. Nothing broken. He was a total snuggle bug from yesterday afternoon, on.
Now he's stretched out on the back of the chair so HOPEFULLY he is heading into nap mode.
KatyaR
(3,445 posts)to distract you!
Sending good thoughts to your brother and you....
wnylib
(21,146 posts)acted out as a reaction.
Whether it's a TIA or detached retina, it's being treated early, so that's good.
Twelve years ago, I had a series of TIAs. Actually, they started before that and my doctor was not taking my descriptions seriously until I demanded to see a specialist. He sent me to a neurologist who confirmed the TIAs with a brain MRI. The neurologist also found that I had a severe vitamin D deficiency, which could contribute to the TIAs. And, my BP medication was not as effective as it needed to be.
After a prescription super dose of vitamin D and a change of BP med the TIAs stopped. I take a vitamin D tablet daily to maintain normal levels.
I have had floaters from time to time. My ophthalmologist said they were not serious in my case. A thorough eye exam showed that it was not the start of a detached retina. In the case of a detached retina, he said that a bright flash of whiteness would occur. That was a few years ago.
So, it's definitely important for your brother to have this checked out, but since be is doing that, he can be treated before it gets worse, if it is a symptom of something serious. So, take deep breaths, cultivate calming thoughts, and have faith in medicine to treat whatever it is.
Maybe some comfort food and kitty snuggles are in order.
Or some physical activity to wear off tension.
Keep us updated.
Karadeniz
(22,279 posts)fine.
riversedge
(69,727 posts)I had a floater a year ago last Dec. I just went to my general pract. She sent me to an ophthalmologist [she was more freaked out than I was] Anyway, just a floater as it turns out which I still deal with. It floats up and down. But good thing, he checked for detached retina and other things. I was deliquent and really had not gone to Real Eye doc before. Optometrist yes. but not the real mccoy. I do hope your brother is OK
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)anytime anything happens to anyone in the family, and there aren't many of them left.
Hopefully he won't have to wait too long to be seen.
understand how you feel. Have had to deal with my parents for so many years and their dementia. My Dad passed a couple of years ago, but Mom is still alive. She is in a nursing home and right now there is a small Covid outbreak in her nursing home.
RKP5637
(67,032 posts)Silent Type
(2,665 posts)and you get big floaters. Sometimes, it can lead to a retinal detachment.
It's quite common, but most of the time it's just a annoyance. Take care.
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)My mind always jumps to anticipating bad news. Not surprising, given how many family members I've lost, over the past 8 years. I only recently stopped jumping, every time the phone rang.
Walleye
(30,723 posts)Polly Hennessey
(6,747 posts)Take some deep breaths and be glad Madoc is distracting you.
blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)Rebl2
(13,311 posts)since my teens and I am 65. I have had eye issues since 2014. Have had fluid under my retinas many times. They treated it with NSAIDs and cortisone drops. Havent had that in quite a while now. In April 2020 I had a large black spot in my central vision of one eye and immediately went to the ophthalmologist (they had just opened back up from Covid shutdown that day) and they discovered in that one eye I had developed glaucoma. The other eye was in normal range. It was very scary. I thought for sure I had a detached retina. Again they treated it with eye drops for glaucoma.
blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)I've went to an ophthalmologist for years. Which is good because about 8 or9 years ago I was diagnosed with Lupus. I take hydroxychloriquine which can affect your eyes. So far so good.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)No big deal and my pressure is now fine. Check up every 4 months.
Rebl2
(13,311 posts)on me and it didnt work. Then they did glaucoma surgery which didnt totally work, so I continue to take a glaucoma drop before bedtime and it helps keep my pressure down. That drop along with another glaucoma drop I took before I had the surgery were not working, so I guess the surgery helped some.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)I use one eye drop. My former Doctor had me on 3. He turned me over to the glaucoma Specialist. The so called surgery was simple. She is pleased how well it worked. So am I.
Rebl2
(13,311 posts)for 30+ years for rheumatoid arthritis. My ophthalmologist suggested I go off it because he saw damage starting to occur from it and rheumatologist agreed.
blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)and I was already seeing an ophthalmologist. He says he doesn't see any damage from it yet (knock on wood)
Rebl2
(13,311 posts)year for 30+ years and eye doctor always let rheumatologist know I had been seen. Then other eye issues started unrelated to that drug.
elias7
(3,976 posts)Last edited Fri Mar 10, 2023, 01:45 PM - Edit history (1)
From what you describe, it does not sound like retinal detachment or cerebrovascular problem (stroke). Should get reassurance from Ophthalmology that it can be a fairly normal part of aging and not a harbinger of any serious problem. Minor pain in the ass, though. Rule out something more serious.
around 2008 and think its common as we get older. Mine started with flashing light on side of my eye and thought I had detached retina. Went to retina specialist, and they determined it was vitreous detachment. Went on for several months. I never had it in my right eye though, just the left eye and that is the eye that eventually developed glaucoma, oddly enough.
lark
(23,003 posts)I know the anxiety of having a sick family member and the worries that go with it. I took my son to Urgent Care today where he got antibiotics for an extreme infection. He needs xrays and is in bad shape, I am very worried about him with all of his physical and mental issues. I couldn't even think this morning, I was so worried about what would happen and am still stessed at a high level.
Best wishes to your brother that this isn't something big and bad and for you to not be overly stressed and to have an easy trip there if needed.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Not Heidi
(1,197 posts)🫂
Evolve Dammit
(16,632 posts)appleannie1
(5,044 posts)That can cause a "floater" of blood to pool inside the eye especially if he take blood thinners or aspirin.
TygrBright
(20,733 posts)I had been doing some heavy lifting, and woke up with an enormous floater, a slightly "off" sensation in my head, and a bit of blur in my vision.
It turned out to be something quite normal, though annoying. The floater took about 2-3 months to 'settle' but the blur and the off feeling passed in a few days.
Hoping your brother has a good result and restoration to full capacity ASAP!
helpfully,
Bright
debm55
(23,584 posts)Siwsan
(26,177 posts)We're getting snow and there's a wreck right where I'd get on the freeway.
My niece lives near the hospital but if he decides he wants me there, he'll call. He knows how much I HATE the ER at the hospital he is at. It's the same one I would take my mom and aunt to, and I never spent less than 10 hours there. The record was 14 hours.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)I know you want to be there with & for him, but risking your own well being driving in awful weather won't help anything.
Tell him he can come & stay with you for a while when he's discharged so he's not alone & so you can keep an eye on him.
Rebl2
(13,311 posts)Dont risk it if the weather is bad.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)True Blue American
(17,972 posts)He would not want you to take the risk. Give him time, he will let you know as soon as he does.
Stay safe.
dickthegrouch
(3,151 posts)Not a good combination for driving. Please dont risk a DUI.
LoisB
(7,079 posts)irisblue
(32,829 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)He's prob ok, Siwsan. Relax, sweetie!
Worst case scenario, docs will put him on meds.
I get retinal migraines which cause complete loss of vision in one eye for a short time (10 min or so). And these migraines do not cause pain.
Could be something similar.
Take comfort in the fact that at least you're in a region with competent medical practitioners.
The first time I experienced a retinal migraine, the head doctor of the entire hospital attended to me, eventually. His words were, "What happened is perfectly normal. Happens all the time."
I was shocked. Told him, "Well, I'm 57 yrs old & it's never happened to me, so it's not normal for me."
Rural NC healthcare. i guess like everything else, if it's inconvenient, they normalize it or completely ignore it. (Guessing this fact & all this disgusting fried food is the reason life expectancy is so low here.)
Pls let us know how your brother is doing?
Rebl2
(13,311 posts)gets those. Like you said he has no pain with them, just loss of vision for a time. His lasts longer than ten minutes though.
VGNonly
(7,431 posts)I would get them once and while, lasted about 15 minutes. Just in my left eye. I best describe them as "kaleidoscope eyes". I heard that pickled and fermented foods can aggravate them. Gave up pickles, haven't had one since.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Meanwhile, your DU super star kitties will entertain you.
Warpy
(110,913 posts)so ER is good. Either way, he's going to need some treatment: blood thinners if they diagnose TIA or retinal reattachment if that's what needs to be done.
IOW, both conditions are treatable, so take some more deep breaths and find a cat to cuddle.
gademocrat7
(10,623 posts)Take care and keep us updated on your brother.
Hope22
(1,644 posts)The dilation takes longer than a regular check up. Every step takes time. I wish him the best. Its hard to wait but know that he is in good hands. 💗💗🙏🐈🐈
CaptainTruth
(6,546 posts)slightlv
(2,637 posts)scattered as they are, of course. As you calm, he will, too. And then he'll be there to help you like he did nothing wrong! Sending good energies for your brother, and hopes you don't have to get out into the weather. Be strong and centered as much as possible... and be careful. We worry about you, you know! Meanwhile, our prayers go out to your brother for the best possible diagnoses! Hugs {{ }}
Jirel
(1,993 posts)The local emergency clinic are a load of idiots. There are MANY things that can cause a floater and "off" vision, and a TIA is not at the top of the list. Most of the issues are eye related. Unfortunately, the ER is about the worst place for someone with those problems to be diagnosed, as the ER docs don't even know how to use the equipment (assuming it works or they even have it) to figure out the issue. At best, assuming they take his blood pressure and EKG, etc., and they see no evidence of a TIA or anything on that order, they'll call in an opthalmologist for a consult, and that doc can possibly do nothing if the equipment there isn't present and in working order. Most likely they'll discharge and send him to an opthalmologist to follow up.
My doctors were very clear with me - DO NOT go to ER, EVER, when you have visual concerns. If you aren't already seeing an opthalmologist whose office will give you an immediate emergency appointment (most will), always go to a optometrist, even one of those quick docs attached to a Lenscrafters or some such. Even the quickie optometrists will have equipment in working order, and know how to use it, and can assess better (and faster and cheaper) than ER docs. If it's not something completely minor, they generally have a few ophthalmologists on speed dial to refer to, and get a patient into on an emergency basis. I can tell you ridiculous horror stories dealing with my eye issues in ER at the very beginning, versus dealing with it at the optometrist. I have permanent vision damage in my left eye because I went first to an ER and they handled it incorrectly, and by the time I had the followup a day later with an optometrist (yes, at a mall), it was too late. But that mall optometrist had it diagnosed in 5 minutes, and I was in to see a retinal specialist in under 45 minutes after that, with a couple phone calls. If only I had done that in the first place...
Many hugs to you, and to your brother. Please don't freak out. If he's really struggling with this and is waiting and waiting for hours with no seeming end in sight, please suggest to him to go talk to an optometrist before they close for the day. They really can help him much better and faster, and likely will even have the right meds on hand for samples if he needs something urgently. If he needs emergency treatment, they can help him get that with an opthalmologist usually within an hour or two.
3catwoman3
(23,820 posts)
headed your way and to your brother, too, of course.
Hoping for a happy update soon.
barbtries
(28,702 posts)i had a sudden floater in my eye and it was a detached vitreous. I also got a complete stroke workup at the ER and it turned out to be vertigo (I couldn't walk straight). Hopefully this is just as benign for your doctor. The good thing is they have medications if you get to them fast enough that do wonders for stroke.
2naSalit
(86,061 posts)Do you have any consumable cbd anything? Or lavender tea? Those might help some.
I hope he'll be okay. I'm curious to hear what it turns out to have been up with his eye.
electric_blue68
(14,622 posts)Various eye issues includung serious ones
But I've had some floaters in my eyes for decades w/o ant other consequences.