had cataract surgery June 6, then complications [View all]

I had retinal bleeding 20 years ago, and it was stable since then. I thought I was having a problem in Oct 2018, so I saw the dr. who diagnosed me. He examined my eyes and said the retina was stable, but I had cataracts. I saw him again in April 2019, and he again said the retina was stable. I scheduled cataract surgery in June. They gave me pre-op paperwork, but didn't go over it with me. I had the surgery but no follow-up until the end of June. At that time, the dr. said I had retinal bleeding and sent me to a retinal clinic in the same town. I was treated with a shot in my eyeball, which I felt and was painful. I was scheduled to have another shot today.

I am in emotional turmoil because my vision is affected. I have anxiety and depression anyway, and I have been in a tailspin all month. I went to the dr. who followed me for 19 years and he said nothing about the risk I had because of the history of retinal bleeding. Nobody said anything. The retinal dr. diagnosed me with macular degeneration, but only because my sister has been getting shots for it this last year. Of course, none of the dr. are going to say anything about the cataract surgery affecting the retina. I have heard nothing from the dr. who did the cataract surgery.

Anyway, I am still using the eyedrop for the cataract surgery and I called the retinal place yesterday to see if I should stop using the drop until after the treatment, hoping to head off the pain I suffered last time. She said to keep using the drop and said she'd make sure the dr. gave me extra numbing. So I went this morning. My b/p was high and they wouldn't treat me. No one bothered to tell me that information either, and I read the papers they gave me when I got home. I am just so po'd. They want to reschedule, and I said why? I am anxious about this whole situation and my bp isn't going to go down. They were willing to reschedule me the end of August, a month delay in the treatment, so maybe I shouldn't worry I might lost the rest of the vision in my eye. I just remembered as I was writing this that the eyedrop can cause my blood pressure to go up, and the nurse told me to use it before I came.

I am thinking about going to Cleveland Clinic. I can stay with my friend who lives there and maybe get treatment that is focused on my needs rather than a Medicare reimbursement and what is good for the doctor. I wish I hadn't had the cataract surgery. I am sharing this here because I needed to vent. Thanks for being a place I can spout off.