Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: VirginiaTam Date: 11 Dec 09 - 02:28 PM Yeah... me too. What's the haps? |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: maeve Date: 12 Dec 09 - 11:58 AM Tom and Linn- Checking in. maeve |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Tinker Date: 12 Dec 09 - 02:34 PM Still keeping you in my prayers |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Bat Goddess Date: 13 Dec 09 - 10:25 AM Well, you all know as much as we do. So everything is more or less up in the air. Depends on what the anesthesiologist thinks as far as the procedure on Thursday. Dr. Z's office offered to find him an ophthalmologist he can trust. I also got referrals to another local ophthalmologist from several reliable sources. Tom doesn't like the guy he saw last week. He wouldn't listen to what Tom told him were the symptoms. He intends to see someone else, but we need to know results from Thursday's tests. Ach! Probably won't find out anything about anything until Monday. Meanwhile, except for an occasional momentary blur, his sight has been fine. Linn |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: gnu Date: 13 Dec 09 - 10:33 AM Hope it stays that way. Tough luck about the doc. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: maeve Date: 13 Dec 09 - 10:34 AM Thanks, Linn. It's ok that you can't post great gobs of new information. We are interested, and we are here. Please give each other a hug for me. maeve |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: jacqui.c Date: 13 Dec 09 - 11:27 AM I saw the optician over here yesterday for my free eye test under the NHS. I have been having a bit of occasional blurring in my left eye for a while - checked it out with him and he thinks that it may just be a 'floater' that goes across the eye sometimes. Anyway, he checked my eyes properly and said they are healthy. Here's hoping that is all that Tom has. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 13 Dec 09 - 05:22 PM floaters are great fun - they just drift across my eyeballs, minding their own business, sometimes I hardly notice them. sandra |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Bat Goddess Date: 13 Dec 09 - 05:56 PM I've got a coupla floaters, too. The only one that's annoying is the one that looks just like the almost invisible markings in progressive lenses that I sometimes have to find and dot to match up to the fitting cross. That's really annoying. Linn |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: gnu Date: 13 Dec 09 - 07:42 PM The floaters are really not such a big deal for most as we age. A sign of the future for most? Now, that business of the couch disappearing on my left while the coffee table on my right it still in full view as I make my way out of the living room after I have turned off the TV, well... gee? That don't float so well with me. Minds me of an elderly aunt who used to say, at about 80, she could still pick fly shit offa pepper and hear a flea fart. Aunt Annabell was a gem. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Dec 09 - 08:07 PM I went to the database at work. These are 2 abstracts from articles in the university library medical database. I'm sending these along because they may give you some useful keywords for a further search. The second one may be more useful. Let me know if you want me to look further or send more information. I am using a newer email since what I may have sent you before, but if you're signed in to the Google group thing, you should be able to track me down. Or send a PM. Title: Photopic negative response reflects severity of ocular circulatory damage after central retinal artery occlusion. Source: Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift für Augenheilkunde (Ophthalmologica) 2009; 223(6): 362-9 Additional Info: Switzerland Standard No: ISSN: 0030-3755 (Print); 1423-0267 (Electronic); NLM Unique Journal Identifier: 0054655 Language: English Abstract: PURPOSE: To determine the relationship of the photopic negative response (PhNR) of the photopic electroretinogram (ERG) with the degree of circulatory disturbances in eyes following central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). METHODS: The circulatory disturbance was graded as mild (group 1) when the arm-to-retina transmission time was <30 s, moderate (group 2) when the time was >30 s and severe (group 3) when concurrent choroidal circulatory damage was found. For statistical analysis, groups 1, 2 and 3 were scored as 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Photopic ERGs were elicited by either short-flash (SF) or long-flash (LF) stimuli. RESULTS: Both the SF and LF PhNR were significantly reduced in groups 2 and 3. The PhNR amplitude was negatively correlated with the severity of the ocular circulatory disturbances (p = 0.0498, rho = -0.507 for SF PhNR; p = 0.0050, rho = -0.750 for LF PhNR). CONCLUSION: The amplitude of the PhNR became more reduced as the severity of the circulatory disturbances increased in eyes with CRAO. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel. Title: Retinal artery occlusion: associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities. Source: Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) 2009 Oct; 116(10): 1928-36 Additional Info: United States Standard No: ISSN: 0161-6420 (Print); 1549-4713 (Electronic); NLM Unique Journal Identifier: 7802443 Language: English Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate systematically the various associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities in different types of retinal artery occlusion (RAO). DESIGN: Cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: We included 439 consecutive untreated patients (499 eyes) with RAO first seen in our clinic from 1973 to 2000. METHODS: At first visit, all patients underwent detailed ophthalmic and medical history, and comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation. Visual evaluation was done by recording visual acuity, using the Snellen visual acuity chart, and visual fields with a Goldmann perimeter. Initially they also had carotid Doppler/angiography and echocardiography. The same ophthalmic evaluation was performed at each follow-up visit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic features, associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities, and sources of emboli in various types of RAO. RESULTS: We classified RAO into central (CRAO) and branch (BRAO) artery occlusion. In both nonarteritic (NA) CRAO and BRAO, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular accidents were significantly higher compared with the prevalence of these conditions in the matched US population (all P<0.0001). Smoking prevalence, compared with the US population, was significantly higher for males (P = 0.001) with NA-CRAO and for women with BRAO (P = 0.02). Ipsilateral internal carotid artery had > or =50% stenosis in 31% of NA-CRAO patients and 30% of BRAO, and plaques in 71% of NA-CRAO and 66% of BRAO. An abnormal echocardiogram with an embolic source was seen in 52% of NA-CRAO and 42% of BRAO. Neovascular glaucoma developed in only 2.5% of NA-CRAO eyes. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that, in CRAO as well as BRAO, the prevalence of various cardiovascular diseases and smoking was significantly higher compared with the prevalence of these conditions in the matched US population. Embolism is the most common cause of CRAO and BRAO; plaque in the carotid artery is usually the source of embolism and less commonly the aortic and/or mitral valve. The presence of plaques in the carotid artery is generally of much greater importance than the degree of stenosis in the artery. Contrary to the prevalent misconception, we found no cause-and-effect relationship between CRAO and neovascular glaucoma. MESH Subject(s) below: Descriptor: (Major): Diabetes Complications Smoking (Minor): Aged Cohort Studies Coronary Angiography Echocardiography, Doppler Female Follow-Up Studies Glaucoma, Neovascular -- complications Humans Hypertension -- complications Male Middle Aged Myocardial Ischemia -- complications Prospective Studies Retinal Artery Occlusion -- complications Visual Acuity Visual Fields |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Jeri Date: 13 Dec 09 - 08:20 PM Anybody find anything on retinal artery inclusion that describes the only symptom as transient 'annoying' blurred vision? If Dr Z's office knows somebody, I'd be inclined to see that doctor. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Nancy King Date: 13 Dec 09 - 08:26 PM Still sending good thoughts from here! Nancy |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: GUEST,winterbright Date: 13 Dec 09 - 09:28 PM Linn & Tom, I'm just catching up with this thread. I had a central retinal vein occlusion back a-ways. If you can stand to travel for a diagnosis, you won't find better than Jeffrey Moore at the Maine Eye Center in Portland. Top-notch!!! Much love and much healing from your old best woman! |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: SINSULL Date: 14 Dec 09 - 08:35 AM "Stand to travel"???? They are up this way monthly and always have a bed, a hot meal and a bit of something to drink. You know you're welcome, Linn. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Bat Goddess Date: 15 Dec 09 - 09:34 AM Well, Tom's off to see the ophthalmologist he saw last week (yes, that one) to see if there are any results from last week's tests. And whether that will interfere with our trip to Boston tomorrow, Tom's check-up with Dr. Z, my scoping with another doctor, and Tom's procedure on Thursday morning to get rid of the rest of the cancer and make a start on rebuilding the area of the right vocal cord. Just hanging and not knowing anything from any direction truly sucks. Oh, by the way, as of about 7 o'clock tonight, Tom and I will have known each other for 29 years. Today is our "Other Anniversary" -- our wedding anniversary is June 26th; December 15th is the double anniversary of the night we met and then a year later while celebrating having known each other for a year, we decided to get married. Linn |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Dec 09 - 09:54 AM congratulations! |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: gnu Date: 15 Dec 09 - 10:53 AM Indeed! Congratulations! |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: jacqui.c Date: 15 Dec 09 - 11:40 AM Congratulations from the other side of the Pond. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: SINSULL Date: 15 Dec 09 - 12:11 PM Geez Linn. With all those tubes going in and out, why not schedule dual colonoscopies and get yourself covered end to end like my car. What a romantic way to spend an anniversary. Good luck! |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: VirginiaTam Date: 15 Dec 09 - 02:31 PM congrats to you both on the anniversary thing... still good wishes coming from out england way for good health and effective treatments. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: curmudgeon Date: 15 Dec 09 - 06:57 PM I saw the Opth this morning; I was asked if my meds had been changed or if I had talked to my Card. The Opth said my eyesight had improved and I should call my Card. He wasn't concerned about ny eye problem but rather potential for stroke during surgery. He allowed as he understood me to have a carotid artery problem. I talked to my Cards. nurse who said the blood tests were great, but they had no report on the carotids; thsi was the Dr. who ordered the tests. She said she'd track thme don, send them to Dr Z in Boston and get back to me. When she did get back, she had sent the report to Dr. Z, but admitted that neither she nor the Card. could make any sense out of it. Thus, Linn and I are going to Boston tomorrow for our respective Drs. appointments, at which time we'll know if surgery will go as planned or be put off. Many thanks, comrades, for all your good thoughts. Will report later as we know more - Tom |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Dec 09 - 08:09 PM neither she nor the Card. could make any sense out of it. ??? sending more good wishes (& that Dr Z. can make sense of it all) andra |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: curmudgeon Date: 15 Dec 09 - 08:11 PM Card - cardiologist Opth - opthamologist Dr. Z - Dr. Zietels |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: gnu Date: 15 Dec 09 - 08:14 PM Go with the flow... no other choice. Thoughts and prayers big time from The True North. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Charley Noble Date: 15 Dec 09 - 08:19 PM Tom- Thanks for the glossary. It does help me to keep track of all the players. Best of luck with Dr. Z. Hope to see you and Linn on Saturday at the Press Room. Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Bat Goddess Date: 15 Dec 09 - 09:13 PM It's "ophthalmologist" -- am I the only one that ain't one who can spell it? (No, I know there are some other toilers in the editorial fields here at Mudcat.) It's okay, darlin' (Curmudgeon); it's not the easiest English word to spell. (I can spell "defibrillator", too!) Sigh. ;-) Linn |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: catspaw49 Date: 15 Dec 09 - 09:35 PM Ya' know Linn, its the acronyms that occasionally foul me up.......like accidentally referring to my ICD as an IUD............that was bad.......... Spaw |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: TRUBRIT Date: 15 Dec 09 - 09:36 PM Tom and Linn - all the best from Tom and me.......we are sending our love and our positive thoughts. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Jeri Date: 15 Dec 09 - 09:47 PM Probably need a carotidologist to translate the carotidologist's report. Probably reads like "Upon fladeration with the probe, the lateral-collateral aspect of the medial trundificated glarbovicualar process demonstrated minimal ablomination." ...and what it means might be 'reasonably normal', but it sounds like you should duck under a desk and wait. Bon voyage tomorrow. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: maeve Date: 15 Dec 09 - 10:24 PM Have an illuminating day you two. If any of the docs mumble something about finding a nudibranch; run! maeve |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: jacqui.c Date: 16 Dec 09 - 03:43 AM Fingers and everything else crossed here. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: SINSULL Date: 16 Dec 09 - 08:11 AM What's a nudibranch? |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: maeve Date: 16 Dec 09 - 08:31 AM Nudibranch= a sea slug I doubt that either Tom or Linn will find any mention of a nudibranch in their medical reports this month. maeve |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Tinker Date: 16 Dec 09 - 09:09 AM Love and light and laughter headed your way...... fingers and other body parts crossed in anticipation.... Tinker |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Hollowfox Date: 16 Dec 09 - 09:57 AM Likewise from Ohio. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Charmion Date: 16 Dec 09 - 12:55 PM Gee whillickers. (Is that how you spell "whillickers"?) One of these days, Mudcat's surgery veterans should hold a drunkfest and strip our sleeves, show off our scars and compare medbiz horror stories. An opthalmologist can reduce the strongest soul to quivering tears just by reaching for that nasty little lens thingy that he sticks right into your eye ... |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: SussexCarole Date: 16 Dec 09 - 01:10 PM Thinking of you today Love from us both Carole & Andrew x |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Bat Goddess Date: 16 Dec 09 - 03:34 PM Ach! (My inner Kraut comes out...) Well. We took the Downeaster to Boston as planned. I saw "my" throat guy and got scoped. Results: nothing to be concerned about. Mouth, throat and vocal cords look good 'n healthy. Might want to protect against "stealth" acid reflux and go back to taking my generic Prilosec and avoid eating too close to bedtime, but I'm reassured that my throat annoyances are nothing dire. Tom was scoped, too, prior to meeting with Dr. Z -- who says his vocal cords are looking really good, too. One of Dr. Z's assistants, though, was on the phone TWICE with Tom's cardiologist, who decided he wanted to see more tests on Tom before he gives the okay for Tom to be under anesthesia. So...final cancer removal (and initial rebuild) postponed to the end of January -- with the reminder to Tom's primary care doc and cardiologist that the rest of the cancer needs to be removed ASAP, meaning get the damned tests done and whatever else accomplished before the end of January so the surgery can go on at that time. What I really wanted for Christmas was for all the cancer to be gone. A start on rebuilding the voice would be gravy. Ah, well, deferred gratification time (again). But I certainly don't want to take the chance of Tom having a stroke during the surgery -- or any other time! So, we're spending the night in Boston, since we'd have to pay for the hotel room anyway. And we were able to cancel the room for tomorrow night without penalty. We'll have dinner tonight at a lovely little Lebanese restaurant just on the other side of Cambridge St. and take the Downeaster home tomorrow morning -- which will delight the cats. (And maybe the house won't be too frozen.) Linn |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: VirginiaTam Date: 16 Dec 09 - 03:35 PM Thanx for the update Tom. Best of luck to you and skill to the physicians. |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: gnu Date: 16 Dec 09 - 03:54 PM Overall... good news. Thanks, Linn. Hang in there kids! |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: SINSULL Date: 16 Dec 09 - 04:02 PM Try the lentils and rice, Linn. Wonderful stuff. Sorry it didn't happen, Tom. Kendall will tell you, the worst of this is the waiting. Are you allowed to eat, drink and be merry now? |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: maeve Date: 16 Dec 09 - 04:32 PM Thanks, Linn. Love to you and Tom. If there's any pleasure to be had in tonight's meal and good company I know you two will find it. maeve |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: GUEST,Tom Date: 16 Dec 09 - 04:39 PM The treated cord is healed enough for moderate abuse - a bit of rum in my water, some semi flat beer, some real,mixed with decaf.Again, thanks all - Tom |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Janie Date: 16 Dec 09 - 04:46 PM Enjoy yourselves tonight! |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: GUEST, Bat Goddess in Boston Date: 16 Dec 09 - 08:11 PM I had shawarma; Tom had, merde, 2 glasses of wine and I can't remember. Started with a K and wasn't kibbi (and it was grilled). Both were very good, but I think my shawarma was best. Lovely combinations of flavors. The restaurant is the Phoenicia, by the way -- on Cambridge Street in Boston across from Blossom Street -- Beacon Hill area. I'm in the middle of a sneezing fit, so I think I'll head upstairs to bed. Linn |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: GUEST,guest Date: 16 Dec 09 - 10:12 PM hi .....Glad you had a great tasting meal..flavor is important. Let me know what you want to do re work tomorrow Rom |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Charley Noble Date: 17 Dec 09 - 10:38 AM Better is better! Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: Bat Goddess Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:57 PM Kalma...it was kalma that Tom had. Just got home. The house, while not what I'd call toasty, is less cold than we expected. No water freeze-up and the furnace is running to bring it back up to temperature. Gotta go call work and let them know I'll be in tomorrow. Linn |
Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: One Thing After Another From: gnu Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:07 PM Rest up and relax. Still in my thoughts and prayers. |