[sdiy] [OT] Going Blind....

[Scott Gravenhorst]

James Patchell <patchell at cox.net> wrote:
>As some of you may remember, last year I lost the use of my right 
>eye...well, last month I lost the use of my left eye.  While I am not 
>totally blind, life has certainly changed.  I have been attending the 
>Braille Institute now for about a week.  Having Extremely limited vision 
>has certainly changed some of my attitudes.  
>
> But unlike last year, at least it looks like we are homing in on a 
>possible cause for the loss of my vision.  Sad to say, but the damage is 
>permanent.  But maybe I can save someone else from this missery.  It 
>would seem that my problem was created by a bad side effect of a 
>perscription drug.  I was on a Proton Pump Inhibitor. Common brand names 
>here in the US are Protonix, Prirolsec, Acifex, Nexium (the little 
>purple pill).  These drugs cause a rare condition known as anterior 
>ischemic optic neuropathy.  If you are taking one of these drugs, and 
>you sense anything funning going on with eyes, stop taking it.  Once the 
>event takes place (it is like a stroke), there is no going back.....
>
>Sorry for the OT message....but your eyesight is important.

Wow wow wow.  I am so sorry to hear this.  You have been a tremendous help to me over
the years and I cannot thank you enough for your generosity.  I never would have
expected such a thing from this kind of medication.  

Myself being diabetic, a heart patient and recently a (very mild) stroke victim, I
take a number of medications and I will admit that I have not read the fine print
sheet that comes with them.  The newest of my drugs is Plavix and the primary effect
of that is scarey enough let alone considering possible side-effects.  I definately
want to read those sheets now.

If there is anything I can do to help you out, please let me know.

-- ScottG
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-- Scott Gravenhorst
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