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

[James Patchell]

Scott Gravenhorst wrote:
> 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
> ________________________________________________________________________
> -- Scott Gravenhorst
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>   
Hey Scott...

    I am taking Plavix now as well...it scares the $#!^ out of me.  
(Been on it for about 3 weeks now).  The problem I had whith Protonix is 
that this is a relatively new and ratre side effect that only came to 
light relatively recently.  When my first eye went, this wwas not one of 
the listed side effects.  I checked all the meds I was on at the time.   
When it happened the second time, I did the same thing and that is when 
I found the connection.  If I would have known, I would have quit this 
drug a while ago.

    I am trying to remain optimistic and hope to continue SDIY....

    -Jim