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

[cheater cheater]

Jim,
I am very saddened to hear about your loss of vision. It is a very
personal thing to all of us here, since you have influenced and
inspired the community so much. Hopefully, you can continue to do so
against circumstances. I guess a lot of solder-less breadboard
projects are coming up! Hope is in that what happened to you does not
have a lot of history - who knows what will happen - maybe it is after
all just temporary... the human brain is a wonderful thing. On the
other hand scientists are making real progress in making people who
never saw the light of the day see. Either by neuro-reconstructive
surgery and therapy or through use of implants, and probably a dozen
more approaches I don't know about.

I'm sure that I'm talking for everyone here when I say that you've
since always been seen as a founding person of the community as it is
right now. I'm sure we will try and do anything in our reach to help
you continue this. On the upside, what we do relies more on hearing
and barely on vision. With new hearing you'll be catching out things
none of us ever could. Analog and especially mono synths are generally
a hobby that doesn't collide with your condition. Imagine if you were
into Yamaha DX synths! Now that would be terrible, but then again the
only interface feature that works on those is the 'randomize' button I
guess. And as far as synth diy goes, I guess punch label front panels
are going back into fashion now!

Whatever you need, just tell us.

Cheers
Damian

On Sun, Oct 18, 2009 at 3:46 AM, James Patchell <patchell at cox.net> wrote:
> 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
>> -- FPGA MIDI Synthesizer Information: home1.gte.net/res0658s/FPGA_synth/
>> -- FatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/fatman/
>> -- NonFatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/electronics/
>> -- When the going gets tough, the tough use the command line.
>>
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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
>
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