I had great respect for the retinal specialists at Illinois Retinal Associates. Sadly, my respect and trust were my undoing. I had asked the retina doctor formerly treating me whom (y'makh shemo), I will just call Dr. Deluge (who by now may hopefully be retired so that he cannot hurt anyone else) why I had this eye condition, macular degeneration.
His answer to me was: “Because you are on Prolia!”
Prolia! The shot I received every six months for osteoporosis!
But based on this doctor's groundless words, I delayed a Prolia shot.
I knew I risked my bones, but if I had to chose bones or my vision,
I would have to choose my vision.
Why in the world did Dr. Deluge not give me the CORRECT information: that the retinal condition was associated with OSTEOPOROSIS and not the drug to TREAT that condition?
Was it ignorance? Or just plain old carelessness? I will never know.
But, whatever the reason for this astoundingly inaccurate remark, I live each day with the permanent and painful damage resulting from these words, so thoughtlessly and carelessly spoken!
Shortly after that Prolia shot was due I had an excruciating backache.
I cabbed to the nearest ER where X-rays showed THREE vertebral fractures. They taped my back, but their pain pills didn’t make a dent in the pain. And the University of Chicago Pain clinic only offered addictive narcotics, which frightened me.
Pain made driving so hazardous that I sadly gave up my car.
And the travel I had so eagerly looked forward to in retirement?
Now impossible.
Why did this happen? An old friend, an ophthalmologist, now retired from the National Eye Institute at National Institutes of Heath in Bethesda, MD, confirmed links between osteoporosis and macular degeneration, but NOT between Prolia and macular degeneration.
Immediately I realized that had the retina doctor given me the correct answer: “because you have osteoporosis” none of this would likely have happened. I would have gotten that Prolia shot on time, my vertebrae would not have fractured, and my life would be normal.
I cannot imagine why that retina doctor could not squeeze a correct answer out of his hyper-educated mouth!
I cannot believe he did not know! Did he simply not care?
I’m back on Prolia, but the painful damage is forever. The Prolia doctor was shocked when I told her what happened. The fractures have healed, but x-rays resemble a child’s broken Tinker-Toy!
Pain has decreased to the point that I can avoid habituating drugs, but it is always there when I am sitting or standing.
I let my car go as the pain made driving hazardous. I try to be as active as pain permits, and I do the exercises prescribed by a physical therapist.
But the travel and other activities to which I had so eagerly looked forward retirement? Impossible. And all because of a few misleading words from a respected eye specialist whom I had the misfortune (or perhaps stupidity) to trust! I write this in hopes that this will not happen to anyone else!
jdlevin@bright.net, 11/29/22