Hi Everybody,
My name is Linda and I am due to have either an enucleation or evisceration next week. A little background. I am a 46 year old mom of a 16 year old, I've been married for 19 years and a diabetic for 30 years. I was a teenager when I was diagnosed and was given the information of type 1 diabetes via pamphlets and some hospital classes. At 15, I was hardly worried about long term issues and just took my shots and went through life. In my 20's things got a bit more serious as my sugars jumped around. I still lived the carefree lifestyle while driving my mother and doctors kind of crazy with my attitude. Well, years later at 25, I met my husband and got my "stuff" together. I watched my diet and exercised and maintained fairly good sugar levels. All was going well until I got pregnant. W...all heck broke loose.
My eyes began to bleed and when my son was a toddler, my retina detached in my right eye. Several surgeries ( on both eyes) led to blindness in my right eye. Now let me tell you....I have been very good for years. Sugars still do what they want even when you eat, sleep and exercise on schedule.
Well, the right eye began to change color. I went from a hazel-eyed gal to a half blue/ half hazel eyed gal. Our main mission has been my health and to keep the eye as healthy as we could. Well, the other night, it began to leak. We found that it had a hole in it. Now it is plugged with super glue and bandaged with a contact. I see the surgeon on Friday and it is probably removed next week. I have worked so hard since my 20's to maintain a healthy body and lifestyle. People look at me and are shocked that I am diabetic because of the good physical shape I look to be in. Nobody has a clue that it has been a daily struggle since my diagnosis.
Anyway, I have panicked about this day coming. I have worn a colored contact on my eye for 6 months to make me feel normal and allow me to wrap my mind around this impending day. It has come and I am suddenly paralyzed with fear. My biggest fear is my good eye staying good. I can only do what I can do...and pray that this surgery and prosthesis restore some type of normalcy to my life. I am open to any advice or comments that may help me. I am lucky in the fact that this eye has not seen in many years, so I have really adjusted to driving and compensating for my change in depth perception. So sorry for the novel. Hope to hear from someone. This is an answer to prayers having this forum. You guys inspire me.

Welcome to L/E Lindalou,
Yes diabetes does do what it wants, but you have looked after yourself. Life is still good with one eye, you can live a long and happy life, see your child grow to adulthood, have a loving partner. These are the important aspects of life. Dwell on that.
With L/E's help and the support you will get here you will make it.
Best wishes

Hi Lindalou; Im sorry to hear about all that you have gone through. Having your eye removed is scary, but you'll do just fine, I did and so many others here have as well. Life is good once the old blind eye is removed, really it is! I worry about my one little remaining eye too, but try not to think about it more than needed. You will get the answers to all of your questions here on LE, just like I have. Good luck to you. Jill

Thank you so much for posting. Already I feel a little more at ease just knowing that I am not alone. Luckily I have lived with only one eye's vision for quite some time, yet the loss of part of my body still makes me sad. I will get past this, I know, as my new eye is to add some "normal" back to my life. yayy ! I'm not sure of the extent of the surgery ( ie: if it is the whole eye going, or just the middle part". Either way, I think I will feel better once all is said and done. Again, I thank you for your encouraging words and will continue to look on here for support. I think things will be fine.

Jill,
Thank you very much for answering my post. From looking at your picture, I see you have dogs. My dog ( chocolate lab named Pebbles) has been such a blessing during ALL of this stuff....for the past several years. She has no comments for me, just a kiss and a slobbery ball that is dropped in my lap. Life is simple and she reminds me to keep it that way any time that I can.
I cannot imagine waking up to no vision, although when I was pregnant, this was how I knew that I had a problem. The clock was a red blur. I'm happy you are well and happy and have adjusted well. I could certainly get some positive advice from those of you on here. I am so happy I found you guys. I hope to chat with you again. I head to the doctor on Friday to find out the entire plan. Fingers crossed. Thanks again, Jill. Take care !

Hi Lindalou,

A big welcome on board - you are going to be fine. Lots of very
informed lovely people on this site. I had my eye and lid removed
two years ago due to cancer, and the support was and is wonderful.
It is very daunting, but you will adjust beautifully. You have had so
much to deal with over the years and have done SO well.
Good luck, and good healing wishes to you. Any questions you have,
ask away, someone here will have the answer. Sally

You will have a quick and mostly painless recovery from either surgery, so don't be overly concerned with that. Your prosthesis or shell will look axactly like it's mate, and no one will ever notice that anything has changed.

Take good care of your remaining eye. Protect it from any possible injury and see your eye doc regularly. They can usually spot an oncoming problem well before you run into any symptoms.

While I was laid up with my eye problems, my dogs seldom left my side. I couldn't explain the infection problem to them, but they knew something had gone wrong, and were determined to see it through. They, along with my family and my friends at LE gave me the support I needed and the incentive to get back on my feet and lead a (fairly) normal life.

I will look forward to hearing about your plan Lindalou, we'll all be here to see you through.
your dog sounds wonderful. I can not imagine life without dogs, thankfully I have always had 1, 2 or 3 at a time! They make me walk when I dont want to and they rest with me when I need too. Jill

Hi and welcome to LE. I also had my left eye removed due to cancer. Enucleation takes about 1&half hour; and here is a help list we've all cobbled together over the years that will help.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8237

Usually you wait for approx 8 weeks then see the occularist who makes eyes/shells. I hope the op goes well and you are as painfree as possible cheers vera

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Thank you, Sally. I see that the support on here is outstanding....and JUST what I need. I think my biggest fear is the waiting between surgery and the new eye. I am usually really patient, yet the patch on my eye certainly gets the stares. I am sure this will not bother me after 6 weeks or so...but who knows ? I think I have dealt with things well for the most part. I hate pity and I think it is a HUGE waste of time...as well as being down. Some days are easier than others, however. I will look on here daily for my dose of support and to give the support I am capable of with the experiences I have had thus far. Again....I thank you for sharing and caring. Linda

I will certainly give you all the "heads up" when I hear tomorrow. Yes, my dog expects her walks and her ball "Pinky" to be thrown for her. It forces me to come out of my "funk". God bless pets of all kinds.

Thank you, Irish. I appreciate the link you've provided. Anything is a huge help right now....as I try to wrap my head around all of this. I have a good feeling about it. Finally, eyes that match. Who ever knew this would be my issue ?

I will certainly take special care of my existing eye. Today, my son got pretty sick and we spent the day at the medical clinic. I decided to wear a patch since my iris is now a whitish-blue color and looks like something from the Exorcist movie....kind of scary. I still can't get over how crazy it looks, so I actually embrace my impending surgery. Thank you for the encouraging words. My dog stared at my eye patch and then grabbed her blanky. It was like nothing was any different. Perfect ! I look forward to the day of getting back on my feet and returning to work. I don't know what normal is, so I will take whatever is close.

I think it helps that one of my dogs has an eye that is part brown and part grey. I promised him when he was a puppy that I would not make fun of him. He later agreed not to make fun of me while I was wearing my patch. He never once said "arghhhhh."

So my surgery is scheduled: This Thursday 5/31! My blood sugars are beginning to show signs of anxiety. I went to bed last night after watching a little tv. All of a sudden, I felt a pain in my good eye. I put some tears in it and it throbbed a little......no vision changes whatsoever. I had dreams about losing this one and woke up in almost a panic. I understand that with diabetes for this long, I do have a chance at the same fate in this eye, but is this normal to suddenly feel this way? Are these phantom pains or should I just go check to ease my mind? What in the world? Can't I just be happy that my icky one is getting fixed? I feel like I am trying to borrow trouble. I am always " the glass is half full" kind of girl. What do I do if this one goes......aarrghh.

'
That is great. I have a whole new awareness and respect for different colored eyes and think it is what gives us personality...even if it is white and crazy looking ( as mine is). You've got to love your dogs....they are the genuine supporters that we need.