Just came from Diabetic eye specialist!!
 

Well, isn't this interesting?? Last year (before I went to this guy), I had pinprick hemmorages in my eyes. That's why I saw the flashing lights, etc.

I was swatting invisible insects in the air. I went to him. He took the pictures of the back of my eyes, he said "little hemmorages, just control your blood sugar", "and I'll see you in 6 months".

So I did what he said. I controlled EVERYTHING about my diabetes, I ate salads, greens, and more important, I eat blueberries every single day of my life.

So when I last went to him (this was 6 months after the pinprick hemmorages visit), he said "wow, you have diabetes for 20 years, wow, you don't look it, whatever you have been doing, keep doing it, if you didn't tell me, I would think you only have diabetes for 2 years or so".

This conversation was LAST AUGUST. 2006.

Now now we come to today's appointment.

He examines my eye, he's cluck clucking all over the place and he goes "I don't believe what I'm seeing, HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE DIABETES??? I said "since I'm 40 and this year I'll be 60, so it's 20 years".

He goes "unbelievable". I said "what is unbelievable". He says: "if I didn't know it I would think you were diagnosed six months ago".

I then said "well last year you told me I had the eyes of a two year diabetic, and now you are telling me I have the eyes of a 6 month diabetic, am I correct?" and he goes "absolutelY".

So I said "so this is a good thing". He goes: "good thing, are you kidding, this is a great thing". He then puts the drops in my eyes, I sit down for 20 minutes, I come back, he shines the light, and he starts clucking again. He goes. "You are amazing. What are you doing"

I then explained that a few months ago,my podistrist did the vibrating thing and I got the diabetic neuropathy symptoms really bad. He started saying "Oh no!!" and I said 'no, wait, I've been taking methyl B-12". He said nothing. Absolutely nothing. Like I was talking about something that had nothing to do with my diabetes.

Oh, and here's where it gets REALLY INTERESTING!!! I have been near-sighted all of my life, since I'm about 20. I have to wear glasses when I go to the movies. Not to see anything close. Last year I got reading glasses but I lost them, and I've noticed I read perfectly well without them anyway.

So he examines my eyes to see how I read stuff, and he say "you dont' need reading glasses, you read perfectly fine". I said 'but the print is too small". I told him I use magnifying glasses to make the print bigger but the print is clear, not fuzzy.

Then he made me put on my glasses (for my near sightedness). I put them on (I never wear them, I only wear prescription sun glasses).

So I put on the glasses and he gives me a test. He then says "take off your glasses". He gave me another test. Then he says "you don't need your glasses. You have 20/25 vision". I said "I have what??" I have always, ALWAYS had 20/200 vision. I know because I always ask the optometrist when I get my glasses and sun glasses. My vision hasn't changed in 20 years.

They find that amazing.

But now, he's telling me 'you do not need your glasses". You have 20/25 vision. You are perfect. I had noticed recently that I can see perfectly fine without my sunglasses outside. I only wear them because I don't like the sunlight and I don't like squinting.

So can anybody out there tell me how a diabetic can have their eyes GET BETTER?? How their vision CAN IMPROVE??? in 40 years. How the heck can I go from 20/200 to 20/25???? I find this amazing. Don't know if it's the anti-oxidants, the blueberries, the muffins, the greens I eat every day.

I just find this perplexing. He seemed amused. I asked him "my vision can change after all these years, you have seen this? and he laughed and said "sure".

Well, I never knew this.

But here I am, a 20 year veteran of diabetes, who used to have pinprick hemmorages and now I have the eyes of a 6 month diabetic and I'm mentioning Methyl B-12 and there is no further dialogue???

I know that physicians don't get the Methyl B-12 thing, but cmon. He goes "I don't know what you are doing, but keep doing it". I said "I TAKE METHYL B-12, every day, 5000 under my tongue. He thought it was funny. He's a nice guy and he's a specialist in diabetic retinopathy so I'm going to the right guy.

I guess I imagined he would say "oh, wow, I must tell my diabetic patients about Methyl B-12". Didn't happen.

Now I have no idea if he will indeed tell his patients about Methyl B-12.

But I never thought that a person's eyes could magically get better after 40 years of 20/200 vision.


Has this happened to any of you (people with diabetes??)

Wow. Great story, but I agree it is sad that he didn't even ask about the methylcobalamin. If he read some literature regarding studies, he would find that methylcobalamin has been helpful for others with diabetic neuropathy.

I don't have diabetes, and I'm blown away by your long timeline. But I can tell you that eyes can be affected by B12 deficiency (test results over a period of years demonstrate my vision decline and improvement) and literature documents optic nerve effects occur in some.

But beyond that, methylcobalamin has helped some who could not with contemporary testing be shown deficient in B12. Some with very longstanding problems. So, although you may be one of the rare lucky ones, it is possible, and in your case seems very likely.

rose

I'm jealous, Mel! I would love to not have to wear my glasses! Good news for you. Whatever it is you're doing keep doing it!

Good!
 

Don't knock success!? Just keep it up and do what you are doing....and count each and every blessing every single day! - j

Hey, I subscribe to the old proverb:

"if it ain't broke.....don't fix it!!!!



So I eat my blueberries, my salads, my grilled chicken, etc.

And I walk And Alan can now walk with me. little baby steps, but he's a walkin!!!!

I never thought about the Methyl b affecting my eyesight.

Isn't that amazing.

God, maybe I'll even be 40 years old some day.

Now that would be SOME MIRACLE!!!! lol

Tonight, I'm going back to the Feast. There's a hot pink handbag with my name on it.

mel

Wonderful!
 

Mel I am very happy for you. That is extraordinary news. I hope that your eyes will be perfcet for a long time to come. It just shows what good sense and determination can have a dramatic effect on our health.

I'm very proud of you!:hug:

Wonderful news!
 

Mel,
That is such good news. You made me really laugh about the hot pink handbag thing. Keep up your good work.

Billye:hug:

Hi Aussie, Hi Billie:

Guess where I just came from???? THE FEAST!!! Guess what I bought??

The hot pink Bag.

Oh, I just remembered. I can take a photo of it.
My first HOT PINK BAG. I am so bad for almot 60 years old. Shame on me!!

Oh, who the hel* cares?? lol

Here's my bag.


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2.../pink_bag1.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...t/pinkbag3.jpg

I now own my first pink handbag.

Want to know why this is such a hoot for me. I have never owned anything other than a black or a white pocket book. I still call them pocketbooks, that's how ancient I am.

But this year, I got a green one, and now I have my, well, it's not exactly hot pink BUT IT'S PINK!!! For me, this is wayyyyyy out of one's comfort zone.

Tomorrow morning when I meet Alan for breakfast at Dunkin, when he comes home from work, he will see me in all pink. Now that will be a sight.

lol

Melody (the bag lady)

Melody,
What a marvelous story - I'm really happy for you that your eyesight has improved so much, whatever you've been doing it certainly has been right for you! Like you I'm also nearsighted and I've worn glasses since I was 4 years old so maybe with the right combo I'll see some improvement too - ya never know.
congrats again.
Alkymst

Wow, great stuff Melody, i am really happy for you :) no need to tell you to keep up the good work :)

Great news, Mel.
 

And yes, the shape and flexibility of the eyeball, which causes most vision problems, can alter at any age. And, obviously, other things that impact vision, such as poor circulation (often a problem with diabetes, of course) can get better or worse depending on one's diet, supplements, environment, and the like.

Doctors are so used to expecting, and seeing, deterioration with time and age (especially among diabetics) that you may be leaving them without a lot to say. Of course, few of their patients are as proactive as you are.

And, of course, most doctors know very little about the impact of vitamins and minerals, especially those in doses well above the "daily minimum requirements", on many conditions. This is particulalry ridiculous when it comes to diabetes and other metabolic disorders that have a great deal to do with what we ingest, but there's still that disconnect there in medicine.

Hi. Yeah that is great. You know your working hard though at changing your lifestyle. Its not happening by itself. You deserve credit. I know for me I need to start looking outside the box to feeling better. Have you guys looked at the website I think its called whole foods? Its not the store but the ratings of the best ffod for health and conditions. I wish I knew how to post it. Your foods remind me of the best salad at Panera if you have that there. Its the chicken poppyseed salad with blueberries,pineapple,strawberries,cheicken,pecans in a sugar free dressing I think. Perfect for you. Love the bag by the way. Who knows next may be a mini skirt. As for docs knowing about supplements your so right and they know barely anything about nutrition in general. I have had the dumbest things said to me in my recovery. I really want to go to a holistic doc of course just as long as they don't touch my legs and allow the treatment of meds and what the pain doc would want. I wonder if that is possible or if they just want natural? Ok enough of my rambling.

Hi Glenn, Hi Daniella:

Thanks for the nice words and the information about eyeballs.

Who would have thought that at my age, I'm learning about eyeballs???

lol

But I'm wearing pink!!!! That in itself is a miracle.

I just met up with Alan at Dunkin wearing my Hot Pink ensemble.

One of my neighbors (she looks and is built exactly like Susan Lucci), well, she said "oh wow, look at you, you look good".

Let me tell you something (and this is not vanity speaking). When a person gives you an unsolicited compliment, it makes you want to do better, to make yourself better. And it does wonders for your self-esteem. I always had self-esteem issues. I mean, who doesn't in this society where everything is based on how young one looks and how good one looks.

And then they kill you with the food at McDonalds, and Wendys and the Outback. Ever seen the newest ad for one of those breakfasts at IHOP?? I dragged Alan over to the tv and said "want to see a heart attack in progress?" He looked and say "oh my". The ad was for a BIG MAN'S BREAKFAST, or BIG EATER'S BREAKFAST.

The narrator said: "do you like to eat?? then come to our breakfast".
And there was 3 pancakes, 3 sausages, 3 eggs, hash browns, god knows what else. And everybody in the commercial who was eating this humongous meal, well no one was overweight. They had skinny people making believe they are digging into all this food.

The funny thing is, if I saw this ad on tv when I was 35, we would have hightailed it over to this place and Alan and I would have stuffed ourselves.

I remember those days like it was yesterday.

Just imagine the cholesterol in that meal???


Melody

I'm glad you got a boost on your self esteem. You know I'm weird but I hate comments on my appearance good or bad. I think cause I feel so uncomfortable in my skin. I hate to be noticed and rather blend in. My mom is the opposite and loves to shine. I hope oneday I do. Yum! I love ihop.

I'll be honest. I was just rooting for blending in.

When a person is morbidly obese, they never really look at themselves in the mirror. Just the head part.

I have many overweight friends. They all agreed with me on that point.

You put on an outfit and the best you hope for is "do I look fat in this??" or which outfit makes me look less fat??"

Frankly, I got so sick and tired of trying to find outfits that hid my hips, etc, and after a while, well, things just clicked.

I really just hoped to BLEND IN!!!

Never in all my dreams would I think a person would come up to me and say "wow, look at you, hot pink and a bag to match, you look great".

I laughed my head off. You see, when you reach a certain age, you learn not to sweat the small stuff.

And it's completely different when an overweight person marches up to you and says: 'you think you're hot stuff don't you??"??

People do this, believe it.

I've had to practice retorts until I got it straight in my head.

So now if a person SAYS anything inappropriate FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER, I look them dead in the eye and say "Why on earth would you say such a thing to me". Stops them dead in their tracks.

I have a friend who has a mom, who well, to be kind, this woman would embarass a flea in a circus. Whatever is in her mind, is on her lips.

My friend and her husband took the mom out to dinner with some friends. I said to her "are you nuts, you know what will happen" And she goes, "well, I'll just watch her and head her off at the pass". I said "YOUR MOTHER???" not gonna happen".

So they come home from the dinner and my friend is crying and she goes "Oh my god you won't believe what my mother did to me in front of my husband and his friends, I'm so mortified".

It seems that her mother was sitting at the table in the restaurant and said out loud "you people think my daughter is so nice and sweet, well let me tell you , blah blah blah". My friend just looked at her mother and "Thanks a lot Mom". the other people just sat there looking embarassed.

I then told her what to do the next time her mom does this.

I said: "The next time you are out to dinner with your your mom and she blurts out something in front of your friends,(she's 77 by the way, she is NO old lady, she knows exactly what she is doing), I said , Simply look the other way, not at your mom, turn to the other people and say "you must excuse my mother, she is obviously off of her meds".

She burst out laughing. She said she will do this if it happens again. And it WILL happen again.

And no offense to anyone ON meds. But somebody has to put this person in her place.

My mother used to do this to me all the time when I was overweight. She once knocked a french fry out of my hand in front of other people and said "you need this french fry like you need a hole in the head". I was 30 at the time.

Oh, how I wish I could go back in time and say what I have learned to say all these years later.

Remember, practice makes perfect. And anytime someone says something nice to you, simply say "Thank you". and pass on the compliment to another person. I do this every day. Makes me smile.

Melody

Hot Stuff
 

My dear Mel:

I for one think that you ARE hot stuff! I bet hubby Alan does too. He is a lucky man.

Shirley H.

My Dear Shirley:

Thanks much. Isn't it a hoot!!! 3 months to age 60 and someone things I'm hot

This morning as Alan and I were returning home from Dunkin, we run into Ellie and she goes "oh, you're in pink, I love it, and I show her my hot pink handbag that I just got last night (my first one), and she goes "oohh, pink" and what does Alan say???

"What's the big deal about a pocketbook, and the color, wouldn't any color be okay??"

Ever see two women look at a man like he has lost his mind???

She's 57 married to a man of 77. She says to us "I have lost my mind, he's getting old on me'. We burst out laughing. I said 'Ellie, he's 77, what the heck did you think would happen 4 years ago when you married him? he was 73 at the time??"

The characters around my neighborhood, you gotta love them.

One is 5 feet tall, looks and is built exactly like Susan Lucci of All My Children, and weighs 90 lbs soaking wet. She walks 3 Golden Retrievers who each weigh more than her. You should see her being dragged down the street by these 3 humongous friendly creatures who love to jump on people. I love these dogs. I can't tell them apart, though. And she has one more home in the backyard. 4 Golden Retrievers.

What the heck is her dog food bill???

lol
Mel