Be Proactive in Your Own Healthcare (Part Two of my Glaucoma Story)

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First I want to thank those who left comments of concern and support on part one of my story. Maybe some of the things I've learned from all this can help someone else. I've been dealing with this disease and loss of vision for a very long time (diagnosed in 1998 at age 35). My eye pressure was fairly well controlled with medicated eye drops for the first two years. Then I started feeling that something was "just not right" again, so my optometrist did more tests. He couldn't find any significant changes in my numbers, as compared to previous tests. So no changes were made in my treatment.  I continued to go back to him for a couple more years. I had more problems. I didn't notice a significant loss of vision, but I could sense that something was happening in my head and eyes. The doctor still didn't find much. My husband encouraged me to get a second opinion. I was very hesitant to do that. Dr. T had been my doc for about twenty years at that point. He had been so caring. When he first diagnosed my disease, he knew I was scared. He said I could to call him at home on weekends if I got worried. I felt obligated to him. However, I knew I had to find out what was happening to me. I finally asked for a referral. I started seeing a Glaucoma specialist in a city that is one hour away. My new doctor immediately discovered significant vision loss and higher pressures. He had the right diagnostic tools, machines and knowledge of Glaucoma. He said that my optic nerve in left eye was already damaged, but my right eye was stable.  I learned valuable lessons through that experience. I should not have waited to get a second opinion. I should have trusted my gut instinct that my disease was getting worse. Dr. T just wasn't able to help me anymore. It wasn't wise for me to be so worried about offending him. (He actually did become offended when I asked for a referral.) It's true that doctors have valuable knowledge and experience. However, my perspective is very valuable too! I'm the one who lives in my own body. I know myself quite well. I've learned that I must be proactive in my own healthcare, regarding my vision and otherwise.  To be continued.