Hi Barbara

Sounds like you got the result you wanted; good to hear a success story every now and again!

I think when I was on hydrochloroquine my eye test was done at the local opticians. Its a fairly straightforward check where they look at the general health of the eye. In rare cases the drug can cause blurred vision and damage to the retina but this is usually avoided by careful dosage.

Hopefully a new consultant will give you a more positive outlook on future employability! Good luck,

Lyn x

"Unlike optometrists and ophthamologists, opticians do not require a license and cannot conduct eye exams or treat patients"

Thought this may be useful. Presumably most opticians have optomotrists working for them, and they are the people who conduct the eye tests? Don't really know the answer!

Barb - delighted you are getting listened to and being transferred to Dr Kaur's list.

Lots of love
Jeanxxx

Hi Barbara

I'm glad you're getting some answers now. I would have thought that if you see Dr Kaul, and get the right drugs for you, you would then be able to carry on working.

I hope you get to see him soon.

Lyn

Hi Jenni, yes, I know deep down you are right, and as you say its what I wanted to hear from the consultant. I think because the pred has been working so far, just gone down to 15mg today and tomorrow and then Friday on 5mg on regular basis I feel so much better. I can only see how it goes, I know I am probably fooling myself, and will have to admit defeat at some point, but for now I will keep trying. It means alot to me at the moment to keep going, to feel that I am useful, and I think also I am terrified of not being able to work, and being home all the time.
I totally understand what you are saying, and why you stopped being with the little ones. Thank you for bringing me down to earth!! Sometimes its a logical mind, and a kick up the bum we need!!
I hope you are doing ok, and that Gemma is now getting what was promised, and that Bernice is well again, take care x

Hi Barbara

I just wanted to add my two penny worth from my experience of this yukky disease!!

What Jenni says is spot on and she knows from her vast experience of this debilitating illness. What I would say is if it is at all possible do try to hold onto your working life as long as you can even if it means adapting along the way. It's the one thing that keeps you in touch with daily life and reality. As you say it is important to your general well being that you feel useful. The modern range of drugs are now so good that more and more people are able to continue a comparatively normal lifestyle with possibly only minimal joint damage. Unfortunately for people like Jenni, myself and others on the forum who were diagnosed yonks ago, before the availability of such wonderful drugs, we suffer the consequences of a cruddy disease.

I felt fortunate, at the time, that I was retired on ill health at the age of 31, (although I had worked really hard to get to a management position) because I got to spend time with my young family; something I couldn't have considered whilst employed. However my youngest, of four, is now 15 and I feel redundant. I spend a lot of time doing volunteer work when I am able but it doesn't match having a career and a job to go to on a daily basis. It serves only to remind me that I am different, living with a disease that is incurable. That said I try to remain optimistic with a positive attitude towards life (despite the constant reminders; daily mounds of pills, twice weekly injections and monthly bloods etc...!).

We all want to hear positivity from our medics and many of them are extremely good. Mild RA can be controlled with the right drugs it's a case of finding the combination that is right for you. You must keep trying and hoping for a good outcome. Defeat should not even be a consideration!

Just to add, although you weren't asking me, I got my OT appointment through my GP. Things might have changed though it was a while ago!

Take care,

Lyn x