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Frustration regarding Cataract Surgery and other Health Issues..

My name is Lorelei and I am 51 years old..
I have a cataract in my right eye which has completely blinded me..
I have no vision and can only see grey shadows from right eye.
I have been scheduled for cataract surgery 4 times now and I
have been postponed by anestisiologist on every occasion!
I have been told that because of my health history.. I had a heart attack
6 years ago and my potassium levels were at 6.0 most recently but have
since come down to 5.!!

I am under a Doctor's care, I have a general practice Doctor that I have been
seeing once a week.. I have been given various medications and I feel I
am doing everything I need to be doing.
Due to lack of vision/ vision impairment I have fallen twice over the last 2 months..
the last fall fracturing my right wrist!
I also have a small cataract in my left eye and I am so afraid it is getting worse..
I have passed pre-op clearance 2 weeks ago and still anestisiologist wont
do the surgery..
Dont understand.. My eyesight is not a want.. it's a need!!
The last time my surgery was scheduled I was hooked up to I.V
and at the last moment the anestisiologist once again said he did not
feel comfortable doing surgery and would not do it for me once again!

For the record.. I am dealing with a hospital here in Chicago ranked 15th
in the nation.. not that that matters because it does'nt..
The opthamalogist keeps telling me he wants to help me..
Really?? Because absolutely nothing is being done to help me!

So.. I am saddended and disgusted by all of this, scared I will hurt
myself again..
Someone in my family tells me I need to jump all the hoops the
Doctors want me to go through..
Ridiculous Statement.. I am blind in 1 eye!
And.. now I am told I need Cardiac Clearance before any surgery..
Everything I have researched on-line tells me this is a low risk surgery..
Doctor said it would take 30 minutes!
I need this so desperately..
Any advice would be most appreciated..
Thank You,
Lorelei
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
Good Morning from Chicago Everyone..
I wanted to add a few things..
I have no medical insurance of any kind and I had applied
for financial assistance theough this hospital that I am dealing with here
in Chicago.
Even though I have a terrible previous health history the state of illinois
will give me no medical assistance!
So.. for the recoed.. I have been approved for medical assistance through
this specific hospitals foundation.

But.. they literally have me listed as a"Charity Case" and my general practice doctors feel that I am being constantly pushed back because of this!
I am so scared because I looked in the mirror last night and saw how large this cataract in my right eye truly is..:(
I can see it!!!
And.. even scarier is that my left eye's cataract is getting progressively worse..Vision in that eye is more blurry as well..:(
So.. as far as me jumping ship.. I truly dont have anywhere else to turn!
We have a free hospital here in Chicago run by the city/state called Stroger
but.. it takes months and months to get in here and their track record
is not very good..
So.. I am frustrated beyond words because I am being told by said opthamalogist that he is doing everything he can to help me.. yet.. months and months have gone by and nothing has been done!!
I wish I knew what else to do..I have been through alot.. and honestly..
I am terrified that i may lose sight in my other eye before they do anything for me!
And.. Dr, Hagan.. I researched the information you gave me regarding
Dr. Kraff.. but.. I have no job, no insurance of any kind..
Dont know what to do anymore.. I'm so frightened.. crying alot!!
I would welcome any other suggestions..
Thank You all so much for responding..
Sincerely,
Lorelei
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Spelling again:  That would be Dr. Hagan with two 'a's.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Lorelei, do you really *want* an anesthesiologist who is clearly uncomfortable with the procedure working on you?  Frankly, if I were in your situation, I'd jump ship and head for the doc recommended by Dr. Hagen.
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Well good luck. I think it most likely that the relluctant anesthesiologists have littler experience with modern eye surgery and are equating it to the stress of opening the chest or abdomen.

JCH MD
Helpful - 0
1932338 tn?1349220398
I am frustrated just reading your post.  I would take Dr. Hagan's advice and move on to Dr. Kraft.  "Frustration" and stress can affect your health negatively so why beat your head against the wall with an anesthesiologist that clearly doesn't feel comfortable doing your surgery?
Please please try someone else, there are too many good medical professionals out there to put up with sub-standard.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Good Morning from Chicago Dr. Hagan..
Thank You so much for responding to me...
I have just had labs done and potassium levels are
coming down..

And.. Dr. Hagan..My General Practice Doctors are all
going to bat for me..even going so far as to write a letter
to the anesthesiologist giving me clearance yet once again..
This is my life here.. and my lack of vision has impaired me terribly!

Thank You again Dr. Hagan.. and I wil research Dr. Kraft as well..
Sincerely,
LoreleiI
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Lorelei: I have to say I would feel frustrated also. I don't know what the problem is. The average age for cataract surgery is about 78 and virtually every patient we operate on has some health problem. We do not even use an anesthesiologist just a nurse anesthetist.  Because almost all eye surgery in now don in ambulatory surgical centers hospital based anesthesiologists have little experience with eye surgery.

You like in Chicago I would suggest you see Colman Kraft MD or one of the MDs in that office:  http://www.kraffeye.com/staff/colman_kraff.shtml  they are ethical and experienced and can do a cataract operation under topical anesthesia in most cases in 15-20 minutes start to end.

JCH MD
Helpful - 0
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