[Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.

Fri Mar 4 13:30:55 UTC 2011

The strangest thing that ever happened to me medically, or at least 
medically with regards to my eyes, is that I have ROP and have had it, of 
course, all my life and am totally blind. When I moved to Florida in 1976 
and applied for services with the Division of Blind Services, they had to do 
an evaluation to "prove" I was blind. Okay, I understand that, just go to a 
doctor and get him to sign a letter saying "Yes, she is blind." But no!!!! 
They sent me all the way from Orlando to Miami Florida to Bascomb Palmer Eye 
Clinic where I was thoroughly evaluated. I had eye tests I did not know were 
possible including an ultrasound of the back of my eye. All these doctors 
came in to examine me. But the strangest thing about the whole experience 
was when they came in to tell me my diagnosis and prognosis. They talked in 
hushed apologetic tones as they informed me I was and would always be 
totally blind and had they had the surgical techniques they do now, maybe as 
a small child, I could have had some vision, but now, the damage to my eyes 
was far too advanced to do anything. They were so very sorry. When they 
finished, I calmly thanked them and walked out of the examining room. I 
suppose they expected me to emotionally fall apart. I am sure they were 
astounded by my reaction. I was amazed at the money DBS probably spent for 
that evaluation just to "prove" I was blind.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michelle Medina" <michellem86 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 12:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.

> I'd have been absolutely furious!!!! In fact, I must confess, I may
> have accidentally *purposely* stabbed her hand or arm as my food was
> spinning by.
> Chelle
>
> On 3/3/11, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
>> When I was a kid in Oregon, most blind children were treated at the
>> University of Oregon Medical School. Being an RLF (now ROP, nothing's
>> changed but the initials) child, all the interns took a look at me. 
>> Looking
>> back, I don't remember any of them introducing themselves, but they sure
>> loved working with the pressure gage and the slit lamp.
>>
>> My best medical story, though, comes from eye surgery in the seventies. I
>> was in the hospital after surgery, and was getting my first real meal. I
>> know that there was something on my chart that said I was blind, since,
>> after all, the bandages over the eyes wouldn't give any clue. The service
>> staff came in, and put the food tray on the table over the bed, and I
>> thanked her, assuming our interaction was done. She looked at me, looked 
>> at
>> my wife who was in the room, and turned the tray 180 degrees. I thanked 
>> her
>> again. She looked back at me, back at my wife and turned it again. After 
>> the
>> third iteration, I confess I lost my patience and asked if I was just
>> supposed to use a fork to stab something as it went by.
>>
>> It's funny now, but frustrating then.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Mary Mc Gee
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 3:11 PM
>> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.
>>
>> Dear Fellow Federationists;
>>
>>             I've read with interest all the posts about experiences at
>> health care providers' offices.  I have some experiences I can throw into
>> the mix.
>>
>>             First, I'll say that, because the cause of my blindness is
>> albinism, I had a unique appearance that was impossible to hide when I 
>> was
>> younger.  I was a student at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School for
>> ten years and, during that time, I went to the University of Iowa for 
>> free
>> eye care-at least "they" called it eye care.  It was more on the order of
>> eye study because every med student, intern, and ophthalmology resident 
>> had
>> to come examines the "albinotic eye" before I received any low vision
>> glasses, etc. that would actually improve what little vision I have.  I 
>> felt
>> like a zoo or circus animal on display because I was a condition rather 
>> than
>> a person.  It hurt a lot and I'm not simply talking about all the lights
>> shining in my eyes, but also the emotional pain it caused.
>>
>>             As an adult I've had some doctors who have been very nice and
>> some who haven't.  The number of nice ones directly correlates with my
>> various degrees-all doctors and staffs are nice now that I put "Attorney" 
>> on
>> their intake forms.
>>
>>             But, when I first came to Des Moines in 1976, visited a
>> neurologist because of migraine headaches.  He spent more time looking at 
>> my
>> eyes than he did taking a history of the headaches.  I went to one doctor
>> whose office staff handed the intake form to my driver too complete until 
>> I
>> complained.  One time, when I went to an orthopedic surgeon's office for 
>> an
>> expert consult to prepare for trial, I was greatly surprised that she 
>> spent
>> fifteen minutes asking about my vision instead of my client's treatment. 
>> I
>> simply told her that, if she billed for those extra minutes, she wouldn't 
>> be
>> paid, because I would deduct that amount of time from my bill back to the
>> client.  She didn't argue and even apologized.
>>
>>             I'm fortunate that I currently have a sensitive, caring group 
>> of
>> physicians.  I'll have to admit, though, that the trauma of the past plus 
>> my
>> attorney's skepticism is quite hard to eliminate when I meet a new one.
>>
>>             The Iowa Department for the Blind has been doing a PR project
>> with health care providers to educate them with the hope that fewer 
>> people
>> will have unpleasant experiences when they need help.
>>
>>             I'd be interested in hearing if any of you, like me, were
>> treated as a medical oddity at any time.
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Mary L. McGee
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> "FUCK YOU FOR KILLING ME!!!!" SHAUN MORGAN - "NEEDLES"
> "THESE STAND FOR ME, NAME YOUR GOD AND BLEED THE FREAK!
> I'D LIKE TO SEE, HOW YOU ALL WOULD BLEED FOR ME!" -LAYNE STALEY -
> "BLEED THE FREAK"
>
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