[Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.

Fri Mar 4 13:37:19 UTC 2011

Wow Sherri, just. . . wow!!!!

On 3/4/11, Sherri <flmom2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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>
>
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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"