[Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.

Sat Mar 5 13:43:09 UTC 2011

Sherri,
    Yu should have broke down and began crying! After all, you had no idea 
you were blind!

Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 8:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.


> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> NOTICE:  This E-mail (including attachments) is covered by the 
>>> Electronic
>>> Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. Sections 2510-2521, is 
>>> confidential
>>> and may be legally privileged.  If you are not the intended recipient, 
>>> you
>>> are hereby notified that any tetention, dissemination, distribution, or
>>> copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.  Please reply to 
>>> the
>>> sender that you have received the message in error, then delete.  Thank 
>>> you.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindtlk:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/david.hyde%40wcbvi.k12.wi.us
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindtlk:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/michellem86%40gmail.com
>>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> "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"
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindtlk mailing list
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> blindtlk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/flmom2006%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindtlk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.net