Tammuz176's interview
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How did all start?
I had a nasty fever one weekend in grade school. I started getting symptoms on Friday night and when the fever broke on Sunday I had spots all over my field of vision. They've never left.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
Not really. A neuro-optomologist I saw once suggested it, but I don't think I was officially diagnosed.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
None.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
I just try to look past the spots as much as possible. There isn't really anything that can be done about them yet.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
My night vision is pretty much shot since it relies more on shapes to pick out objects than colors (everything looks pretty much the same in the dark). I also can't seem to see anything coming straight at the middle of my forehead even when I'm looking straight at it and this has resulted in my getting hit with birdies, tennis balls, and a small assortment of other things. It is also difficult to read really small print since I can't always tell if I'm looking at a "c" or an "o" partially obscured by spots. This problem also extends to other similar letters. Context generally helps me figure things out.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
My parents let me stay home for three days after the spots first appeared and took me to a couple of doctors. As nothing could be done it generally doesn't come up. My relationships are the same.
What things have you stopped doing?
Nothing. It's just really irritating sometimes when they get in the way.
What do you think about the future?
That I'll be stuck with these spots for the rest of my life.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
Life was pretty good when I was about 7. I had good eyesight and didn't have to worry about taxes, jobs, and corrupt landlords.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
It's less what I would like to do and more what I would like to see. I don't remember what a world unclouded by spots looks like anymore.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
A bit dull.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Try to make the best of what you have? I'm not sure that there's really any useful advice.
