CAR Treatments

So after a crazy treatment week, I finally have a few minutes to let everyone know what's going on with my eyes.  Last fall, when I was in TX, I was diagnosed with CAR (carcinoma associated retinopathy).  Basically my body is producing a certain type of anti-body to try to fight my cancer and that same anti-body has decided to fight my eyes.  CAR is very rare, my new retina specialist here says he may see a case once every 10 years or so, so he is working with DR S in TX to work on my treatment.

Until about a month ago, my eyes were stable, then I started noticing a dark grey cloud right in the center of my vision in my left eye.  It got bad enough that I quit driving again (I couldn't see the speedometer when I was driving).  I also started having problems reading, I had to take my glasses off to read anything and things had to be about 4 inches from my face.  My vision over all was just getting worse too, so I mentioned it to Dr G and off to a retina specialist I went.

After consultations between Dr G, Dr S & Dr N (new eye doctor) a treatment was devised.  I received a shot of cortisone in my left eye last Friday and I started IV treatments this past week.  I had 3 days of IV steroids and 2 days of IV immunoglobulins (some special anti-body to fight my own body's anti-bodies).  I'll keep getting the steroids and IGIV every 3 weeks for a not yet determined length of time.  And I am scheduled to go back to the retina specialist and get a shot of cortisone in my right eye this next Friday.

This has been just another set back, but I am keeping my chin up because some part of the treatment is working.  The cloud in my left eye is gone and I'm driving again, and I can read with my glasses on again!  I've noticed a big improvement in just one week and am so glad I didn't just shrug it off as bad eyesight.

I will say that I did a lot of complaining this week.  It was very uncharacteristic of me.  I was not happy with 5 days of 4 hour or longer treatments, but I know how important they are and am glad its over.  Next week I have chemo and am hoping it doesn't knock me down too much because I have been feeling amazing and would like to continue feeling this way!