Thrombosis of the eye, and double vision, while in Spain

[MaidinDevon]

Hi
I am looking for advice on behalf of my friend from any Dr's or eye specialists on here.
This issue started after a bout of gastroenteritis, which triggered gout? First attack ever. Treated with anti gout meds, plus injections into tummy for a week. Foot swelled, back to hospital snd prescribed diclofenac, for inflammation of the veins in their foot..
Double vision developed, but didn't settle when meds stopped. Back to hospital on Monday for assessment.
Outcome decision is 2 thrombosis, one in the foot and one in the left eye.
No treatment recommended, it will get better but may take one month, or two.
Previously healthy, blood pressure is good.
They could ring own GP for telephone consultation, but worried that DVLA will be informed, and may revoke license.
They can't and won't drive while vision is affected, but don't want to lose license if not necessary.
I sm worried on their behalf, and don't know what to do, any advice appreciated.
Thanks

Karen

 

[The Coops]

What did they say at the hospital about driving? I would suggest a trip and eye examination at Specsavers ( not a joke) they can act like pharmacists do for the NHS and can do an immediate referral to an Ophthalmic surgeon if they find serious defects in the vision.
I speak from experience, in the opticians at 3.10pm referred straight to Hospital and into surgery 2 hrs later on same day.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Is there anyone at home in the uk that can fly over and drive the van back with the owner that has the issues Easy to rearrange the insurance.
They can then be treated at home in UK.
Where in Spain are they?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

There are specsavers in Spain. One here in Benidorm.

 

[Nanniemate]

Is there anyone at home in the uk that can fly over and drive the van back with the owner that has the issues Easy to rearrange the insurance.
They can then be treated at home in UK.
Where in Spain are they?

Yes

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Where in Spain?

 

[MaidinDevon]

They are on tge border 28th Portugal. Luckily, a friend can fly over and drive the vehicle back and owner back home.
But not sure whether to act immediately, or return as planned at the end of March.
N
My first thought was DVT and possibly a clot travelling to his heart/lungs, but they don't seem to be concerned about it.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Yes

Are you just agreeing with me or "Yes" there is someone able to fly over and drive thier van back?

 

[Nanniemate]

carolyn any thoughts please

 

[Nanniemate]

Are you just agreeing with me or "Yes" there is someone able to fly over and drive thier van back?

I'd go but I'm sure other will offer

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[Jimbohorlicks]

They are on tge border 28th Portugal. Luckily, a friend can fly over and drive the vehicle back and owner back home.
But not sure whether to act immediately, or return as planned at the end of March.
N
My first thought was DVT and possibly a clot travelling to his heart/lungs, but they don't seem to be concerned about it.

I would be very concerned. They could lose an eye. Or worse. Will their travel insurance fly someone over to drive thier van back?

 

[carolyn]

The Wino is your man. I’m afraid eyes were not my area. Double vision precludes driving unless it can be corrected with prisms. It’s a problem with the control of the muscles or centrally ie something has affected the brain.

The eyeballs themselves are not affected.

 

[The Wino]

Sounds a really odd sequence of events. I wonder if the " injections into the tummy"were anticoagulants. I think the main worry I would have would be the underlying cause of the thrombosis not being properly investigated and would strongly suggest a visit/ consultation whatever with their GP. Whether it affects driving or not is a much less serious concern than if it's going to affect your health. Double vision with a sudden onset is an ocular emergency not because it affects driving but because some of the possible causes of untreated can have serious and sudden affects on health.
People often link their health issues with medication and sometimes some medications can have side effects however it's also the case that people who were previously healthy do develop medical problems unrelated to any medication. We're all really just waiting for something to stop working properly!
If they do decide to visit an optometrist I would suggest they visit their usual one assuming they aren't a floating voter! They would have their previous history. I'm always surprised by the idea that everyone who works for a large company is the same in terms of ability it's like people who won't go to a certain hospital because their aunt died of breast cancer when they're going for a heart problem do they really think the same person will deal with both cases!

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hi
I am looking for advice on behalf of my friend from any Dr's or eye specialists on here.
This issue started after a bout of gastroenteritis, which triggered gout? First attack ever. Treated with anti gout meds, plus injections into tummy for a week. Foot swelled, back to hospital snd prescribed diclofenac, for inflammation of the veins in their foot..
Double vision developed, but didn't settle when meds stopped. Back to hospital on Monday for assessment.
Outcome decision is 2 thrombosis, one in the foot and one in the left eye.
No treatment recommended, it will get better but may take one month, or two.
Previously healthy, blood pressure is good.
They could ring own GP for telephone consultation, but worried that DVLA will be informed, and may revoke license.
They can't and won't drive while vision is affected, but don't want to lose license if not necessary.
I sm worried on their behalf, and don't know what to do, any advice appreciated.
Thanks

Karen

Hi Karen, There is someone on here who is a Specialist . I dont want to name them as they may not wish to comment. Hopefully. they will be along soon.

I hope all gets better soon

 

[MaidinDevon]

The Wino thank you for your help.
The person concerned is currently in Spain, avoiding a British winter.
I can understand your point that the symptoms/issues may not be linked.
The injections were anticoagulants, I couldn't remember the name.
His last appointment was with an eye doctor at the hospital on Monday who said he should wait for tge thrombosis to go?settle down? No treatment required.

My main question is whether a thrombosis in the eye needs urgent treatment, or as the Dr recommended can be left to settle down.
The Dr spoke good English, and I think they understood each other well. He has a letter to give his GP in the UK when he gets back.

The driving question is not relevant at present. He can deal with that back in the UK.

Thanks again

Karen

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[westhamman]

Specsavers are individual opticians under the same banner so are not all the same standard of quality. I personally wouldn't use Specsavers again as they failed to diagnose an issue, that is one branch or one optician to be accurate but personally other opticians are available.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Specsavers are individual opticians under the same banner so are not all the same standard of quality. I personally wouldn't use Specsavers again as they failed to diagnose an issue, that is one branch or one optician to be accurate but personally other opticians are available.

Specsavers, I have a great experience with them Iif you search my review

 

[The Wino]

Specsavers, I have a great experience with them Iif you search my review

Specsavers are individual opticians under the same banner so are not all the same standard of quality. I personally wouldn't use Specsavers again as they failed to diagnose an issue, that is one branch or one optician to be accurate but personally other opticians are available.

Here you see exactly my point! My last job was seeing low risk glaucoma referrals at an eye unit. To me there is just as much variability between the quality of referrals between anyone optometrist and those working for any of the large multiples. I worked with a Specsavers partner in my previous job Dishpal was great I would have no hesitation recommending him to anyone. I had other referrals from people at Specsavers that were so hopeless I actually rang them up to ask what they thought they were doing! Thinking everyone at Specsavers is good or bad is like thinking all fiat dealers mechanics are really good or really bad does anyone think that?

 

[Mart 63]

Specsavers have been taken over, not sure of name, in the Torrevieja area. Not sure if it's the same all over Spain

 

[The Wino]

The Wino thank you for your help.
The person concerned is currently in Spain, avoiding a British winter.
I can understand your point that the symptoms/issues may not be linked.
The injections were anticoagulants, I couldn't remember the name.
His last appointment was with an eye doctor at the hospital on Monday who said he should wait for tge thrombosis to go?settle down? No treatment required.

My main question is whether a thrombosis in the eye needs urgent treatment, or as the Dr recommended can be left to settle down.
The Dr spoke good English, and I think they understood each other well. He has a letter to give his GP in the UK when he gets back.

The driving question is not relevant at present. He can deal with that back in the UK.

Thanks again

Karen

I suspect that the thrombosis in the eye is more a matter of there is nothing that is going to treat it rather than it will settle down. It's probably a retinal vein occlusion the main thing is to check for secondary glaucoma in a few months once any underlying conditions are excluded. It's checking for those possible underlying conditions that's the really important thing although in quite a few cases they never find any cause it's just bad luck. The similar problem in the foot though does suggest something at the time was going on the question is was it a condition that resolved due to some treatment or is he on continuing medication to reduce the risk of a similar problem? An optometrists role in this would be to refer for further assessment to a physician as the eye problem could reflect an underlying cause with an inreased risk of stroke etc.

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[carolyn]

Thanks The Wino . I was hoping you’d get involved! This just shows how the thinking and focus differs. I just thought the retinal vein occlusion will get better or it won’t after the anticoagulant jabs and homed straight in on the double vision wondering if they’d had a mini stroke.

Our local independent optician was brilliant. Most of us referred to her. The new chap is good too.

 

[The Wino]

Thanks The Wino . I was hoping you’d get involved! This just shows how the thinking and focus differs. I just thought the retinal vein occlusion will get better or it won’t after the anticoagulant jabs and homed straight in on the double vision wondering if they’d had a mini stroke.

Our local independent optician was brilliant. Most of us referred to her. The new chap is good too.

I think they could well have had a mini stroke causing the double vision although I did wonder if it is " proper" double vision or a layman's description of the effect on vision of a vein occlusion. If they have seen an eye specialist I'm pretty sure it's been investigated. It is the underlying cause that's the most worrying thing if it's not been addressed but from the sound of it it's quite likely they've been checked out . I think the other worrying thing was the concern about telling their GP in case it affects driving it would seem bonkers to me to think of that as a major concern compared to something that could seriously affect your health.

 

[carolyn]

I think they could well have had a mini stroke causing the double vision although I did wonder if it is " proper" double vision or a layman's description of the effect on vision of a vein occlusion. If they have seen an eye specialist I'm pretty sure it's been investigated. It is the underlying cause that's the most worrying thing if it's not been addressed but from the sound of it it's quite likely they've been checked out . I think the other worrying thing was the concern about telling their GP in case it affects driving it would seem bonkers to me to think of that as a major concern compared to something that could seriously affect your health.

I agree, everyones’ safety on the roads should be considered.

 

[MaidinDevon]

Update
A further visit to the hospital this afternoon.
Restart treatment for gout, and diclofenac. Two anticoagulant injections per day. Continue until further appointment.he has been offered an specialist appt, but will be back in UK before the date. Advised to go to GP when home.

Does gout trigger thrombosis?
Or is there something else going on.
It's difficult when you don't speak the language. Although the site are being very supportive, and staff took him to the hospital this afternoon and translated for him

I have googled the drugs, and confirmed when to take them and what with.

Thank you for all the input. It helps, to share worries.

And a third person came down with dandv overnight. I think we have had norovirus. Which has also aggravated my IBS.m, so I an feeling ver6 weak and poorly too.
Hey ho, at least the sun is shining, and it's warm.

Karen

 

[The Wino]

It's been interesting looking up gout blood clotting issues and thrombosis! ( I've been retired a few years now but after 40 years you do retain an interest). Sounds like your friend is still being treated and assessed and probably looked after pretty well. I'd be straight round to the GP when I returned apart from anything else to make sure it's all entered on the medical records.

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[carolyn]

I hope he is also on something like omeprazole or lansoprazole every day to reduce the risk of a bleed from his gut with the diclofenac.

 

[MaidinDevon]

Hi Carolyn
My apologies, yes he is on 20mg Omeprazole. I forgot to include it.

It is reassuring to hear that the care seems good, and appropriate.

I feel more confident. He will probably stay until his planned leaving date, unless things change, and he has someone to drive the rig home, and look after him.

Thanks again for your help and reassurance.

Karen