Diagnosis of Myopic Macular Degeneration with Dr. Bonnielin Swenor

Dr. Bonnielin Swenor shares her personal diagnosis of myopic macular degeneration, how it influenced her career trajectory, and how the care she received at the Wilmer Eye Institute continues to inspire her. #WilmerEye #JohnsHopkins
Visit us www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/

[@DAKILLAKC4444]

Very inspiring cuz I'm currently in that dark place ..
Completely different issue, but as Dr. Bonnielin describes, it's been very life altering for me as well. I suffer from chronic nerve pain from 2 ruptured discs in my neck that radiates pain all throughout my upper/mid back, or wherever it wants to go depending on what nerve it's hitting that day/moment. I was diagnosed at 29 and I'm 32 now, and no, I did not have any injury or car wreck or anything, I don't know how or why it happened. It has negatively changed my life so much. When things seemed to come so natural before (Daily tasks like cleaning, moving things, picking something slightly heavy up, ect.) were suddenly ALL taken away from me ..
Every second of everyday I'm in pain now and I'm to a point I'm exhausted. I have no appetite so I feel sick from the medicine. I'm so over feeling depressed while my pain, depression, anxiety, even stomach issues, which is due to the pills, continues to worsen. The medicine isn't even working anymore (Opioids). Laws won't even allow doctors to prescribe me enough for my pain to be managed, and due to my age, I was actually told that I'm in the age category of a "Drug Seeker" from an MD at my current pain specialist. That really has stuck with me so much cuz I have never been a pill popper, matter of fact, I couldn't stand pills and all the negative stuff I would hear about them, so I would only take maybe Ibuprofen if I absolutely needed it.
Now, I'm FORCED to take them for relief, but that relief has even gone away. The pills aren’t even working anymore. I'm currently writing this message while in gnawing pain, but I have no choice cuz NOTHING HELPS. I don't know what a pain free day feels like anymore. It seems like ending it all would be the easiest option.
However, I truly have high hope that this could change for the better, I just haven’t found the RIGHT answers for my condition yet. I would love to find a more natural approach to pain relief that doesn’t involve depending on pills that haven’t even been working, nor can receive enough of to help. I didn't intend this to be this long lol, so I appreciate if you take the time to read. I really just wanted to say THANK YOU, this inspired me to at least NOT STOP TRYING ! God bless
- Da Killa KC AKA Priscilla Hansak

[@arjeloreyes5042]

Hello i am Arjelo Reyes from philippines and i had same situation like you. I diagnose myopic degeneration macula deases both eyes a month ago i am 35 year's old and my life 8s totally change when i had this desease its hard to accept that has no cure and only can do is to delay only. I dont know what to do right now i lost my job i have three little kids 4,7. And 12 years old and i am the br3ad winner in my family and i always thogh what im soppose to do now i am useless person and i must to accept that until the rest of my life😢

[@otiebrown9999]

Congratulations, on your Ph.d.
Myopic?
How myopic were you, at age 26 years?
Detached retinas are very common with 6 Diopters of myopia. My personal interestinterests are to help a person avoid entry into myopia.

[@Ale-rw6lo]

not being able to drive has been the worse. 38 months and still waiting and hoping my eye will heal after Retina detachment and tear, 5 surgeries.

[@bluejay9890]

How's your other eye? Are both eyes impaired? Is your doctor hopeful your eyesight can be restored?

[@songsofthecentury3909]

What procedures were used?

[@sujitkumar-wx6bk]

Any treatment in stem cell or gene therapy
...?

[@sujitkumar-wx6bk]

Mam any treatment possible in
Macular degeneration...?

[@TruckDriver2005]

I'm just wondering if she was high myopic before everything happened?

[@commonsense6967]

Yeah, me too. Can't get a handle on what myopic macular degeneration actually is.