Posted in How I'm Adapting

Who’s gonna drive you home? – My decision to stop driving

3 months ago, I was told to stop driving after 29 years.

It was difficult, but due to anxiety, repairs and a few instances which got my heart banging, I waited to repair the car as I had a feeling this would be the case as I knew I had an appointment coming up in a few weeks.

Well I was told I shouldn’t be driving at my last appointment. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be safe to drive anymore. I can let it go now and think of all the lovely adventures I’ve had but will have some lovely ones on a bus. ..I’m sure 😊

Posted in The Medical Stuff, Useful Information

So, what is it?

Clipboard with the words Keith story written on it
There are a few different types of macular problems.
Mine is genetic. I was born with this, although I wasn’t diagnosed until 44 years old. 4 and a half years ago. The diagnosis was macular dystrophy. So I am late onset and very lucky I had so long without symptoms that affected me.
Stargardts is the most common genetic macular disease. The one I’m most likely to have. I haven’t had genetic tests as of yet.
Please click on the link below for keiths story ☺
Posted in The Medical Stuff

Vitamin A and Carotenoids

Clipboard with a list of Vitamin A rich food to avoid
Carotenoids are the pigments that give vegetables and other plant products, their bright lovely colours.
Before your body can benefit from them nutritionally, it must convert them into retinoids. This process may be difficult for some people to do, including us with Macular dystrophy.
Because our eyes cannot process this and Vitamin A properly, it affects the light receptors, causing damage to the retina, leaving the macular full of Lupofusin, clogging up, making the waste hard to get rid of.
So light sensitivity happens, floaters from the rubbish floating around in there, and damage to the macular, causing the blurry spot that makes our central vision fade.
So supplements, like any extra vitamins you may take, or the food you eat have to be low in Vitamin A and Carotenoids. Which is impossible but my specialist just said as long as I’m not going mad ingesting carrots by the ton, it will help by keeping the damage to a slower pace.

The foods highest in vitamin A are:-

⚫ Carrots

⚫ Broccoli

⚫ Cantaloupe Melons

⚫ Grapefruit

⚫ Red Peppers

⚫ Pistachios

⚫ Liver

⚫ Dried Apricots

⚫ Oily Fish

⚫ Sweet potatoes

⚫ Mangoes

⚫ Tomato Juice