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helenkacan Dec. 11th, 2008 10:47 pm)
helenkacan Dec. 11th, 2008 10:47 pm)Well, my medical education is progressing. Things I never knew (and actually never wanted to know) about my eyes.
So, after only TWO hours of sleep last night (no, don't ask), I got up and got ready to leave. I was picked up at 6:55 and arrived at the hospital with plenty of time to spare. I was seen around 8:15 by one doctor who did the initial evaluation. He was very gentle and encouraging, saying I was doing very well, yadda, yadda, even while there were tears rolling down my cheeks (but at least I wasn't in pain). The pressure in my right eye was 14 and in the left (eeeeek) was 54. Anything over 20 is bad. No kidding.
So here's the problem. I had a detached retina almost a year ago. It was repaired buuuuuut the repair and swelling of thick blood vessels in the eye mean that the normal drainage point is blocked off. And it can't be repaired by surgery (the kind that would install a teensy, tiny drainage tube) because of the repaired retina. So, the only option would be a strong form of laser surgery. The only drawback there is that, afterwards, if the pressure drops too low then the cornea becomes damaged and soft. Can you see I'm just not getting a break here. Oh, and for those suggesting the use of a special herb (euphemism, eh), the first doctor said that it would provide a minuscule drop (say from 54 to 52), so there would be no real advantage.
After the dilation drops, I had some time so I headed downstairs to replenish my vitamins and also got generic Neo-Citran for my cold. I even picked up a special cherry-flavoured kind for sore throats. And redeemed $25 on my affinity card. And back up I went. He saw me again, did more stuff while still soothing me, explained more and then said he wanted the Boss Lady to see me. But I was running out of time as I was supposed to be downstairs to get my ride home in 10 minutes. So I made a panicked call to Dispatch and rescheduled my ride for 11:00 a.m. Big sigh of relief.
Boss Lady Doctor was very nice and she has a fabulous reputation. She recommended I go two doors down the hall to get my other surgeon to do a retinal relasering and then wants to see me in a week's time. Also, I don't have to use drops in the right eye. OTOH, I have to take two other drops, twice a day. No problem, as long as I can see what I'm doing from my unaffected right eye. And I reiterated my objection to having the cataracts removed from my right eye. I said I didn't care if the odds were 1 in 100,000. If I were THAT 1, then I would be left totally blind and I couldn't (and wouldn't) live with that. The other surgeon wasn't in, so I'm having the lasering done next Thursday before I see B-L again.
I had a really nice driver home as well and he was a few minutes early. As soon as I got in, I dropped my stuff, turned my walker around and went to the drugstore. I'd gotten a sample bottle of one eyedrop, but had to buy the second one. And then I actually did my grocery shopping. More flour and skim milk powder for baking; 'nanas; juice; milk (because I found yummy cereal in the cupboard); brie and smoked salmon to treat myself. And then I walked home on a day that wasn't too cold, though the streets were a little icy.
John left over 30 minutes ago. I graduated him from his nursing duties (but he had to stay nearly half an hour to read me the instructions). I told him that I would only be seeing him for social reasons from now on.
I've had a cherry hot drink and will be having the regular one for colds soon. And I hope I can actually sleep tonight. ::snuggles the wish piggies:: I'm also documenting hives on my left thumb and a feverish feeling. Oh, joy.
Anyway, really, I'm feeling more upbeat than I have in a long time, even though the road to recovery is not smooth. Optimistic hugs,
Helenka
So, after only TWO hours of sleep last night (no, don't ask), I got up and got ready to leave. I was picked up at 6:55 and arrived at the hospital with plenty of time to spare. I was seen around 8:15 by one doctor who did the initial evaluation. He was very gentle and encouraging, saying I was doing very well, yadda, yadda, even while there were tears rolling down my cheeks (but at least I wasn't in pain). The pressure in my right eye was 14 and in the left (eeeeek) was 54. Anything over 20 is bad. No kidding.
So here's the problem. I had a detached retina almost a year ago. It was repaired buuuuuut the repair and swelling of thick blood vessels in the eye mean that the normal drainage point is blocked off. And it can't be repaired by surgery (the kind that would install a teensy, tiny drainage tube) because of the repaired retina. So, the only option would be a strong form of laser surgery. The only drawback there is that, afterwards, if the pressure drops too low then the cornea becomes damaged and soft. Can you see I'm just not getting a break here. Oh, and for those suggesting the use of a special herb (euphemism, eh), the first doctor said that it would provide a minuscule drop (say from 54 to 52), so there would be no real advantage.
After the dilation drops, I had some time so I headed downstairs to replenish my vitamins and also got generic Neo-Citran for my cold. I even picked up a special cherry-flavoured kind for sore throats. And redeemed $25 on my affinity card. And back up I went. He saw me again, did more stuff while still soothing me, explained more and then said he wanted the Boss Lady to see me. But I was running out of time as I was supposed to be downstairs to get my ride home in 10 minutes. So I made a panicked call to Dispatch and rescheduled my ride for 11:00 a.m. Big sigh of relief.
Boss Lady Doctor was very nice and she has a fabulous reputation. She recommended I go two doors down the hall to get my other surgeon to do a retinal relasering and then wants to see me in a week's time. Also, I don't have to use drops in the right eye. OTOH, I have to take two other drops, twice a day. No problem, as long as I can see what I'm doing from my unaffected right eye. And I reiterated my objection to having the cataracts removed from my right eye. I said I didn't care if the odds were 1 in 100,000. If I were THAT 1, then I would be left totally blind and I couldn't (and wouldn't) live with that. The other surgeon wasn't in, so I'm having the lasering done next Thursday before I see B-L again.
I had a really nice driver home as well and he was a few minutes early. As soon as I got in, I dropped my stuff, turned my walker around and went to the drugstore. I'd gotten a sample bottle of one eyedrop, but had to buy the second one. And then I actually did my grocery shopping. More flour and skim milk powder for baking; 'nanas; juice; milk (because I found yummy cereal in the cupboard); brie and smoked salmon to treat myself. And then I walked home on a day that wasn't too cold, though the streets were a little icy.
John left over 30 minutes ago. I graduated him from his nursing duties (but he had to stay nearly half an hour to read me the instructions). I told him that I would only be seeing him for social reasons from now on.
I've had a cherry hot drink and will be having the regular one for colds soon. And I hope I can actually sleep tonight. ::snuggles the wish piggies:: I'm also documenting hives on my left thumb and a feverish feeling. Oh, joy.
Anyway, really, I'm feeling more upbeat than I have in a long time, even though the road to recovery is not smooth. Optimistic hugs,
Helenka
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