This Week in My Eye(s):
This week in my Eye(s):
Surgery day, 5/4/10: There is a actually a fair bit more to say about the surgery other than Monday night’s “ow, ow, ow…” I’ve mentioned that there was a lot to clean up. Post-op talking to my doc I asked about the improvement in vision in my left eye my appointment in February had led me to believe would be the case, and he seemed almost offended, and seemed to be saying (in hindsight) “Yeah, not so much, but we saved the eye… .” Terri later verbalized it better than I could, and she said it appeared that once he got in and had a real time 3d view of the eye there was a _lot_ more retinopathy that he expected, and that my future vision may well have been more in danger than he had previously indicated. Thus the change in emphasis. When we left I had every intention of not filling the prescription for oxycodone but we stopped at Le Peep for brunch-ish and before we got home I had changed my mind. We dropped off the scrip on the way home, and by noon Terri had picked it up and I have not regretted it (all gone now…) (I should say it was only 15 tablets and you can take them every 3 hours). Interestingly, though I was in pain, I slept through the night. I had been concerned that the 3 hour life of the oxycodone would mean that, oh about 3.5 hours after the last one I would wake up, but not so much.
Bryan called to wish me luck on the surgery. Thought the surgery was tomorrow, or I rather think he wouldn’t have called. Still much appreciated. Gestation of the “500 times, on your brain!” statement.
Wednesday 5/5/10:
From an email I sent a friend:
“Today I remain tired, but the “ow” is much lessened. At the follow-up appointment today the doc was so impressed with the lack of swelling, signs of infection, or crap, including oozing blood [inside my vitreous replacement] that he moved a one week follow-up to three weeks. No limitations on sleep positions, reading, or computing; no getting jostled or shaken, nothing too strenuous physically. The oxyocodone makes food taste funny, and vision in my left eye is blurry, but noticeably less blurry than before the surgery. The stitches will have completed dissolved in six weeks, at which time I can quit using the pupil dilating drops. After that, I can get an updated vision test and get new glasses. Today I am very tired, and both eyes are fairly strained, but the only time I need a shield/patch over my left eye is in bed at night. Drops three times a day: antibiotic, steroid for inflammation, and the pupil dilation drops.
The doc said that this was just the results of being almost 32 years a type 1 diabetic.
The surgery was certainly interesting. Having the inside of your eye lasered (sp?) is like having someone flicking a pencil eraser against the inside of your head sharply ... 500 times.”
I had hoped to sleep the day away, and did not take my Concerta (time release Ritalin) to aid in that. No joy (as my Air Force friend says). Same the next couple of days, though goodness knows I was tired.
Thursday 5/6/10:
Maybe today is the day I will be less tired? Nope, still wrecked. Talked to a friend on the phone, watched a movie, sat in the easy chair and stared at the inside of my eyelids. Really intended to post. Had my priorities in order, and did not post. Laser quote matured as
“At least 500 zaps. Looks like smallish blue balls of light on a black background, from inside. Feels like someone firmly flicking the soft(ish) end of a pencil eraser against your BRAIN, 500 TIMES!!”
Friday 5/7/10:
I might note that there were also five shots and 3 incisions… in MY EYE! One reason to mention that, other than to uselessly complain, is that yesterday and today my eye does not hurt so much inside, but I can feel the stitches inside my eye lids and the pain meds help. Still tired, still no naps. I slept until 10:00 and went to bed at 9:30, which was good. Because…
Saturday 5/8/10:
Today I am on Daddy duty. Terri had a thing, most of the day. I am glad she enjoyed it. I was worried about getting through the day without lifting my more than 15# son, but when required I lifted with my legs and he helped, as he was able. We went to the mall and bought Mother’s Day gifts, rode bouncy rides 3 times (him, not me: no bouncy for me), and after nap went back to the mall picked up my phone which a nice person had given to Security. Then went to the farm fresh butcher place and bought Terri a lamb chop, and Thomas and I steaks, because I don’t like lamb and we are not inclined to chance Thomas on it yet. But Terri loves to eat the little baa baa baas. Employee’s recommendation on a lamb chop: rosemary and garlic. I made it through the day, and Thomas was a gem and I was never cross or impatient with him. But I was completely worn out by the time Terri got home.
Sunday 5/9/10:
I am a little surprised at how much my eye hurts today. I also think there is a weird thing going on where the fact that I am seeing better in my left eye has left me a little nauseous and a lot headachy. I am surprised (probably wrongly) at times at how little my drops make me feel better, but then, they are not supposed to make me feel better, they’re supposed to make me _heal_ better. Less comforting, but more useful. And tomorrow? Back to work. Yay?
Surgery day, 5/4/10: There is a actually a fair bit more to say about the surgery other than Monday night’s “ow, ow, ow…” I’ve mentioned that there was a lot to clean up. Post-op talking to my doc I asked about the improvement in vision in my left eye my appointment in February had led me to believe would be the case, and he seemed almost offended, and seemed to be saying (in hindsight) “Yeah, not so much, but we saved the eye… .” Terri later verbalized it better than I could, and she said it appeared that once he got in and had a real time 3d view of the eye there was a _lot_ more retinopathy that he expected, and that my future vision may well have been more in danger than he had previously indicated. Thus the change in emphasis. When we left I had every intention of not filling the prescription for oxycodone but we stopped at Le Peep for brunch-ish and before we got home I had changed my mind. We dropped off the scrip on the way home, and by noon Terri had picked it up and I have not regretted it (all gone now…) (I should say it was only 15 tablets and you can take them every 3 hours). Interestingly, though I was in pain, I slept through the night. I had been concerned that the 3 hour life of the oxycodone would mean that, oh about 3.5 hours after the last one I would wake up, but not so much.
Bryan called to wish me luck on the surgery. Thought the surgery was tomorrow, or I rather think he wouldn’t have called. Still much appreciated. Gestation of the “500 times, on your brain!” statement.
Wednesday 5/5/10:
From an email I sent a friend:
“Today I remain tired, but the “ow” is much lessened. At the follow-up appointment today the doc was so impressed with the lack of swelling, signs of infection, or crap, including oozing blood [inside my vitreous replacement] that he moved a one week follow-up to three weeks. No limitations on sleep positions, reading, or computing; no getting jostled or shaken, nothing too strenuous physically. The oxyocodone makes food taste funny, and vision in my left eye is blurry, but noticeably less blurry than before the surgery. The stitches will have completed dissolved in six weeks, at which time I can quit using the pupil dilating drops. After that, I can get an updated vision test and get new glasses. Today I am very tired, and both eyes are fairly strained, but the only time I need a shield/patch over my left eye is in bed at night. Drops three times a day: antibiotic, steroid for inflammation, and the pupil dilation drops.
The doc said that this was just the results of being almost 32 years a type 1 diabetic.
The surgery was certainly interesting. Having the inside of your eye lasered (sp?) is like having someone flicking a pencil eraser against the inside of your head sharply ... 500 times.”
I had hoped to sleep the day away, and did not take my Concerta (time release Ritalin) to aid in that. No joy (as my Air Force friend says). Same the next couple of days, though goodness knows I was tired.
Thursday 5/6/10:
Maybe today is the day I will be less tired? Nope, still wrecked. Talked to a friend on the phone, watched a movie, sat in the easy chair and stared at the inside of my eyelids. Really intended to post. Had my priorities in order, and did not post. Laser quote matured as
“At least 500 zaps. Looks like smallish blue balls of light on a black background, from inside. Feels like someone firmly flicking the soft(ish) end of a pencil eraser against your BRAIN, 500 TIMES!!”
Friday 5/7/10:
I might note that there were also five shots and 3 incisions… in MY EYE! One reason to mention that, other than to uselessly complain, is that yesterday and today my eye does not hurt so much inside, but I can feel the stitches inside my eye lids and the pain meds help. Still tired, still no naps. I slept until 10:00 and went to bed at 9:30, which was good. Because…
Saturday 5/8/10:
Today I am on Daddy duty. Terri had a thing, most of the day. I am glad she enjoyed it. I was worried about getting through the day without lifting my more than 15# son, but when required I lifted with my legs and he helped, as he was able. We went to the mall and bought Mother’s Day gifts, rode bouncy rides 3 times (him, not me: no bouncy for me), and after nap went back to the mall picked up my phone which a nice person had given to Security. Then went to the farm fresh butcher place and bought Terri a lamb chop, and Thomas and I steaks, because I don’t like lamb and we are not inclined to chance Thomas on it yet. But Terri loves to eat the little baa baa baas. Employee’s recommendation on a lamb chop: rosemary and garlic. I made it through the day, and Thomas was a gem and I was never cross or impatient with him. But I was completely worn out by the time Terri got home.
Sunday 5/9/10:
I am a little surprised at how much my eye hurts today. I also think there is a weird thing going on where the fact that I am seeing better in my left eye has left me a little nauseous and a lot headachy. I am surprised (probably wrongly) at times at how little my drops make me feel better, but then, they are not supposed to make me feel better, they’re supposed to make me _heal_ better. Less comforting, but more useful. And tomorrow? Back to work. Yay?