(low tech: they mark the eye prepped for surgery with a sticker)
Having not responded to glaucoma medication, I told you I was to have eye surgery yesterday and again next Monday, one for each eye.
Glaucoma in a nutshell is that your eye or eyes do not drain properly, fluid builds up and the optic nerve is slowly destroyed. Permanently. There is no cure for glaucoma and you can't get anything back that you have lost, you can only try to keep it from getting worse. It also sometimes comes with light sensitivity and eye pain (Bono of U2 recently admitted that his trademark sunglasses had nothing to do with being cool: he has glaucoma too).
ANYWAY, the more research you do, the more you find that treatment involves the doctor trying different things on you as long as you live, different medicines, and a range of surgeries. I just had SLT where the surgeon uses a laser to cut 100 holes in your eye. (Not kidding!!!!) There is no sedative for the patient. Dammit.
I was checked in and examined and they found that my right eye, which is always worse than my left, was under way too much pressure to operate, and I sure as heck didn't want to go home, so told them to do my left then and try the right next week. So they redid the whole prep thing for my left. Everybody was so nice, and today it feels FINE, 100 percent normal, but yesterday it flipping' HURT. It was awful. The machine pictured here is like having your head strapped to a high power searchlight, and the procedure is like 100 hot flashbulbs with spikes. It made me panic at first, you canNOT move, you can't close your eyes. And it felt like somebody had just drilled 100 hot holes in my eye. With needles. Then left them there.
I hadn't passed out or died or anything, and so they sent me on my merry way...
There had been a delay in getting my prescriptions, so we needed to drive down to get them, about 15 minutes, then 20 minutes home. I couldn't open my eye and needed my sunglasses for the other eye, so the wife drove me to the store. Cold wind felt like we were doing the whole 100 holes thing again.
After an hour I was able to open my eyes OK and see better. Some of the pain was fading, and so we had the tacos, and wearing my sunglasses, did the only thing that seemed sensible: watched NAPOLEAN DYNAMITE. Pain kept me awake a little while last night, but this morning
I AM ONE HUNDRED PERCENT FEELING FINE :) Thanks for listening :) Next week, next eye….
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13 comments:
You are so brave. So glad to hear all about your ordeal and so sorry you had so much pain. It is good to hear the outcome was worth it. More beauty now can come from your hands cause you can see better!
Wow. Here I thought doing the colonoscopy without meds was boss. You are radical my friend.
Pretty amazing, isn't it? Good luck with recovery and with the next surgery
I just noticed the statement at the top of your blog; make it beautiful today.
Just what I needed today.
Glad you are feeling fine today. That's a scary thing to go through.
wishing you the best
I've been told there are some signs of this in my eyes. I understand the treatment starts with special eye drops. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I’m so glad it’s worked out well for you. What a relief.
HOLY CRAP, Gary! You just made my broken ankle seem like child's play. You are a rock star.
So I'm guessing a move to Boulder is out of the question. ;^) Hope you have as good an outcome with the next procedure. I had cataract surgery on both eyes last year and I know it's anxiety provoking to have your eyesight messed with.
One down and one to go. All the best for the next op. Hope the pressure has subsided in time.
Hey Gary. Hope the procedure on your right eye does just as well. Your experience helps remind us how precious our eyesight is.
<3
Wishing you all the best, Gary. (a new follower here)
Whoa! No meds or anything? I would need stiff drink. I'm so glad that you are okay. Best of luck with the other eye and hope this is the solution!
Sounds like some form of torture. Good luck enduring the next one.
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