LATER on Saturday

Another LONG day.  But I did have some company which was nice.  Jeanne R came around 9:30am and we had coffee together.  Then Gretchen came for lunch.  This afternoon about 5pm Giselle came for a visit.  Unfortunately they all had to listen to me complain about my various aches and pains and frustrations with the head down position.  George is being very patient with me.  Trouble is - nothing is making me particularly happy.  If I had a least one position that were comfortable that would help. But it is nice to see folks. I appreciate it.

I even took a walk outside.  I went about 1/2 a block but then I felt pretty stupid walking hunched over that I came back.

Barbara

Saturday Sept 20

Last night was a long night.  The pain meds did not seem to do the trick.  I guess I did finally sleep a little. when I woke up I did not want to get up because I dreaded sitting in the chair again. So I put on my audio tape and listened for a while.

George tried yet another attempt to find a way to support my arms while I use my computer.  This works a little bit better.

I am looking forward to some company today.  That will break things up a little.  I have to put drops in my eye 4 times a day so I know that there are 4 times that I can stand up straight.  That sure felt good this morning. 

Friday, Sept 19

No pain in my eye.  It is itching a bit.  I am hoping that taking the patch off today will help.  Though I will have blurry vision for a while.  I used the pain med last night not for pain but to help me sleep.  I don’t normally sleep on my stomach.  That helped.  My biggest problem is neck and shoulder (when I am on my chair and using the computer.  If I relax my head in the cushions my forehead and cheeks hurt. Plus when I am looking at something and move my head around I tense up.  Plus the way we have it my arms are just hanging.  Shoulders are getting very tired.  I can get up and walk around which helps but I still need to have the head forward and down.  Maybe I will build up strength and tolerance of this.  I am taking Advil for that.  Plus my shins bother me after a while with this kneeling.  I don’t how people tolerate the desk chairs that have this type of seat.  George is trying rig up some way for me to rest my elbows and relieve some of this strain.  We are not having much success.

We go soon to the doc.  At least then I get the patch off.  One irritation down. 

Friday morning we went to the clinic to have the patch removed and to have my initial post -op appointment.

Trying to smile - I have the patch off and that felt good.  

But then started a Very LONG Day.  When became increasingly more difficult. Though I had a nice visit with Kris and Sharon. They came over for lunch.  But during the day here is some thing I emailed to someone.

RESTing is not the problem but the EASY is.  You wouldn’t think that just a simple thing like keeping your head down would not change so much. I have all the things I normally like to do right at my finger tips.  My computer for work and play. my books, my TV.  I should be happy.  BUT I am not.  My shins are sore from kneeling on this massage chair, my neck and shoulders are sore because they dangle can’t really support them well, my forehead and cheeks are sore from supporting my head and even my chest is sore from leaning against this contraption.  At least my eye doesn't hurt.  I can walk around but I still have to keep my head down.  I can lie on my stomach but then what. …. Ask me if I am a happy camper.  And the doctor was not remotely sympathetic.  Oh well – one day at a time.  This too shall pass.  

I got some phone calls and that was nice.  I put in 2,257 steps yesterday!!  That is pacing in circles with my head down.  

Surgery Sept 18

The surgical process went fairly smoothly though there was a lot of waiting.  George hung around until I went in for surgery.  They gave me a general anesthetic instead of mild sedation since I kind of have a phobia about my eyes.

I felt fairly good when I got out of surgery - no nausea.  Started the head down position for the ride home.

My selfie.  :-) 

It did not take long to discover that the face down position is NOT comfortable.  But Thursday I was still a little drugged so I managed.  Very little eye discomfort.  I took some of the pain medicine to help me sleep.  Which they seemed to work ok.  

Preparing for surgery

I was scheduled for surgery with Dr Lee at St Vincent's hospital on Thursday, Sept 18.  They did a Vitrectomy with a gas bubble.  This meant that I would have to be face down for 7-10 days approximately.  I ordered a vitrectomy chair and a bunch of cushions to be used for sitting or sleeping.  It arrived on the Wednesday before the surgery.  I had time to get it all set up.   

The chair is like a modified massage chair.  The head is further forward. There is a little table that can be set up with a mirror to watch TV or see people.  We came up with a set up for my lap top.

I set up the sleeping cushion on the couch. I was afraid that if I put it in the bed that I would just roll over in my sleep and get comfortable.  I am not a stomach sleeper.

My surgery - end of July

I decided that I would treat this like my travels because I am finding that it us quite a trip.  And not one I want to do again any time soon.  So here is a little history which maybe more than any of you want to know.

Sometime after my last year's regular eye appointment I started noticing that when I was on the computer it was getting harder to read.  So I just thought I would need to have a new prescription when my annual check up came around.  Little did I know that something else was happening.    I went for my regular eye appointment and one test the eye doctor gave me was using the Amslers Grid
"The Amsler grid is a tool that eye doctors use to detect vision problems resulting from damage to the macula (the central part of the retina) or the optic nerve." amsler's grid

So after seeing my doctor he referred me to a retina specialist who then referred be to Retina NW.

HOME AGAIN

We all went to take the kids to their daycare.  They all were moving up a "grade" so they were going to new classrooms and new teachers.

Tristan and Laura - finding Tristan's place

Liam is not so sure about this.

 Laura went on to work, Wilhelm tried to catch up with so home stuff and Jeanne and I put our feet up and relaxed.  About 11 am we headed out to run some errands and then went to Olive Garden to have a leisurely and relaxing lunch before Jeanne took me to the airport.

My flight home was uneventful. As usual - even though I had a great time I always find it nice to come home.  George met me at the airport.  We were home by 8:15 pm