Doc said, "99.9%!"

I had a follow up appointment with my retina surgeon this afternoon, and I spent all weekend anxious and obsessing over what the "flashes" I started noticing recently meant.  They seem to occur only when my eyes are closed and only in a dark room.  Still, I assumed the worst, and I braced myself for bad news.  I never lost my sense of hope and continued to pray, but I had this nagging pit of doom in my gut.

Happily, I can report that my "gut" was wrong this time!  My doctor ordered an imaging procedure for both eyes to thoroughly evaluate and record my condition.  He said my surgery eye looks very good, and he even said that he was "99.9%" sure that my retina will not detach from that eye again - yes, 99.9%!  Wow!  This is absolutely WONDERFUL news!  Of course, I am left with a cataract for which the surgery to remove it would be considered "elective," but considering where I was two months ago, a cataract is nothing over which to fret!

Tempering the excellent news, of course, was the unexpected.  My right eye, which I consider my "good eye," needs a little patch job (my words, not my surgeon's) for more lattice degeneration.  Fortunately, this is a procedure that can be done in the clinic, so I will not need to be admitted to the hospital.  I am also supposed to be able to go back to work the next day.  Obviously, this is immeasurably easier than the vitrectomy I endured for my left eye, so I should be happy.  If this treatment will prevent a detached retina in my right eye, of course that would be wonderful.  I just had hoped not to need any procedures for my "good eye."  However, I shall not be greedy.  I shall dutifully report back in two weeks for the laser procedure, and I will follow any instructions given to me.  I don't fool around with my vision.

So, my next steps are:
1. Laser treatment to right eye for lattice degeneration.
2. Meeting with cornea specialist about my cataract "options" for my left eye.
3. Figure out what all this will cost me through my high deductible insurance plan.

Sadly, it's the latter that troubles me the most.  The cost of healthcare is scary, even with insurance!  But, it's worth it, and I am thankful to live in a place where this type of healthcare is available, even if it does nearly bankrupt me.  (Thankfully, Kaiser takes payment plans!)

Overall, the news was very good today.  It is a relief to be "out of the woods" on my left eye, and the laser treatment for my right eye, while probably costly, should prevent a detachment in my "good eye."  There is still hope for a full recovery yet!

I cannot thank God enough for answering so many prayers, and I cannot thank my family and friends enough for bugging God with so many prayers about me.  Today is a day of gratitude!

Ding dong the bubble's gone... the wicked bubble's gone!

My gas bubble has been shrinking all week, and overnight it FINALLY disappeared!  This was the first morning I woke up without a weird bubble in my field of vision since the middle of November!  Regaining my full field of vision is awesome, but what's more awesome, I think, is being able to lie on my back again!  I have always been a side sleeper, but I really miss stretching out on my back before rolling over to sleep.

I am a cautious patient, however, and as such, I am nervous to consider the gas bubble gone until my doctor confirms it.  (Who knows? Maybe there is some residual I cannot detect with my own eyes.)  My next appointment is January 31, which is a little over a week away.  If he confirms I'm all clear, I'll officially be able to lie on my back AND travel over 3,000 feet!  OMG, Lake Tahoe, here I come!  I don't ski, but I do like to make it up to see the snow at least once a year.

Sure, I still have this cataract clouding my vision, but underneath that, I feel pretty confident my retina is healing as well as I could have hoped.  Today, I am thankful for this progress!  I'll worry about that cataract another day.  :)

My two-month anniversary

Not much new to report today, but I noticed today is January 18th.  Since my surgery was on November 18th, that makes today my "two-month anniversary."  I have definitely come a long way since the vicodin, eye patch, and face down equipment!  It is crazy to think, though, that I have not been able to lay on my back in two months!  I'm hoping my gas bubble will go away by February and my doctor will give me the thumbs up to stretch out on my back.  It's odd to crave a particular stretch, but I really do.  In general, though, things are lookin' up - no pun intended.  I hope things are EVEN better for my three-month anniversary!  :)

Tiny bubbles... in my eye

It has been almost 9 weeks since my surgery, and no, I'm still not "better."  Well, I guess I am better than I was when my retina was detached, but when people ask, "Are you all 'better' now?," I think they usually mean, "You're back to normal, right?"  Normal is relative, as I have explained in previous posts.  I am back to work, back to driving, back to wearing my contact lenses, and in most ways, back to doing the things I did before my surgery... well, you know, everything except seeing 20/20.  Still, seeing well in one eye (or at all, really) is a blessing for which I remain thankful, and I am more and more hopeful for a full recovery as time goes on.

Lately, I have been experiencing the breaking up of the gas bubble in my eye.  The main bubble is shrinking in size, and as it does, smaller bubbles break off.  At first, the "friend" bubbles, as I call them, are the size of pin pricks, but they usually grow into a pencil eraser top size.  They tend to circle the main bubble like moons orbiting a planet, and when I tip my head side to side, I can make them move.  It's bizarre and fascinating and sometimes distracting, but I take it be a very good sign of progress.  Eventually, often in my sleep, these friend bubbles go away, and I am left with the ever shrinking main bubble, which is breaking up, getting smaller, and on its way to dissipating altogether.  I look forward to the morning I wake up to find it gone.

I have not updated my blog since Christmas Eve, and I am happy to report my spirits are much better than they were at the end of last year.  With this bubble shrinking, I finally feel like I am "on the other side" of this thing.  Sure, I will have to decide when to have a cataract surgery at some point in the future, but right now, I am getting along with the vision I have.  Feeling like I have some control over my care (i.e. when to have my next surgery) is empowering.  If only I had control over the recovery.  Patience and adaptability remain the keys to my sanity through this recovery... well, patience, adaptability, and a lot of prayers.  Thanks to all those who have and who continue to pray for my recovery.

My next follow up with the retina ophthalmologist is January 31.  I hope to have good news to share with you that day.  In the mean time, I will continue to live the best way I can.