OT September Chit Chat

[Cat Dancer]

Well,I did have the cataract surgery on my right eye. The surgery for the "wrong eye" (left eye) will be in two weeks. I am off to the eye doctor this morning for a follow up. I must say, though, that I am disappointed. More than a few people assured me that I'd notice an.improvement right away once the meds wore off. But here it is the morning after, and I really don't notice much improvement at all. Oh well. The eye doctor had warned me that there,might not be, given the macular degeneration I also have. I hate it when they're right..

The surgery itself went fine. I told them how squeamish I was about my eyes, so they increased the anesthesia. I was out entirely, remember nothing. I was in a room being prepared for surgery.I remember the anesthesia guy coming in and telling me he was going to administer the drug before they took me down for surgery. Then I became aware that I was in that room but my right eye itched...and I was informed that I was taken out of the room,had the surgery, and was back. Oh. Anyway, I'm thinking I went through this for nothing.

[Howie]

"I've got nothing to say, but it's okay,
good morning, good morning, good morning."

[Frog42]

I wish the surgery had better results for you, Cat.

[agate]

Cat, I think it's perfectly amazing that you're back already and able to post! I don't know how other people react to anything invasive like surgery but I'd give myself a couple of weeks at least, just to let things "settle" a bit.

The doctor may have told you you could expect instant improvement shortly after the surgery but the MS might not have been figured into the equation.

Cherie, your experience with the almost-injection of Lidocaine is one more instance of how careful we have to be. And I thought that someone in the medical field probably had no problem getting medical care providers to pay attention!

We really have to look carefully at what is being done and question anything we have doubts about.

Gary, Portland does seem to have had record-breaking heat spells this summer--not just high temperatures, over 100' sometimes, but long stretches of time when it didn't seem to get below 90'. The nights were almost always cool enough to get along without air conditioning, though. Or at least for me they were but I'm lucky enough to be facing north. I prefer an apartment that faces north. It's a lot cooler, has no glare, and is a pleasant light, I think.
There are a lot of plants that need more sun than they get with a north exposure though.

Hope you can rest and take care of yourself, Jeanie. It sounds as if you're being stretched to the absolute limit.

[Howie]

Agate, you forgot me! My SpongeBob thong is getting pretty tight. Don't you wish for me it doesn't snap?

[Cat Dancer]

Well, I'm back from the eye doctor. He assured me that all was well. That in fact it will take a few days for improvement to show up, but I could expect some little bit every day. It is weird...I drop my glasses and stare at this screen, for example, and I can read the type...but all is wavy, up and down across the page! Before I would not have been able to read the type at all. so maybe there is hope. Anyway, he said I need to be patient. I'm not a patient patient, though. Anyway. That's all from here.

[Virginia]

Howie, please don't let it snap, the rest of us would be just too embarrassed for words.

Agate, you have been a busy lady with appointments, etc. I can only do one (sometime possibly two) per week. I become overwhelmed when I have to get myself to these appointments and back home and make all the decisions that go with seeing a Doctor.

Cherie, like Agate, I would have thought someone as well connected and versed in the medical system would have been listened to. I am highly disappointed that they were so hard to get along with. This is another reason you need to advocate for us lay people when it comes to drugs. If they treat you the way these people did, just think what they would pull with the rest of us.

Cat, sorry you are thus far disappointed with the cataract surgery. I know you have said that you believe it to be possibly due to the macular degeneration. I also wondered if possibly the surgery was done just a little too soon. If so, then you would not get the benefits that others more progressed would get. I don't know this to be true, since I have had no experience with cataract surgery, but this did occur to me.

Jeanie, I am glad you are trying to rest some. I know you are really beat. In addition to all that you have been doing I think the emotional strain is probably tiring you out also. I do hope that Jamie is at least resting comfortably in Hospice. From all you have told us I just don't see how she could go through surgery again unless it is very, very minor.

Gary, sorry you are feeling so tired and worn out. However, I can relate to it since I have also been that way. I did not even turn on the computer yesterday. I think mine may be coming from not sleeping. Night before last I got less than 3 hours and it really has a very detrimental affect on me. Maybe doing just a little something in your A/C garage would help you feel more alive, but listen to your body and if you are having a hard time, just stop.

Hi Ann, Vicky, Nuthatch, Linda and all others.

[Howie]

Cat, like the doctor said, give it some time, and stay positive. I had eye surgery for a detached retina, eyes and needles...and...I can't talk about it. And this doctor didn't want to knock you out. After the surgery, it did improve each day. Wishing you the best!

[Cherie]

Cat,
When I had the first eye done it almost seemed worse to me. Never really got great but is quite usable for distance starting about three weeks after the surgery. They discovered I had multiple corneal abrasions (probably from the NSAID drops) so stopped a drop then three days later they stopped the steroid drops as the abrasions were still not healing. Second eye they did with only the antibiotic drops. I saw immediately better with that eye and still do to this day than with the one that was done first. Don't get discouraged.

I got an email last evening from PCORi (The Patient Centered Office of Research Initiation). It is an umbrella organization for patient powered Research in 10 major diseases and several rare or orphan illnesses and it is based out of the National Institutes of Health. They offered me a full scholarship to attend their third annual meeting in Arlington, VA October 6-8. It seems like it will nicely add to the information I got at the Risk Benefit Conference last week in Bethesda. I'm excited but exhausted. Still haven't fully recovered from the last trip and yesterday's fiasco at the hospital did not help. Anyway...I already have a patient education program set for October 22 at the MS Dream Center in Cranston, RI to talk about how people can become more involved in research as a patient. All of this push for patient powered research is apparently one of the Mandated components of the Affordable Care Act. I would have to say that the idea is good! Don't waste time and money on research if the end user has no interest in the final product, it is out of reach financially or the risks are too great.

Later...I'm too tired to even think at the moment.

[Howie]

Isn't intuition a wonderful thing? This morning, the forecast was for rain the next three days. I just didn't want to mow today, and thought I would just cut it early tomorrow before the rain starts.

I just looked at the forecast, and tomorrow, they are calling for clear, a high of 69, THEN three days of rain. So tomorrow, I'll cut the grass in the nice cool temps, and thank my intuition!

[SalpalSally]

Hello y'all. Happy to see you. Things are going slowly but surely here. Cymbalta is not working on my panic disorder yet, so my strength wanes a bit during transfers, but still am doing them OK under the watchful eye of my caregiver. If it doesn't work pretty soon I'm going back to Prozac. At least it was working some.

Agate you are so right, the older you get the longer it takes just to do the basic things.

Cherie, darn good thing you were on the ball. I tried to stay alert to what was being given to me in the hospital as well. I always asked before I took it or let them send it thru my veins.

Cat, sorry. I hope, with time, your new eyesight will improve a bunch.

Gary, I know how you feel. You are still healing and you need to sit and veg awhile. Take care of yourself.

Jeanie, you too need rest. I don't know how you keep up the pace.

Thinking of you all!!!!

[Howie]

......sniff.......and again, no mention of...sniff...poor Howie.....sniff. They don't love me...sniff...any more. At least I still have my sweet kitty cats....sniff.....here Sam, come to OUCH!!! LET GO!!!

[SalpalSally]

Sam is afraid to get to close......your thong might snap!!!

[agate]

Howie, Sam and Seven are complaining that you've been whining again, I think. You're supposed to hop to it and pull treats out of nowhere.

They've heard about a human being who can snap his fingers and--PRESTO! a bunch of cat treats appears. They're seriously thinking of interviewing him for the job you now have.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. Andy called the hospice nurse at 3 AM day before yesterday and she got Jamie transported to hospice. Jamie answered questions yesterday in between sleeping. This morning she answered Andy twice then quit talking at all.

She has an IV and is getting nausea and pain meds by IV every 4 hours. She no longer responds to any questions but I feel she hears us. She also has oxygen on. She does not want any food or water, she seems to just be shutting down slowly. Andy is sleeping in her room on a recliner. Her Mother is coming back later tonight and will sleep on the sofa. I hope this is a short stage and God takes her home soon.

I spent about 5 hours there. Andy called me when she stopped answering him. All of Jamie's family came during the afternoon and evening and Jim and Carla came too. I will be going back in the morning. Please say some prayers for us. Thanks, Jeanie :)