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A dog, Husband & CD player (Reply to this comment)
by Mrsfitts
My 13 yr old puppy lost the vision totally in his right eye when his retina detatched after cataract surgery in both eyes. He only has "day vision" left in his left eye, so we have lined our home with night lights (not red -dogs can't see red lights) and changed the stair grill lights from white to blue and 25 watt yellow at the bottom step. We used every electrical socket (every 9 feet in our 1997 built home -our 1950's home would've been a problem!)
Now, the husband comment. My husband lost the genetic lottery when it came to the deterioration of his spinal column up by his neck. As the discs deteriorate, they pinch on certain nerves causing pain from annoying to labor. During a particularly bad pain time, he couldn't sit up, couldn't lay on either side, couldn't go to work for a month -the 10 min car ride sent him back to the fetal position. The drugs they gave him left him groggy and not able to focus, so I started to read to him. He could keep his eyes closed and let my voice weave stories to his imagination. I did the entire Harry Potter series (yes, a children's book, but easy to understand if one is in pain & on drugs) then I moved to some David Weber and Elizabeth Moon and Anne McCaffrey.
The pain is now "managed" and when the time comes down the road for surgery (they're waiting until whatever docs wait for) then I'll find some new books to read... maybe Lemony Snicketts?
In the meantime, I have a job that's sometimes mindless (they laid off all the cable makers to save money so technicians now build miles of cables) and I listen to books on tape or cd. They use stars to read (Adrienne Barbeau, Judith Light, Q from Star Trek, etc) who act out the various voices and make it seem like you're listening to a play. All the John Grisham books are fantastic on audio!! I have every one that Anne McCaffrey made, and the entire Star Wars collection with most of the original cast reading it as well as trashy romance and Star Trek episodes. I use the tapes when I need portability (working in the garden, or moving around at work) and the CDs for when I have hours of bench work.
Good luck in your every day battle to recover. It's hard, but worth the fight!
Pam
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Feb 06 '05
7:21 am PST
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Found You Over At My Place This Morning... (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
...which is, hopefully, a sign that you're getting back to normal!
Will check out your latest and see if you are.
At least, you had a device where you could get out of bed, which made me feel better when thinking of you, because I was wondering how on earth you'd be able to go to the bathroom while lying on your stomach!
Hugs!
AJ :o)
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Dec 21 '04
8:00 am PST
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Hope you're doing ok! (Reply to this comment)
by BeastieGirl
My grandfather had the same condition- twice! Once twenty years ago, and then just recently- very scary!
I hope everything is going well for you!
regards,
Echo
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Dec 17 '04
12:50 pm PST
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! (Reply to this comment)
by jankp
I'm so sorry to hear of your problems, gung. Hope they're better now!
Jan
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Nov 09 '04
12:11 am PST
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I wish you the best (Reply to this comment)
by jo.com
hopefully all will be ok. The essay is so important not only to alert us to quick intervention but to remind us to not put off tomorrow what can be done today (or you want to do today!). I too learned that the hard way. Take care. PS I want to use your "write on" but every time I write "keep writing" I think of you and hope those two words aren't too close to "write on". jo
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Oct 11 '04
3:27 pm PDT
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It Goes Almost Without Saying . . . (Reply to this comment)
by DAnneC
We all want you back reading and writing on, and contributing to our learning and our lives.
Best,
Darla
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Oct 10 '04
4:44 pm PDT
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Take it easy (Reply to this comment)
by AliventiAsylum
and let everyone take care of yourself. I will be thinking of you during the day tomorrow.
Best wishes,
Patti
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Oct 10 '04
4:16 pm PDT
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How I wish I lived closer (Reply to this comment)
by SurgRN911
What a perfect time to torture the hell out of you. Wouldn't you agree? :)
Hang in there bro you know you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Lord knows I'll extra one's said for Mrs. G
Love ya!
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Oct 09 '04
7:22 pm PDT
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Good Luck (Reply to this comment)
by Rosalyce
I hope everything goes smoothly for you. My hubby has had two surgeries for detached retina and also has a small macular pucker but it isin't bothering him yet. He sees his doctor regularly to keep an eye on things!
Take care,
Rosalyce
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Oct 09 '04
6:30 pm PDT
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I'm sorry... (Reply to this comment)
by gaelkm
...for your vision trouble, Mr. G. I have great hope that all will be well with your right eye though. My Mother developed a macular hole about 5 years ago and had it operated on. She says it is not perfect, but it is far better than before her surgery. God Bless. Hope you get well soon!
~gael
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Oct 09 '04
1:11 pm PDT
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The whole thing (Reply to this comment)
by NoniaBidnis
sounds scary and very "unfun", but hopefully worth it. I agree with Ed that audiobooks might help fill the time, but am stumped for other suggestions. Hang in there, that's an order!
Will be thinking of you and sending you good, healing vibes.
xoxo,
Susan
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Oct 09 '04
10:43 am PDT
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You'll be...... (Reply to this comment)
by kamel622
.....in my thoughts and prayers! My goodness, this is a heck of a way to get a rest, isn't it? I'm sure for you the laying around will be the toughest part.
We'll miss you, but look forward to hearing from you in November. God Bless Gung.....kath
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Oct 09 '04
7:41 am PDT
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Gungian . . .` (Reply to this comment)
by ed_grover
so sorry to hear of your ordeal. The starring at the floor would drive me bonkers, too, not to mention what you went through before you found out what was wrong. As for boredom, what about being able to listen to a recorded book? Good luck and do keep us informed.
Ed
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Oct 09 '04
7:40 am PDT
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I Hope Your Ordeal Will End Soon.... (Reply to this comment)
by tombarnes
What a horrible ordeal! My prayers are with you Gung. Tom Barnes
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Oct 09 '04
7:26 am PDT
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Damn Gung... (Reply to this comment)
by drdevience
That sucks, to be quite blunt about it.
Things like this should not happen to folks like you.
I'll be thinking about you.
Doc
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Oct 09 '04
7:09 am PDT
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What an experience... (Reply to this comment)
by serc
Good luck, stay well, and we'll "see" you in November!
-Sara R-C
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Oct 09 '04
6:17 am PDT
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Dragon Hugs! (Reply to this comment)
by thedragonweyr
Good grief man, what an awful experience! I hope you come through it in good shape and the surgery is successful.
I had a similar (if way less serious) experience this summer - vision in my right eye became peculiar and I no longer needed my reading glasses but could not see well at distances, driving was not fun. It turned out to be a funny kind of cataract that affects people from their 20s on!
My surgery was not nearly as icky as yours, however, and I only had to wear my Speed Racer goggles for a few days.
So, listen up all you youngsters out there! Gungian is right, get your eyes checked regularly and heed unusual symptoms, like more "floaters", by getting to an eye doctor right away.
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery,
Huge Dragon Hugs!
Pamela
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Oct 09 '04
5:02 am PDT
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Hi (Reply to this comment)
by proxam
Good luck with that.
Drew
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Oct 09 '04
4:19 am PDT
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Wow! (Reply to this comment)
by Yzerman
I am so sorry to hear this. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Diane
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Oct 08 '04
5:01 pm PDT
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Best wishes (Reply to this comment)
by pmills1210
I hope your recovery goes as swiftly as planned, if not better. Thanks for sharing!
Sincerely, Pat
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Oct 08 '04
4:57 pm PDT
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I certainly know... (Reply to this comment)
by cr01
what you mean about taking good care of your eyes. My family have a large history of glaucoma; although it annoyes the hell out of me, I know my regular and frequent eye checks are a must.
Wishing you the best of luck with your forthcoming op. I certainly don't envy you staring at the floor for a couple of weeks; ever thought of rigging something up using mirrors??
Chris
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Oct 08 '04
1:55 pm PDT
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hey there... (Reply to this comment)
by sleeper54
..
Wow!
Talk about a 'crash course' in new medical terminology and procedures!
I am sure it has been quite a learning experience for you.
I suppose the presence these days of this vast information portal called
'the internet' might be considered a blessing or a curse.
Godspeed on your recovery!
...tom...
"The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity."
—Lucius Annaeus Seneca
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Oct 08 '04
11:08 am PDT
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You.... (Reply to this comment)
by Lisa_J
certainly have been --and continue to go through-- a lot! My Father had a vision related crisis a couple years back... I know these sort of medical ordeals are intense. Take care! Best wishes, hugs and prayers~~ Lisa
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Oct 08 '04
9:23 am PDT
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Wow! (Reply to this comment)
by Birdfeather
You take it easy and don't over do it and strain that eye!
Karen
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Oct 08 '04
8:57 am PDT
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