Oss
You'da done the same. Very pleased to see you again, best wishes.
Osso, WHEW
Welcome back sweetie. It is wonderful to see you posting and adding your unique self to a2k again.
You'll be sorry, I'm going to be too graphic before this party gets going.
So, backing up, the business about my eyes not being normal - many on a2k know I have a mild case of retinitis pigmentosa (very little change in the last 15 years, and I've had it all my life.) I've also got high eye pressure, not high enough to call it glaucoma, but borderline, and have been taking drops for that, as lots of people do.
Many people have temporarily high eye pressure after surgery and so when on my first check up the next morning my pressure was 48, (as opposed to, say, 15) it was not good but not cause for big alarm. I was given another set of drops to bring it down, plus the doctor pricks the eye (sorry) in the office to let out fluid. In the meantime, the doctor contacts the retinal specialist (people come from across the country to these folks and we talk about surgery on Wednesday the 21st.) I'm to come back in the afternoon. I come back and it is 58. More of the same, with some serious pills. I have talked to the doctor both nights. He keeps asking if I have brow pain or forehead pain. No. Come in early the next morning, in fact he picks me up and takes me to the office. 52. Well, the tide has turned, it's not getting as high as fast. Come back at 4 pm. I go to bed because of course my eye hurts and so on, and get up because it hurts too much. When I get up I notice my hands are cold and, besides that, my hands are jumping all around. I recognize this, it's shocky. Besides being in pain, I have been burping betty. I have projectile vomiting, good, now I feel a little better. I wander around the house deciding whether to go back to Dr's office early. Decide to pack a bag, since maybe the surgery will happen sooner. Pack a sloppy bag. Call business partner's husband, he takes me in. Pressure is 60. Now we know we have to do the surgery sooner. The eye is simply not flushing, even with all the medications that usually take care of it. We watch me in the office, pressure relieved and more drops, and get the next surgeon in on the decisions. In the meantime, business partner/friend has come to the office, and is there for the decision making. Immediate surgery, but the new surgery is at special center four hours south. Friends says of course she'll drive.
The new surgeon says, no, don't leave tonight, leave around 4 a.m. - he couldn't guarantee a surg room earlier because of saturday night trauma cases. So we have to maintain my pressure as low as possible til 4 a.m, plus the drive. Um, eye pressure is not good, too many hours of it will damage optic nerve, and influence negatively the results of next surgery. So, we start one of the drops every hour, and surgeon one makes an intermediate house call as I stay over at friend's house. Funny scene really, with the doberman bounding around and having to be coaxed out into the rain, and pacco sitting at a right angle to all of us. So now we do portable pressure check and portable eye nick. I can't remember the number, 40, I think. We are all glad we are acting.
Friend who is tired herself drives me to Santa Rosa, I get seen by new guy, he gets with some kerfluffle both an o.r. and a recovery pod, and there I go again. This is another local, but either a stronger one or it had a memory erase thing to it. In two hours, they flush out the offending lens piece(s) left and flush the network the eye drains through, all with particular effort not to hurt the retina. It turns out my retina is still ok.
Now the friend who drove me down has to go in a day to Alaska, so she has to rush back home, and so friend two takes charge, a pal who lives in Napa.
I skipped all the part about how I was going to take the Greyhound. That was until I had that shocky episode. Luckily, putting the surgery asap enabled my friend who had to go to Alaska to drive me, and the second friend wouldn't settle for just visiting but came for the operation and took me to their home afterwards instead me getting a motel.
We've been following the pressure, of course, post surgery two, and it has gone down and stayed down so far, though there is still some possiblilty for its going back up. I still don't see much out of the left eye, but this level of not seeing is apparently normal.
Surgeon two said it was really good we did the surgery when we did, that
waiting until Wednesday it would have been much more problematic.
Tomorrow an architect friend has cancelled her appointments and is driving from Willow Creek to Hopland (4 hours) and we'll transfer the body.. with a quick look at the winery if we can get there to sit and talk for a few minutes.
I tried to get into a2k yesterday but had to log in from Napa friend's house, and I couldn't figure out my i.d. and password. Doh. Today, I tried again, remembering the obvious, and voila.
So, my friends in Napa are serious wine connosieurs. I sit here with a glass of Chateau Souverain 1999 cabernet sauvignon, pleased, very pleased, to be back, and look, look, a party! Say, I can bring the wine cellar.........
truth
Osita, I'm glad to hear from you. Didn't think it would be so fast. Have you seen the retinal specialist yet? Is that coming up still? Well, it's a relief for all of us to know that you're alright. I know why St. Francis called his body "Brother Ass." There's always something.
Love, JLN
Osso - fascinating! How does the eye keep still for the pricking to release pressure?
Good grief, Osso, reading all that is nightmarish. You are a brave woman, even though you had to do it, you seem to get through bad times with grace and wit--and suffering that never seems to overwhem. You are amazing.
Glad to see you back, Osso. I was worried but although sadened to know you have been through so much. I've got my fingers crossed this medical crisis is over and that you will heal beautifully.
Ceili.
truth
Osso, how generous of you to give such a thorough account of your ordeal. My last post was written before your's came on screen, which is why my question was so stupid. Strange, but I was so relieved when you told us of your glass of wine--your return to normalcy. Hope you sleep well.
ossobuco wrote: Funny scene really, with the doberman bounding around and having to be coaxed out into the rain, and pacco sitting at a right angle to all of us.
This is one of many reasons why you're amazing. "Funny scene, really"????
So glad you're OK (?), thanks for the amazing updates. Yoiks.
Welcome back, osso. Glad to hear you're doing well. How could you not? You had all of our super power influence on karma.
Great to see you Osso. I'm glad you're doing so well.
Preparations for OSSO'S COMING-HOME PARTY are now underway at the palazzo. Come as you are...we will fix you up.
Everyone is invited!
(Please bring a gift for Osso.)
http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=530480#530480
Osso
Welcome back. You were truly missed girl.
(((hug)))
Thanks for the updates, osso - and indeed, a very cheerful welcome back!
So glad to see Osso back !! Now onwards to the party !!
Osso querida, Am I glad to see you posting? You betcha. Have a good trip home, bubbele.
