It's Been a Hard Day's Night

[gridlore]

What a difference 24 hours makes.

Yesterday about this time, I was sitting at the Byers Eye Institute waiting for yet another round of retinal photos and evaluations. We had been warned that this was going to be a longer appointment. So we were ready for that. What we weren't ready for was the parade of doctors, starting with the resident and ending up with a senior retinal surgeon coming to see me.

They determined that the retina in my left eye was starting to detach, which made surgery a bit more urgent. Since I hadn't eaten yet on Friday, we were sent over to Stanford Medical Center's ER for a fast COVID-19 test and immediate surgery. It was, as usual, a case of hurry up and wait. The only frustrating thing was the Giants were going for their 100th win of the season, and the only TV in the cavernous waiting room was tuned to ESPN, which was showing the Red Sox/Yankees game, and my vision was too blurry from the blizzard of eye drops I was in to ever follow that one very well. (Giants beat Colorado, 7-2!)

Eventually, they park me inside the ER department if only so I could charge my phone, and I'm taken up for surgery. Given the option, I go for a general anesthetic. Which turned out to be the better option, and my surgery on my left eye became quite involved. They installed a scleral buckle, "spot-welded" a couple of tears, and inserted a gas bubble to push the detached portion back into position (in addition to removing the excess tissue remaining from the original cataract surgery.)

At the moment my vision out of my left eye is very blurry, mainly due to the gas bubble. I've been instructed to keep a head-down posture whenever possible to keep the bubble in place, no worries there. But I can fucking see out of my left eye for the first time in about two weeks. The eye is very teary but that will resolve. I'm just on regular Tylenol for pain. Right now, it doesn't look like I'll need more surgery. We'll know more Thursday.

We're modifying our route to LA to avoid passing over Grapevine due to pressure changes, and hey, 101 is a prettier drive anyway. I will be wearing an eyepatch with a protective plate for the Avatar show. We might still go up to Griffith Park Observatory. Because I've never been.

We're still doing the GoFundMe because I'm not out of the woods quite yet and bills will still be becoming due. This will include new glasses once everything settles down. Thanks to everyone who has shared and supported the campaign, and every little bit helps.

Comments

[laurenthemself]

This is wonderful news!

[kevin_standlee]

I'm glad things are looking better -- and yet, that pun is intended -- soon. We are examining ways we can toss more money your direction for the costs. And yes, the drive down 101 is much better. Lisa and I haven't driven over the Grapevine for many years. Of course, now that we live in Fernley, our route to LA is to go to Bishop (where I lived for a couple of years when I was in high school), spend the night there in the Vagabond Inn, and then continue on to LA the next day. There was a time when we were younger when we'd do that trip in one day, but not anymore.

[kshandra]

Honestly, I think the only reason we were considering 5 this time is because Doug has never actually been to Casa de Fruta. (Usually if we want to make a quicker trip south we'll take 99 as far as possible, because it's at least not "miles and miles of miles and miles" the way 5 is.)

[kevin_standlee]

Ah, I see! Well, I've never been there myself.

[digitalsidhe]

So glad to hear the good news! Have fun in LA. Griffith Park is quite pretty, and I don't think the elevation is very high - I hope you can go.

Also, totally Go Giants!

[freyjaw]

Good news! The 101 is indeed prettier and has fewer trucks. We took that route when we moved down here to Wildomar. Admittedly, Casa de Fruta is a place worth seeing. Out here, we have to order the goodies, including the fantastic mead and so many preserves. The observatory sounds great. Have a great time!