Eye update... and other stuff

doctor with sense of humor (not my eye)

DH and I went to my 5 week post-op Eye appointment yesterday. I'm going to tell you how it went... could be TMI, so be prepared. Actually it wasn't pleasant, but not too bad.

me these days...

First of all, I didn't think the Doctor would take out the stent yet... but he did a few tests to see if my tear duct was open. This involves putting a long needle like instrument into the eye and irrigating it with water. They do use numbing drops first. Apparently since the water came through my nose and mouth, the tear duct was open.

They also sprayed some numbing stuff up my nose before putting another instrument up my nose to check on the stent (I guess that's what he was doing). Then he proceeded to use a tweezer like instrument to pull the stent out through the inner corner of my eye. Did it hurt? Yes, but not too bad. 

DH (who stayed in the room with me) said the stent was a long thin tube that was attached to a cord. When the doctor pulled it out, there was a pop.. and after pulling it out, he looked again and said that the knot at the end didn't come out, so he went back in and pulled that out. 

Done and Done! Said that I didn't need another appointment... unless I was worried about something. Said everything looked fine.

Told him my eye was still stinging a bit. He said that it probably would as pulling that stent out was like popping a rubber band in your eye... to use Systane as needed. 

This morning eye still watering quite a bit... and sore. Some swelling. But I'm thinking it will take a little time to get over the trauma (both the eye and me).

At one point he said to "try to relax... nothing bad is happening". I thought 'not to you'... but didn't say anything.

But hopefully this 6 month Eye ordeal is almost over. Now if my eye will just stop tearing and being blurry, I may be able to get back to reading (actually still reading, but it's a struggle), sketching, painting, etc. Perception is not good with one eye.

Hope I didn't bore you too much. Writing down what happened is really just for me - so I can go back and remember if needed.

Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes along the way. I'm sure it helped. I know it helped me to stop being so fearful. I've never been good about having people work in my mouth (dentists used to be top on my fear list). Now I have to add not liking people in my eye either. 

But I will say that this Eye Specialist is very good. At least everything he did or said worked out as he said it would. He doesn't have the best bed-side manner as he tends to be a little brusque... like saying "Stop talking!" or telling me the horrors that could happen if treatment is not taken, etc. But like Doc Martin on TV, he starts to grow on you, and we ended up liking him/trusting him despite it all. 

Better close this as it's getting too long.

Ending this with 2 pictures:

recent bobcat sighting (Isn't he handsome?)

and... 

Hairy Coo on my laptop (so cute)

and... (a reminder)

Hugs (virtually),

Rian