Greetings!
Another eventful week--even though most of it was spent doing nothing with Allie and I sleeping a lot--lol! I wasn't sure why she was so fascinated...
Apparently the inflammation has moved into (or was all along) the inside or back of my eye. They tried to get pictures of the inside of that eye. Used two machines. Got another person to come in and grip my head still. I had tried so hard not to move. Didn't think I had. It made me feel like it was my fault they couldn't get a picture. Couldn't see what they wanted me to look at so tried to look wherever direction they described to me. Bright lights hurt and made me blink and eye water. Couldn't open my eye all the way. Neither machine was successful. Went back to the room and they dilated my eye. Dr. Breen tried to look inside, too, but couldn't see. They couldn't see inside and I couldn't see much looking out.
Called in another male doctor to do an ultrasound on my eye. He called in another guy. The two of them seemed baffled by the "mystery" in my eye. I tried to tell them about my compromised immune system and the Keytruda aftereffects but they paid little attention. Even though I had done some researching online during the week and read about the eye issues previously mentioned in summaries (uveitis, for one) which seem to correlate with autoimmune diseases even though there is often not a known cause if it isn't an injury. They both seemed a bit freaked out and confused, Leah and I thought. (She was in the original room with me the whole time except when they took me off to the two picture machines for a long time.) They threw out numerous possibilities of what it could be. Said I needed to see this other doctor so he could take a sample of the fluid in my eye in order to determine what they were dealing with in order to treat it.
Left with an appointment at 8am on Friday with this Dr. Ridgeley.
Thinking about a needle in the eye...well, I didn't get a lot of sleep.
Friday morning Leah and I were there to meet this additional doctor. We were both so impressed! He was calm and didn't act freaked out like those other two guys or the nurses trying to get those pictures. First of all, he asked me about whether I had an autoimmune disease...and listened when I filled him in. He dilated my eye. Told me that because of all the inflammation my eye was not dilating properly. Tried dilating it again. Said he couldn't see well enough. Told me he wanted me on dilation drops 3X a day and to take the steroid drops every 2 hours I am awake and he wanted me back on Monday.
As soon as he left the room Leah and I talked about how calm he was and how he seemed to actually know more, etc. I may still get a needle in the eye tomorrow, but I do trust this doctor more...like I trusted Dr. Breen.
Also, a bit scary when I heard fibrotic membrane or something like that when the two guys were discussing the ultrasound with the poor pictures. Who knows what is going on.
Meanwhile, I rewatch Vera in dim light with one dilated eye and a painful hand and feet. Slept 12 hours Friday night-lol!
I caught Allie playing with the white bouncy toy on the top of the cat tree.
She's suddenly been back up there again/
The card for this week. :)
I think I am pretty comfortable. I know I do not know everything, that's for sure. But I do have that "stubborn Swede" side to me, too--lol! How about you?
Anyways, that's it for this week. I hope we can find out something about this eye. I probably won't get a lot of sleep tonight, either--lol! Sorry that I still haven't been able to write letters. I have tried to make a few comments while I can on some blogs. Reading almost all of them, also, when I can. Thank you so much for coming around to say hi every week. Thank you for the cards and letters. Means the world to me. Till next week. Thinking positive. Fingers crossed.
14 comments:
Thank you for the update, and I sure hope the new doctor can help. It's reassuring that he listens to you and specifically asked about autoimmunity. ❤️
I'm wrong so often I've got fine with it! I hope so much for a good diagnosis for your eye issues. And good treatment. And calm knowledgeable doctors. I was so pleased to see your comment on my blog, knowing how hard it is for you to do it. Thank you.
I am pleased this latest doctors seems to know what he is doing and didn't get freaked out by your eye, I am amazed you are able to write a post once a week with how bad your eye is.
That sounds like some appointment you had. Glad that last doctor was much calmer than the other ones and put you at ease. Haing a good doctor that you like makes all the difference.
I may have missed when you first started posting about your eye. How long ago was this and was it an injury (I'm thinking not)? Did it just start bothering you? Some type of eye infection? Seems weird that they can't find the cause. Hope this new doctor will be what you need. My eye problems started with a basal carcinoma on my lower eye. After Mohs surgery and 3 plastic surgeries, I ended up with a plugged tear duct. After surgery for that... it's healing now. But apparently eyes take a long time to heal. My poor eye feels traumatized. I imagine yours does too. Between the tearing and blurriness, it's hard to do things that require good vision. Keep updating... and sending good healing vibes your way!
Sounds like you finally got a good doctor who also listened to you. Hope he can get your eye straightened out.
I'm comfortable admitting when I'm wrong, but I will NEVER admit I'm wrong when my Republican friends tell me how I should love tRump like they do!
Have a good week and keep your spirits up, dear Rita.
No, no, no, the needle in the eye sounds horrible, let us know how it goes!
Thinking alot of positives here too.. and i'm glad you found one doctor to help you.. sometimes thats all it takes... I just find it so scary that its the luck of the draw.... what kind of doctor you get.. Those doctors should have been more concerned with you and your feelings than how baffled they were about your condition.. I'm sorry you had to go thru that... Perhaps you should write a good letter to their superior when this is all over... Big BIG hugs to you!!! deb
First let me say the freaked out doctors, shame on them. Calm and listening to the patient is called for. So glad you saw the other doctor. This must be a big place to have so many doctors there. I will tell you that getting a shot in your eye is nothing to worry about. They numb your eye so much you don't feel a thing. I'm comfortable admitting when I'm wrong or saying I don't know about something. I'm always willing to learn something new. Have a good day today.
Hope this Dr has an answer for you.
I am so relieved you have finally found an eye doc who actually listened to you and who is calm. And so glad that Leah has been in the room with the appointments. (I always find that when something big-deal is being presented, it helps to have another set of ears to get it all.) This guy sounds very good. I hope the drops help for your next appointment.
Thanks for the update Rita and oh wow! It sounds like your doctor has your full welfare at heart and how wonderful that he actually listens! It makes all the difference having confidence in your doctor. A lot of sleep sounds like a good thing, body's need the rest, even more so when they're not tiptop. Knowing you are having such a hard time with your eyes, I really appreciate you making a comment on my blog. It’s always special to hear from you but I know it must be hard. I’m sending you lots of hugs today, with the hopes you’ll be seeing improvement very soon.
Like so many others, Rita, I appreciate your updates recognizing how difficult it can be for you. A loss of vision is among most people's greatest fears. I know it is for myself and while a needle in the eye does sound frightening, perhaps some good will come from it. Finding a doctor who will listen is so wonderful and hopefully you will have some improvement soon. Good for Allie keeping you entertained during such a stressful time.
Oh goodness, having a good and calm doctor who seems to know what to look for and asks and listens to answers - they are gold. I have an eye dr like that. Thank you so much for your updates - it is Thursday here now, so hope that Monday went well.
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