Panic

I'm a  very calm person. I've even been told I am too calm. So when I tell you that yesterday I went immediately from school to the doctor, without an appointment, you know something was terribly wrong.

It started at 1:30. I was sitting at my desk correcting some work and I realized I couldn't see it clearly. I took off my glasses and looked at them. Didn't see anything on them. I must have done it a couple more times because one of my most observant students said, "Mrs. Maurer, why are you taking your glasses off. Can you see me without them?" I told her I could see her just fine, but something was in my eye.

I checked my eye in the mirror and couldn't see anything in it, but by then I realized that somehow I COULD SEE big black wiggling streaks! Yikes! A few minutes later as I took the children to recess the streaks had become hundreds of dancing dots, some much larger than others. I told my colleague about my new vision and she said "Well, that can't be good." LOL

By the time school let out and I finished watching the detention kids, I was imagining the worst things possible. As I may have mentioned before, I've already asked God to please strike me deaf before he even considers making me blind. We must be having a communication problem! I actually had trouble driving to the doctor's office because I couldn't see.

Turns out that of the three things that could be wrong, I have the least serious, so far. It's called posterior vitreous detachment, a "common condition which occurs in about 75 per cent of people over the age of 65." Wait a darn minute! I'm not even 60 yet! I told you this must be a communication problem. Anyway, it means that I have dark swirls and dots in my line of vision and I can't see as well with my right eye as I can with left (line two on the eye chart as opposed to line four with the good eye) and it may improve in two to four weeks, or I may "just get used to it and learn to adapt". That's "doctor speak" for you are old and there is no cure!

This was followed by questions about my blood pressure and the importance of monitoring it more often than I have been. Then a few words about two more serious eye conditions that may follow this. Then the doctor practically knocks me down with his next words. "Now if you see bright lights that last more than ten minutes, or it seems like a dark curtain has fallen, call me. If it's after hours or the weekend here's my cell number. Don't hesitate to call me. Err on the side of caution, okay?" I have never had a doctor encourage me to call him at home! I don't have the cell phone number of any other doctor!

Well, he went on to explain that the reason for the prompt phone call is that if your retina tears, there is only a 72-hour window of time for a successful repair. After that you live with blindness. He's actually had patients who pondered their lack of sight for up to four days before calling him!! Are they crazy? I told him if I even see the edge of a "dark curtain" I will call him immediately! I am going to be the best patient he's ever had. I already have an appointment for a six-week followup exam.

So, here I am this morning, adjusting. I still see dark lines and dots, although not quite as many. It feels as though something is in my eye, but I'm not going to rub it or bother it because I've been told NOT to by a very nice doctor who does NOT want to get a late night call from me. :) My eyesight is ever so slightly blurred and the dark lines and dots are SO VERY ANNOYING, but it's Halloween and it's party day and I get to wear my jack-o-lantern shirt with the light in the nose and I get to eat chocolate in front of the kids...so it's going to be a GOOD day!

Take care...and if you see spots GO to the doctor!

Comments

[Dee/reddirtramblings]

Mary, I've been out of the loop. I'm sorry about your eye. My mother today discovered she has a detached retina, and we're seeing retinal specialist on the 20th.

I hope your eye gets better soon, and you don't suffer anything else.~~Dee