Things are beginning to look up
Part 3 of 5Â
Just a short update on my eye affliction: my ophthalmologist says that I’m making progress. Starting yesterday, I was able to reduce the frequency of prednisolone eyedrops from one every hour to one every two hours. Small comfort, perhaps, since I’m still wandering in a visual blizzard, but I’ll take any little victory coming to me. In fact last night I was able to see the facial features of the man in the moon, albeit hazily.
I still have to hunch over my desk, with magnifying lenses on, to read from my computer monitor at a distance of about five inches. That’s not comfortable for my neck, much less the glare on my eyes - which I can only stand about two minutes of - so I suspect that going back to work tomorrow will not be in the cards. The hardest part? Getting groceries. Ha! - at least I have a few good cases of wine to keep me occupied.
But I’m doing everything the doctor says. So, little by little, I expect to reemerge from this snowcave.
Meanwhile, if you have written me recently, I apologize if I haven’t gotten back to you. You can be sure that I will, but it may be another week before I do.
~winehiker
« Part 2: From “I, Writer†to iritis | Part 4: Seeing my way back to the trail »
March 8th, 2007 05:31
I was just going to ask you if you had iritis but then I looked down and read your previous post. I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering from this. As a recurring victim of iritis, I literally feel your pain. It is difficult to kick and I hope you have better luck than I have had. My last round of it found me having to use the drops for an entire month to attempt to finally get rid of it. And given my lack of sick days at work (I’m too new to have accumulated many) I suffered by wearing sunglasses and those stupid sun shields they give you at the eye doctor all on top of my normal glasses. Here’s to a speedy recovery and if there is a next time, you will know exactly what is happening the first time you look at the light and have to avert your eyes out of pain…then get to the doctor and treat it ASAP, it helps it go away faster if you catch it early. I also keep a bottle of the prednisone drops on hand so I can treat it when it starts to come on and then go to the doctor rather than vice versa so I don’t have to suffer for days waiting for an appointment.
March 8th, 2007 15:49
Wow. Sonadora, I’m happy to receive your perspective, since you’re the only other person I’ve “met” who has experienced iritis. I hadn’t realized its capacity to recur, however, so your words have me making mental notes to be ever watchful. I’m really glad you chose to offer your thoughtful comments here. Plus, I realized I hadn’t added “Wannabe Wino” to my blogroll, so I just did ‘cuz today I can actually see to do that! (But that’s not saying much. Yet.)
March 9th, 2007 05:03
Some people only get it once. They are lucky. Others (like me) seem to have it as a recurring problem. Back in 2001 when I was working absurd hours at a law firm (literally, think 7am to 2am 6 to 7 days a week) I had what I can now look back on and realize was my first case of it. But at the time I thought it was eye strain because I was working on a computer for all those hours and not getting any rest. I wore my glasses for that entire 6 month stint as that seemed to ease the pain. However, I had a recurrence of it last year at about this time and it was so bad I spent a couple of days sitting in an interior bathroom with the door closed so no light would get to my eyes. Of course, it was also spring break so all my law school friends were away and I had no one to drive me to the doctor, so I somehow managed to get myself into my car and to the doctor, but I was literally weeping by the time I made it there.
So I would suggest being mindful of when your eyes are feeling a little wonky. I usually give it a day just to make sure I haven’t poked myself in the eye or something, and then start the drops because really, the idea of pumping my eyes full of steriod drops doesn’t exactly sit well with me and I don’t want to do it if I don’t have to! Since last March I have had it 4 times, and this last time, I caught it coming on so early that the doctor had to examine my eyes for ages before she even saw the signs of the inflammation!
Good luck and I hope you are seeing clearly and painlessly again soon!
March 12th, 2007 13:39
Oh, (Megan?) Sonadora, if I only we could say that these things happen because we’re not drinking enough wine! I sure appreciate that you’ve shared your experience here; I’ve found it quite valuable. That, and your adding me to your blogroll!
Onward and upward!