Glaucoma - Not Good

 

Two weeks ago my ophtlhalmologist performed a laser procedure to remove any cloudiness on the surface of my eye's lens.  There really wasn't much there, but it was pretty much a last ditch effort to improve my vision in my only good eye.  

I just left the doctor's office where he checked and re-checked to see if there was any improvement in my vision.  There wasn't, and that pretty much concludes all efforts short of risky surgery to return my vision to what I need to operate power tools or drive a car safely.

He said I can increase my use of artificial tears and wear whichever glasses seem to work best on any particular day, but that's about it.

It was disappointing news, to say the least.

The good news is that I do have vision.  I can see to use a computer, communicate via the Internet, and even write that book I was always going to write.  And Judy has done well taking over the driving duties wherever we need to go.  We're just limited on where we go.

Given that my woodworking hobby is probably something I should avoid, I think that perhaps I can take up painting.  I've got an easel, brushes, paint, canvas, and imagination.  Perhaps there is also an unbridled talent for painting that never got its chance to be discovered.  It's certainly worth trying if I have any hope of staying busy for the rest of my life.

Picking Off All That Ails Me, One at a Time

 On Trursday of this week I successfully finished up my tenth episode of therapy for a problem in my knee.  Although the knee is artificial, the bone just below it is real, and somehow I managed to fracture it.  The therapy was designed to build up the muscles that make the knee operate once the fractured bone is healed.  I felt good enough to be released from therapy, but if I feel the need to, I can return for more.

• But being "released" didn't exactly fix everything.  Somehow, I also managed to pull my hamstring.  The therapist discovered it when I complained about the pain that was not associated with the therapy prescription, but he dutifully treated it as well to speed up the healing process.

Meanwhile, my lower back really started acing up.  I'll have to visit the orthopedic surgeon again to see what he suggests.  I'm pretty sure one of the slower ways of solving my back pain is to lose 75 pounds.  But I'm more prone to go for the lumbar epidural steroid injection, and if that doesn't work, go with Plan B - back to the therapy center.  

My friend Emmilee, likes to remind us that "Getting old is not for Sissies."  But "Not" getting old is worse.

Meanwhile, I will be seeing (pun intended) my ophthalmologist on Tuesday to discuss a laser procedure that will clear up some haze on my cataract lens.  My Retina Specialist, suggested it to my ophthalmologist.  It would be wonderful to be able to see well enough to drive again, watch TV, and make sawdust.

We'll see....