It's been a journey... COVID–19 shut it all down.
Cataract surgery: non-progress report from July 2019 to February, 2020.
Cataracts II – July 7, 2020 a referral.
Cataracts III – July 17, 2020 a consult with a private clinic.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Monday, we had a phone call saying that my August surgery is cancelled. They wanted to fit me in this month, could we drive into the city for the pre-op and the tests this week? We were too far away to get there in time before closing. The plan was to go in for Tuesday morning.I have to steel myself for the drives. Crazy people are out there. All of them are in a hurry. This morning, in Ottawa, they took this dude's car away for 7 days. A G1 is a first level of driver's licence, a beginner.
JB set the alarm. he was up before 6. He tends to arise 15 minutes prior to the alarm. All his working life, and even now for medical appointments! I got myself up, posted my blog post, and had my coffee, easing into the day. I used to wear eyeliner and mascara, since my eyes disappear into the coke bottle lenses I wear. "Putting my face on" for a billion years, life changes. I can't wear make-up with my eyes the way they are.
Right now, it is as if there is a flashlight being shone in my right eye all the time. Then, when I read, my distance vision goes slightly double. No one can explain it, but it is profoundly discomforting. They told me to use a compress, and Systane, but that doesn't do much.
It was an hour's drive, although last week it took an hour and a half to go 83 km. I checked out our route, and I navigated, as I am not comfortable driving.
For a 9 a.m. appointment, we left at 7 a.m. Perth was pretty quiet!
Sure enough, we arrived by 8:15, a bit early for a 9 a.m. appointment. There was a line-up outside their office, and they were taking them by their appointment times. I was feeling a bit dizzy and sat down. I asked JB to go in and ask if we do have an appointment. They could have missed it. Yes. They did. They fit us in.
The COVID–19 protocols were good. Everyone wore a mask. Everyone kept their distance. Chairs had been removed to put more space in. They allowed JB to be with me. He is my Personal Assistant, the PA takes notes, asks questions. I just wanted to get out of there! I suppose he is my Emotional Support person, too! In Canada, we'd begun lowering the curve, but there is an uptick out west, mostly (60%) in people under age 40.
I had three more tests, including the laser measurement. They put drops in to freeze the eye, then the laser sits right on your eye. That test was weird. I felt well-measured.
Meeting with another surgeon, she went through the file, we chose lenses, monocular. I'll need reading glasses, but I think that will be better for me. I already have reading glasses. I won't need glasses for distance for the first time since 1965!
We were done just before 11 a.m., and we took off home. Those awful drops that enlarge the iris make it uncomfortable in the light. I'm sure you know how it is.
To be clear, Ontario's OHIP pays for cataract surgery, but not for the lenses I want. I knew that from other appointments. During COVID–19, however, everything is shut down, or at least, capped, and they are severely limiting eye surgeries by 75 %. It's driving me nuts, this poor vision, and we are dipping into savings for this. IMy quality of life is quite diminished, as I am a voracious reader.
By 2:30 we were home, and my blurry vision improved after those awful drops. I still couldn't go out doors comfortably. The sun is really bright. JB got us some frozen dinners.
In our travels back and forth, I've watched as they have brought back this old farmhouse back to life.
There is construction, a lot of construction between here and there. Hunt Club is being widened to accommodate the suburbs. Kanata is experiencing a lot of growth.
To our great chagrin, there were three traffic rounds along Old Richmond Rd., mostly under construction. Not JB's favourite obstacle. Bridlewood is a suburb that is growing immensely.
There is a bit of a stone lip. I wonder how the critters navigate that.
Elsewhere, turtle fences to protect the wetland and critters.
Lots of people are out golfing.
And the farms. I might sketch this one once my eyes are done.
We were glad to arrive home. I have prescriptions for my pre-op protocols. Lots of drops, some 4 x's a day, another twice a day. pre and post-surgery. A third on the day of surgery.
BTW – we've had some rain in July. It is such a relief. Everything can breathe again. The graph shows July rainfall over the years I've tracked it.
13 comments:
...there are way too many parts to this story! By all means don't let Americans in, particularly from Texas of all places.
It sounds as though some relief is getting closer to reality. I have my appointment next month. My eye doctor's office is only a mile from my home. One time I walked to an appointment but I sure regretted that on the walk home with dilated pupils! Even with dark sunglasses.
Shauna once had a minor procedure at a private clinic. I wonder if it is the same one. Will the surgery be at the clinic or in the hospital? It sounds like the latter from what you are describing.
It sounds like a real ordeal!
Hopefully, after the op- you're going to get rid of the flash in the right eye and the double distant vision. And what a relief not to need glasses for distance!
Hari Om
It's quite the palaver... but just think, to be free of all but reading glasses! Nearly there Jenn. And as always, you made the most of the outing. YAM xx
Anything with the eye can be very uncomfortable. all the best for your surgery.
Wow, they have brought that forward so quickly. I have an optometrist visit in early August, and I am guessing he will not pass my sight for driving now.However I cannot have surgery while I am on the anti platelet tablets, but at least I can get in the queue. I can tell them that July 2021 will be fine!!! After all, they should have done the surgery for me in January.Those drops, I take extra dark glasses to put on over my ordinary distance ones, or pull your hat down right over your eyes. Did they tell you no bending over for some weeks after the surgery? You will be amazed to the difference, well done to be braveXXXXX
Good luck with the procedure.
Good luck with the eye problems! I can see that in my future but hopefully not too soon. I have more and more problems with reading and, yes, some double vision but so far I can cope.
Good luck with the procedure, my good wishes.
All the best Jan
another step in the right direction,
I grew up in Bell's Corners .. well, high school and university .. Ottawa used to be the only official city .. dating myself but there it is .. when will the growth stop ? when we cover the earth in cities ? LOL .. yup .. a lot of drops to this procedure indeed.
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