Hot Tuesday

[MandysMom]

I can't believe I'm first on here today! We are in for a very hot 105 degrees here in the Sacramento area! Son and I are heading to recycle cardboard and cans this morning, then home to stay out of the heat! I have a RV repair person coming Thursday to check out the fridge. I was going to and from grocery store on neighborhood streets, and kept noticing vehicles labeled RV Time, in front of one house. I finally saw them outside and talked to them. It's a couple who own a RV Rental and repair business here in the area. Their online reviews are good, so I talked to Ashley and have her husband coming to diagnose and repair propane appliances in van which dont work. The stove lights and plenty of propane and that system was pressure tested in April. Linda McVey, who is on this group, plans to be here that morning as she is very experienced and handy with RVs since she worked at a RV supply and repair place and has owned RVs for years. She will be my expert eyes in making sure the tech seems to know what he's doing! I also have an appointment to get generator fixed Again in a week or so. All preps in advance for my hoped for trip to Q in January! I have to see about PowWow as not sure I'll be ready with all van systems go yet and my cataract surgery prep is starting.
My next adventure is an overnight at My high school class picnic, held each September with all classes from 60's invited (so we get to see those we knew in other classes just before and after us mid 60's Bulldogs). We will spend the night on an island, now owned by a wildlife club, out in the Delta. Mel and I went before he got sick, but I haven't been able to go since. Last year it was just a few days after his burial and I just couldn't do the 125 mile drive and back, much less get the van ready.
Hope all of you are having a great day. Stay safe and enjoy the waning days of summer.
Velda

[Acadianmom]

We are suppose to be under a heat advisory except it's raining. It got up to 96 before the rain started. I just got back from town. Annie had her annual check up. She needs her teeth cleaned but they can't do it until the end of Sept.

Oh joy, there's another storm out there. Right now the path is headed to Florida. I sure hope it doesn't get into the Gulf. Just what we need for the Labor Day weekend. I don't know what's wrong with the Weather Channel. I haven't been able to get the local weather and radar since yesterday.

My patients from yesterday are doing good. Sadie is glad to finally be out of the cage. Inky got to spend Sunday night in the house so now he thinks he should be able to come back inside.

Martha

[OregonLuvr]

We are under an extreme heat advisory today too. Say we might get 107 or more. I went out this morning and got an oil change, car washed, some grocery shopping (ya know a gal has to eat). Now all tucked in with the AC, blinds closed, and box fan on low. I dont always believe them as our weather people are a bit of an alarmist. So we shall see. I just went outside and there is a light breeze so felt like a blow dryer on my face.

I have my cataract evaluation with the surgeon on Sept 12th but not willing to do anything until after the Pow Wow first week of October. Will be interested to hear what he has to say as I know nothing about cataract surgeries except what I have read.

Sure hope that storm just peters out....pretty sure that isnt going to happen tho. Stay safe my friends that could be in harms way.

[Cudedog]

Temps here at my house north of Sacramento have topped out at 108 every day since last Friday.

Might be 110 by this afternoon. Usually I take my dog for an evening walk, but it has to be 90 degrees or under for me to do it. Last night it was 95 at 9:00 p.m.

I'm ready for autumn.

Anne

[BarbaraRose]

Karen, I love Emma's new photo!

Humid again today but not as bad as last weekend, but the temp is higher so it still feels really hot. Maybe this is the new normal for all of us, with the climate changes.

Need to get to bed early tonight so I can get up early. Have a lot on my to-do list for tomorrow since I have the day off.

[snowball]

today is my parents 74th anniversary... the other day I was thinking wonder how many years this one makes for them?? Bear in mind that I am the first born and even when I looked at the figures it still didn't register I remember thinking wow that is a lot of years!!! It would be an easy figure to remember all I have to do is add 2 years to my age
unfortunately my dad died in 1973 so isn't here to celebrate... mom says often that she has been a widow in her adult life longer than both marriages...
for those who like Blue grass music there is some PBS thing on it toward the end of the month can't remember the date though just happened to see it in Women's World. Not sure if any here now enjoy it but just in case thought I would mention it so you can look and see if interested...
actually accomplished a couple things today birds feed plants watered 3 rows on the afghan and all the dish clothes/pot holders I've been working on for dd got their little tails tucked away and cut off... yea me!!!
as to the weather we have had a diffident cool down!!! cool enough that I've already closed the door windows still open but will need to close them soon.. looks like a pretty sunset out tonight... days are getting shorter and shorter.... and waiting for the army grandson to return his parents went to Utah to pick him up but he didn't even get to SLC till 4 so it will be awhile.
probably won't see him until tomorrow
sheila

[MandysMom]

Karen, I'm surprised you suddenly "need" to have cataract surgery. As I understand, both from my own study and from my own experience with my Dr, cataracts develop slowly over time, though some Drs don't mention it to avoid panic when you really don't need surgery yet if you are still correctable for most part. It was late 2016 or early 2017, when, on a routine checkup, I asked my Dr if I had start of cataracts yet. He said yes, but no need to rush for surgery as you still have correctable vision. He said then and in 2017 and 2018 and this year, you could do it, but you will know when you are ready? I'm ready now, based on worsening night glare and having to have lights brighter to read stuff that was easy even a year ago. Talk long and ask lots of questions before you decide. Guess I'm lucky in that I go only to an opthamologist who does lots of eye surgery, so no going to a surgeon i never met before, whose only job is surgery. I ask lots of questions, including, what's the very latest in technique and lenses. I also did lots of reading. For instance, some Drs are injecting RX of antibiotics and steroids into inside of eye so you don't have inconvenience of drops to use. Uh, a needle into my eyeball on top of surgery? No thanks, I'll do drops. Some Drs still use a long needle through edge of eye to inject local into nerves behind eye! No thanks, my friend who had surgery said they didn't wait long enough for her sedation and that needle hurt a lot. My Dr uses the latest in drops of local instead of needles ! I think there is a good chance I'll ask to do no sedation. He promised there is no pain! If you know nothing , then I suggest educate yourself and make a list of questions including, do I need to do this now or is it optional until I notice symptoms? By the way, as to itchiness after, my reading shows only 2-3% of patients are bothered by that beyond the first couple of days. And always they recommend waiting weeks for healing so surgical inflammation goes down, before setting you up for glasses if needed after surgery.
Velda

[Redetotry]

Karen, I'm surprised you suddenly "need" to have cataract surgery. As I understand, both from my own study and from my own experience with my Dr, cataracts develop slowly over time, though some Drs don't mention it to avoid panic when you really don't need surgery yet if you are still correctable for most part. It was late 2016 or early 2017, when, on a routine checkup, I asked my Dr if I had start of cataracts yet. He said yes, but no need to rush for surgery as you still have correctable vision. He said then and in 2017 and 2018 and this year, you could do it, but you will know when you are ready? I'm ready now, based on worsening night glare and having to have lights brighter to read stuff that was easy even a year ago. Talk long and ask lots of questions before you decide. Guess I'm lucky in that I go only to an opthamologist who does lots of eye surgery, so no going to a surgeon i never met before, whose only job is surgery. I ask lots of questions, including, what's the very latest in technique and lenses. I also did lots of reading. For instance, some Drs are injecting RX of antibiotics and steroids into inside of eye so you don't have inconvenience of drops to use. Uh, a needle into my eyeball on top of surgery? No thanks, I'll do drops. Some Drs still use a long needle through edge of eye to inject local into nerves behind eye! No thanks, my friend who had surgery said they didn't wait long enough for her sedation and that needle hurt a lot. My Dr uses the latest in drops of local instead of needles ! I think there is a good chance I'll ask to do no sedation. He promised there is no pain! If you know nothing , then I suggest educate yourself and make a list of questions including, do I need to do this now or is it optional until I notice symptoms? By the way, as to itchiness after, my reading shows only 2-3% of patients are bothered by that beyond the first couple of days. And always they recommend waiting weeks for healing so surgical inflammation goes down, before setting you up for glasses if needed after surgery.
Velda

Thank you for the information it is just what I've been waiting for! I wasn't sure if the shot with antibiotics was available yet or not. Also the doctors I've talked to so far say they give a sedation drug instead of drops. I am allergic to so many things and had a couple of bad reactions to sedation but they don't seem to want to discuss other options. We are so behind here and St Louis is 100 miles where the better options are available.

[MandysMom]

BJ, there is another reason I would never have the shot inside the eyeball for steriods and antibiotic-if it turns out you are allergic to what they use, there is no way to get it out or reverse it! If you use the drops, you just stop them if you have a reaction- after talking to the Dr, of course.

I need to clarify because I'm reading into what you said and think I may not have been clear.
Three types shots may be used in cataract surgery for completely different purposes.
1. Injection of local anesthetic behind the eye, using a long needle. Very painful and scary if done with no sedation!
2. Intraocular administration of drugs such as steroids or antibiotics or both, inside the eyeball during surgery to lessen the drops you have to use after surgery to lessen inflammation and reduce chance of infection.
3. IV sedation. Serves two purposes: relax you and make you forget that giant needle used to inject local behind eye! It literally gives you amnesia of the surgery.

Three uses for drops
1. Anesthetic drops before surgery about 30 min to anesthetize the eye so you won't feel surgery. (and always dilating drops.)
2. Drops used after surgery of steroids and or antibiotic, to reduce inflammation and prevent infection.
3. In all cases dilating drops to open pupil.

Drops for both purposes anesthetic and after surgery as above, have both been available for a long time, often it's only Dr preference, though patients.can ask if they have a preference, it is up to the Dr.

More Drs are moving to drops of anesthetic before surgery, because putting a needle behind the eye carries risks. All patients also gets drops to dilate the pupil in all cases because pupil must be fully dilated to get to the capsule to remove the cataractous lens and to install IOL-Intraocular lens implant.

Medicare pays for the single vision cheapest form of IOL, but you for sure need glasses at least for reading with those IOLs.

Sedation is pretty much required if using injected anesthetic because it's both intimidating and painful. Sedation can be optional with using drops for anesthetic.
I went through this three times to correct typos and clarify, if I missed anything , let me know.
Velda

[OregonLuvr]

Velda I didnt just "suddenly" develop cataracts, they have just become worse. And I notice it in my vision now. They are at the point where surgery could definitely help. I see my doc on the 12th to discuss options.

[MandysMom]

Karen, I was hoping that was the case, but I didn't recall you mentioning it before. I've known since late 2016 or early 2017. Did you knthis our vision was worse or did the dr tell you?
Earlier this year my Dr said, you are still correctable so you decide. He was basically buying me time until this new lens was available. It's only since around June that I began to get annoyed and decided its time, but was waiting for the new lens so we could have that on the table,when I go for pre-op visit. I'd go next week if I could, but no opening until Oct 18.
Velda

[Redetotry]

Velda, I had the same thought on the shot so you don't have to use so many drops, not for me. I really appreciate all your information.