Half way through Friday!

[MandysMom]

It’s a gorgeous Friday! Hope all are well and happy.
Had my pre op for cataracts today, which did not exactly go as I pictured!
The good news is, I have no sign of macular degeneration. The rest goes like this:
My astigmatism is way worse once computer photograph magnified measuring was done than most people. In fact my left eye, Id be legally blind without glasses or contacts! He was quite surprised once they did the computer mapping, as he fully expected to use the new trifocal PanOptix iol. Most people rate on the scale in 1-2 range for astigmatism, if they have astigmatism and my left eye it rates 11+ !! People who are nearsighted are always more challenging than those far sighted for multifocal IOLs, but when you combine it with severe astigmatism way beyond norm, it gets very difficult to treat. When I mentioned that years ago his former partner (dead about 8 years now) had at one time said eventually I should have lasik surgery, dr Kira said today, had I done that, I might have now been in way more trouble vision wise than I am now. Current research shows people who had lasik or similar, are developing cataracts earlier and are more difficult to treat with their surgically scarred cornea! That info is just recently out.
So, it is what it is and I’ll do what’s best for my case. When Dr walked into room, he was looking at the first mapping done by his tech and was like Wow, I expected to use the new PanOptix on you but I don’t think that’s going to be possible as your astigmatism is way worse than we normally pick up on regular checkups. He had more testing done, he examined my corneas and found slight scarring ( wore contacts age 16-26), then consulted charts used to predict what lens. Center of the chart says yes can do. Next ring, will soon have lens for this and outer ring is, probably never be able to correct for that combo of numbers from the testing. My left eye is out of even the outer ring of probably not ever. He said there is no lens, Toric or otherwise, which will correct for your severity of astigmatism. Your right eye is marginal, but the new implant IOLs require being used both eyes, and your left is way worse than we predicted! No wonder your vision is still symptomatic even with best Toric blended trifocals!
The reason you see so many needing readers, is, most people simply choose not to pay thousands extra! And only Drs trained to use the specialized multifocal s push them because they require getting them aligned just right or are out of focus). And most people are happy with just readers, as well as not having to pay $3000 to $8000 extra! I went into this wanting top of the line but no lens is made able to handle my severe astigmatism! I was always aware of my astigmatism, because even with best correction with available blended trifocals Toric lenses, I still have some distortion esp at night. One thing he said is, if we do the monofocal two different lenses, your night vision should be way better than ever before!
It’s very good news though that though I have a irregular curvature of the back of my retina, which likely i was born with (thus needing glasses since age 2), my macula (where vision is focused) is in good shape for my age.
I need to let him know I’ve decided to go with his recommendation of monofocal with the two IOLs different, one leaning distance, the other leaning to close vision with slight overlap ( of RX not of overlap of lenses!), which he said I should only need over the counter readers and only for closest work. My Curves coach had that by choice and is very happy and most of time does not use her readers, to the point where she has multiple pairs because she keeps leaving them all over the house!
I’m still getting over the mourning the facts vs my expectations as I was determined to have top of line multifocal IOLs, but that just isn’t possible. This Dr is a highly trained, teaches Opthamology and eye surgery at the University and has helped in testing these new multifocal IOLs so I trust him, have known him at least 6 years and have to go with his judgement.
Color me disappointed but adjusting. It’s not like my having poor vision is something new, since I’ve worn glasses since 1950!
Upward and onward. Meanwhile I look funny as he is having me wear scotch tape of the frosted type over the reader section of my blended trifocals on my dominant eye, to get used to how it will be. And yes though the tape is weird, I can see and read fine.
Velda

[Bethers]

You barely beat me, Velda. So I deleted my post and an starting over. So sorry you can't go with what you had thought. But luckily you have someone you trust guiding you.

Twas super windy this morning. Changed parks (by less than 3 miles) opened up my windows as soon as I got in my new site and am full of dust/dirt inside because the breeze felt so good. There went my clean rig lol

Meantime I've been watching the Hallmark Channel.

[OregonLuvr]

Was busy this morning. Finally got it together and ventured into town. Needed a few things from grocery and then a stop at Walmart for a couple of things. Came home and made some lunch and a Peppermint mocha, soooo good. Since it is rather chilly out, and I am a bit cheap (in the heat dept) have my sweatshirt on and covered up with a fleece blanket (and a very happy dog) trying to decide what to watch on tv.

Velda sorry to hear your plans are not to be. My plans went sideways too obviously. Oh well it will be what it will be.

Sending good thoughts to Sarah for Nickys recovery.

[JudyJB]

It was windy yesterday driving through eastern Wyoming, but really windy today driving through western Nebraska. I really had to keep my hands on my steering wheel and slow down a bit. Big trucks on I-80 do not help, either. Anyway, I am at Buffalo Bill's Ranch State Park in North Platte. I turned down a commercial campground because it was full of huge trees and I would not be able to get satellite. But this place is nicely on the edge of town. Only problem is that there is about a half-mile of rough gravel road getting here and cars somehow keep driving through on the dirt road. I don;'t mind dirt sites, especially in dry area, but I HATE the dust. Luckily, I chose a site on the north side so most of the dust blows to the south. And besides, it is too chilly to have windows open.

I had no water yesterday at Curt Gowdy SP, but I knew that going in and made sure I had a couple of gallon jugs full for flushing. However, I had to use wipes instead of a shower and could not do dishes. Got a fill tonight and am going to be glad to get the dishes done. (A lot of places have shut water off for the winter.)

I know this sounds strange, but I am a little worried about continuing to lose weight--about two pounds per month. I do need to lose weight, but I think it is a symptom of needing to get my IBS under better control and to eat better. I have a tendency on days when I drive all day to skip meals because I am lazy, which is not good. So, I need to get things I can eat quickly while I drive and not have to cook in the evening. Like healthy things where I will still lose weight but will be healthier. I made a big fruit cocktail this afternoon, so that will be my dessert after fish sticks for dinner.

Shingles are paler, but still have nerve pain, mostly in my back, but when I drive all day, like today, it hurts all over. I just bent over sitting in my chair and ouch! Feels like someone kicked me on my side and gave me a big bruise. Strange, but Vicodin and dilaudid (not at the same time) do not do a good job of controlling the pain because is it nerve pain. Will be seeing my doctor in Ohio next Thursday.

[Birdie]

Judy, I would like to twitch my nose and have you at your destination in about 10 minutes. Velda, so sorry you are on the outside of being ‘normal’. I had no idea that I had astigmatism until I had my cataracts removed by lasik and I took the option of seeing at a distance and using readers all the time. It was easier to use the binoculars that way as well as using the scope and switching eyes for getting a slightly different view...that would have been a big PITA. Beth hope you keep warm and know the dust comes and the dust goes! Karen sounds like you are ready to hunker down for winter. Enjoy you cool temps and moving down a bit further and looking for the white stuff. Here in FL we did get a nice cool front that came through and night temps are in the 50’s-60’s. I put a down comforter on the bed today as I got cold last night. If that doesn’t fix it, I will get the flannel sheets out!!! Always a way to fix the little problems. Planning a camping trip to kayak the river in another week. That will be exciting. We are under a Tropical Storm Alert for a few more hours. So far we haven’t had the big winds that were predicted nor the heavy rain. Let’s keep it that way!

Lyn, would like to know you are doing well, hanging in their and walking like crazy in the pool. Check in with us. Sarah, hope you and Nicky are keeping warm and having mostly good days. O’Malley would like to know when you will be down this far south. We need to make some plans. Okay girls if you are on the road, be safe and everyone have fun.

[BarbaraRose]

Was really windy last night but felt good having the windows open all night with the cool wind blowing thru!

Slept in some this morning but by noon, I got a burst of energy and motivation and started working outside. Talk about dust!! Everything was so filthy dirty! I swept the carpet on the deck and then vacuumed. Then took the hose to the house and gutters, walls and floor of the deck and just gobs of mud came up all over. I had removed all my deck furniture before and ran the hose over all that as well, then left it all in the sun to dry. Took a car full of junk to the dumpster then organized and put away other stuff I had outside. Last thing was to hose off the driveway and my golf cart. I got a cover for the cart so will cover that tomorrow after it all dries out overnight. Looks really nice on the outside now. Don't want the neighbors and returning snowbirds to think I am a slob!

When it gets a little cooler out, I will put my new swing together for the back patio. May need to get my neighbor Dave to come over and help me with that. I have put them together before but this one is a 3 person swing so will probably be easier with an extra pair of hands.

Just made dinner and now off to the shower. Then relax for the rest of the evening!

[snowball]

it's been windy here as well must be a far reaching wind storm...
a chilly one at that... so hunkered down inside and did what I wanted to do.. got the little bins out
and pictures put in and some knick knacks put away. rearranged the books that I've read over the summer
going to take it too Q and libraries most will go to the park library some to the city library
been reading older books that I've hung on to just not read yet... and some of the newer ones.. just depending am not sure I will be leaving on Tues the weather isn't looking like it... so will hope for Friday or Saturday understand that my granddaughter is in a play that weekend so hope to get there so I can see it...
the weather does control a lot of our lives doesn't it???
I didn't realize that astigmatisms are different wonder about mine.... and the many many years of wearing hard lens then gas peramible contacts what that will show when I have to have cataracts removed it seems like that is a given some earlier and some later I will hope mine is later...but sorry Velda that it didn't go as you wished..
recognized the campgrounds by name that you've mentioned Judy been past them many times..
Hope everyone is safe in what they are doing

[MandysMom]

Karen, I absolutely was thinking of you, when I asked the Dr what my macula looked like so he did an extra photo scan. Not by name, but I said,I have this friend who went to an ophthalmologist for cataract surgery but instead learned she had wet MD and began treatment! Glad I got the reassurance of a double check. No surprises, well other than the severity of the astigmatism. And Birdie, you just gave me something important to consider about two different focal IOLs vs same. In fact turns out my Curves trainer and I talked at length today and she said she had chosen both IOLs same as well. That will get discussed Tuesday when my Pre op gets completed and date set. Judy, so sorry the nerve pain is hanging around. There are pills specific to nerve pain, maybe the next Dr will help.
So glad we don’t have as much dust here and wish clean air for those who are dealing with it.
Happy safe travels for those in that mode.
Velda

[BarbaraRose]

Sat outside for a bit tonight. No wind at all, but could smell the nasty smell of the dump fire south of here, so I came back in. I didn't smell it earlier today. There are 3 schools near that dump where 25 kids ended up getting really sick yesterday from the fumes of the fire so they closed the schools til next week and are shutting down the dump for good. They have fires there quite often (they say arsonists light them) but this one was the worst so they are shut down now. The fire should be out in a couple more days they say.

Have tomorrow off so will probably work inside on stuff. I did put my fence headboard in front of my shed and it looks pretty good. Still need to cut about a foot off the legs to lower it and make it look more like a real fence there. Need to find someone with a saw. I painted my palm tree metal art sculpture a teal color and hung that on the shed above the fence. Looks pretty good!

I need to check with the house painting committee (yes, there is one here) to get permission to paint the trim on my house teal. The trim is a light peach color with off-white as the main house color. When the sunroom was added, the trim didn't get painted the peach color like the rest of it, so I want to do that in teal. They want the houses to resemble a desert/southwest look so I think they will be OK with that. Everything out here is the light or dark terracotta color and off-white with the teal trim, so I will fit right in with that. I think the house is kind of boring now so the teal will make it stand out a bit more. Now I just need to find out who/where this committee is.