One Down, One To Go

The day finally arrived.  The first of two eye surgeries. Anxiety has been my constant companion.

But, here we are, a little over 24 hours later and things are just fine.

There have been drops, drops and more drops.  The first kind of drops (more than a month ago now) caused irritation, an abrasion on my skin.  Which wouldn't fully heal(apparently the abrasion opened the door for a secondary infection).  So Monday we were off to the dr.   Not only am I doing three sets of drops (holding them on my eye for 2 minutes each) four times a day with a minimum of 5 minutes between drops (it feels like it takes a l-o-n-g time) I'm also on a Rx ointment for my skin.  Finally, though, I've hope for complete healing of my skin (won't be cancelling my dermatologist appointment).  And hope for my eyes. 

Now that I know what to expect, I think I can manage the next eye with perhaps a bit more grace (never my strong suit).

Went this morning for the next day follow-up and the dr. was very reassuring. Even went so far as to say my eye was looking fantastic for being only the day after surgery. 

Hope the bird-let survived.

I had struggled to know what to do with the lens replacement.  I was unwilling to spend upwards of $1500 per eye for a lens that also corrects my astigmatism.  Other possible options were equally expensive.  And I have to continue to wear glasses anyway.  So I just went with the standard. 

And I'm astonished.

I'm astonished at the (already!) clarity of my distance vision (even though the astigmatism is still uncorrected until the other eye is done and I get some new glasses). And no more haze from cataracts, it had become more than a tad bothersome. 

I'm carrying around multiple sets of glasses.  Regular glasses with the left lens removed (so my "fresh" eye can see distance along with my non-surgeried eye), readers with the right lens removed so I can well, read, and the "alien looking" sunglasses from the surgical center (a necessity for being outside).

Rebelliously shopped with this hole.

And I've strict instructions to be calm, low-key for at least the next week.  No vacuuming, bending, doing anything with exertion.  Just healing.  I'm doing my best.

People have been kind.  Our ministering brother brought treats the day before.  My ministering sister stopped by with more treats. A friend has texted, my girls and a son have reached out to let me know they're concerned.  That's probably one of the most important things - that somehow someone lets me know I'm important to them.  And of course, The Husband does what he always does - shelters me in every way he can. 

And in the meantime we've heard our family doctor is moving to CA, so we had to find a new dr. (which we did with an ease that is amazing to me), we've managed to get a substantially lower quote on car insurance (roughly 1/4 of what we've been paying, so we'll likely be switching), we've taken care of a couple other "household management" tasks, driven to Utah county to see our son and grandson (they are such fun)  and are prepping for our daughter's (and her family) visit.  It's been busy. 

I'm so grateful for The Husband's constant attention and care.  I'm grateful for skilled surgeons and other medical personnel.  I'm grateful for insurance to help pay for all of this.  I'm grateful for circumstances that allow me to just "lay around and heal".  And for all kinds of glasses to help me through the next two weeks without going crazy trying to work with two disparately seeing eyes.  It's a teensy bit of a challenge. And I'm so grateful for my eyes.