So for a few days I've been having such a problem with one of my eyes. Scratchy, itchy and felt like something was actually poking my eye. My thought: Surely there's something in there causing such irritation. Finally had enough, called my regular eye dr. Was basically blown off. "If there's something in there he can't get it out, you'll have to go somewhere else." Try as I might (what if there's nothing in there and it's something else?) he wasn't very willing to schedule me with the dr. Thinking that this eye dr. has been in practice for decades, I asked for a referral, the dr. must have a whole network of people he knows and can refer to. Nope, the guy on the phone said just go to the InstaCare or Hoopes Vision. Hoopes is where I had my cataract surgery back in 2019 and they're great, just one of those ultra fancy upscale places that intimidate me to even walk in the door.
Frustrated and annoyed (and feeling marginalized as I so often feel these days), I was rude: told him I felt like I was being brushed off and nevermind, I'll find someone else.
Ended up with Dr. Frandsen at Hoopes. Verdict: totally dry eyes. (This really only happens when I'm taking something for the seasonal allergies that plague me so. I had forgotten about that, there's so much of life that gets in the way that I don't remember the occasional stuff about me that requires maintenance.) He said he actually watched my tears evaporate when I blinked. So my regular eye dr. could have helped me if only someone would have listened and cared.
Then, did something that is so rare for me I can't quite believe that I did it. I requested - and received - a drink of some kind from a convenience store. Opted for a frozen Fanta. Had a hard time deciding between cherry and pineapple-coconut. Went with the cherry. I remember from previous experience not being able to drink a slushie from 7-11 all at once because of the frozen brain headache. Not so yesterday, my drink was completely gone before we arrived home. I shared a few sips with The Husband, which I think he loved but was very kind to not take too much. He would willingly share his Pepsi but I despise cola drinks. Yes, it was horrible for my body, I really do try to not have much sugar. But my brain was doing little Yippee!! dances.
It was a bad day for sugar - or maybe a good one depending on perspective. The eye dr. office always has a tray with cookies and a printed invitation to have one. Or two. The Husband enjoyed two - peanut butter M&M. Then we each had a free sample of sweetness at Great Harvest bread, they make yummy mint frosted brownies. Actually, everything we've sampled there has been yummy. That sugar thing again. Then I had that frozen Fanta. And of course I can't complete my day without a few chocolate chips, though the sugar level in those is very low.
I'm already grateful today for improvement in my eyes. I'm not fond of eye drops. But they're an easy and effective treatment to help me continue with life in a better way. I'm grateful that even though I seem to be having lots of physical maintenance to do (Dr. Frandsen said it's really a pain in the neck but don't give up it is extremely important) with the daily shoulder/back exercises, keeping my arthritis pain in check, attending to all those areas that are prone to congestion and sneezing, keeping skin moisturized and on and on and on - in spite of all that I am grateful for this body that has served me well over these 73 years. I'm grateful to be able to walk in the mornings and ease into the daily routine with some absorbing of the world's beauty. I'm grateful that the daughter's shingles appear to be on the mend, it's a very debilitating virus that she's weathered gracefully. I'm grateful today for the chance to start again to be kinder, more thoughtful, more caring for others. That's challenging for me lately.
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