Flu Vaccines, Subaru Check, Last of the Eye Drops

It was a day to get tasks completed. Slowly but surely we are catching up with the mundane activities that just need to get done. This morning we needed to drive to the Subaru shop for a six months check. I made the appointment last week even though you can just drive in. We had the 90,000 mile review back in March so we lucked out with just the routine oil and filter and general inspection. At the same time we did our morning walk and as we were approaching the shop we got the call that the car was ready. I brought in the ten dollars off coupon. Gone are the days where these sorts of things were fifty dollars. On Tuesday we picked up papers that need to be filled in for flu shots at the Giant when we went for groceries. For whatever reason the neighborhood CVS a wasn’t taking appointments so this is our default pharmacy. We submitted the paperwork but we’re told there was an hour wait. So we went home, had breakfast, and returned. We were immediately attended to - I was surprised it wasn’t busier since lunch time is always more traffic. I don’t know how our arms are tolerating so many vaccines. We got our RSV and Covid vaccines three weeks ago and now the flu vaccine. All I know is I was summoned to jury duty for next week and will feel more protected having got the vaccines. And this week marks the last week for cataract eye drops. I’m down to one drop a day - things are looking up!

The Eye Drop Countdown

In August I had my left cataract eye surgery. Two weeks ago I had my right cataract eye surgery. It starts off with eye drops three times a day before the surgery, then three times a day for two weeks, then two times a day for one week, then one time a day for one week. That’s a lot of eye drops. Then before the second surgery is done, the same schedule applies. So it gets to be eye drop overdrive during the overlap. It also takes record keeping to a new level. I also depended on google to remind me when I needed to take them all. So it was a landmark I applauded when the the eye drops for the left eye ended last week! I could finally put the paper document away and only deal with one schedule. Then another landmark was achieved this week when I could go from three drips a day to two drops a day in my right eye. So for another week it is two drops a day and then the last week at one drop per day. It’s so wonderful to be on the downslope of this schedule. Unfortunately on the last day of the final drop I have to be at jury duty - which I had to reschedule because the summons occurred during the surgery schedule. I’m still adjusting to the change in my vision and hopefully it will all come in to focus soon. It will finally feel complete when there are no more eye drops. I also convinced my doctor that I didn’t need to see him until December - a three month reprieve from the weekly visits. I’m hoping the glaucoma surgery he did will help with eye pressures, but I have a feeling I’ll be on those drops for the rest of my life. I’m just glad it’s over with because it was inevitable and lucky to be able to get it done. 

Cataract Eye Surgery Drops Finally Done

It’s been going on since February 21. My husband had left eye cataract surgery in February. A week before that he needed to take a special blend of eye drops three times a day to prepare the eye. Then after the surgery he had to keep taking the drops for another three weeks - 3 drops, then 2 drops, then 1 drop per week. But two weeks after the first eye was done, the right eye needed to be prepared. So the same routine started on the other eye. You can see why there is a chart to help you remember when and for how long to keep the doses right. Unfortunately the medicine burns, so it’s not very comfortable at all. On top of that my husband needed to take eye drops for glaucoma - one drop every night in both eyes and one drop in the morning for one eye. All I can remember the last two months was my husband taking eye drops, having surgery, and going to the office for checks before and after. Luckily all this was done before the shutdowns, but neither one of us liked going to the outpatient center. The sad thing is is that my husband hadn’t had the opportunity to test his new vision outside - walking or driving - without glasses. We have essentially stayed in the house for the last month. So, he did have his new eyes in time for his birthday. Ironically, he still needs to wear glasses to read. 

After Cataract Surgery

My husband has never had surgery. He is blessed. He was also a general/vascular surgeon and oftentimes knows too much. After having the left cataract removed with laser treatment yesterday, we needed to go back over to the doctor office from the outpatient surgery center to get a check on how things went. All I can remember is drops, drops, and more drops. He also had a patch over his eye which made walking and depth perception inadequate. He doesn’t remember getting the light anesthesia cocktail either. When we got home we had a light lunch and he took a nap immediately - but he always does in the afternoon. The problem now is that he doesn’t have the right glasses, really can’t see out of the left eye well yet, and needs to wear sunglasses - something he has always refused to do. Thankfully he has had no pain and slept well last night. I made sure his eye guard was secure -  and he’ll need to wear it at night for a few more days. This morning his eye is bloody, but he has no pain. We are going to go through this in two weeks again for the other eye. Since January we have had so many eye and pre op appointments and filling in forms and paying for lenses, doctor and outpatient and anesthesia and lab bills.... how do people afford this stuff? In the meantime my dear mother passed away two weeks ago today and the trip to Florida and back feels so long ago. Twenty twenty has not started out well for us. It can only get better? Just don’t turn on the news. 

There’s Something in My Eye

My eyes have been feeling a bit dry lately. Sometimes it’s even difficult to just open them in the morning. With a fan blowing on me all night it probably makes them even more dry. Since both my husband and I have eye pressure problems, we both take the same prescription eye drops. What that means is even more visits to the eye doctor. This morning it felt like something was in my eye and I couldn’t get it out. So I put in a couple of drops of Visine. It felt better, but got gritty again. It so happens we had another eye doctor appointment scheduled today. Luckily the pressures have gone down, but our doctor said my eyes are really very dry. So much so that it was like sandpaper on the eye that was bothering me today. So to get me back to somewhat normal, she said to start taking eye drops/tears four times a day for two weeks, and then cut back to twice a day. Between those drops and the prescription drops I’ll be taking a lot of drops. So we stopped at the CVS on the way home and got a two bottle Visine deal. The bottle I had at home was dated 2015 and the sample bottle I got from the office a long time ago was also long overdue. It seems to have been the year of cataract surgery in my family - my sister just had one eye done, and two cousins earlier this year. My husband may be the next one up. It’s just something else to think about. Now we have to schedule another visit in three months. 

The Surprise Package from Las Vegas

We usually know when to expect packages during most of the year because we usually send them to ourselves through Amazon. Yesterday an unusual parcel arrived via UPS. I had a feeling I knew what it was but my husband didn't. It was addressed to him and it originated from Las Vegas. Since we don't know anyone from around there I already jumped to conclusions but kept him guessing. It was about a foot long but very light. It was also labeled with "refrigerate and perishable" - another clue. When I got home I knew before he even opened it what it was. During the summer months his eye medicine needs to be transported in a cool environment. During the rest of the year it comes in the usual white plastic sleeve that all the rest of the medications come in. There is something fun about receiving packages - especially when you are not expecting anything. But I have to say this was a big disappointment.