My Six-Month Checkup
Last Friday was my scheduled Six-Month Checkup with my Neuro-Ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologist What a screwed up way to spell a weird word. Anyway, earlier this week, the doctor’s office called and said that Dr. Katz was going to be out on medical-leave for 10 weeks. Crap. We had the opportunity to meet with his “Fellow” Dr. Collins at the time we already had scheduled. We took the appointment and was happy that we did.
He’s very knowledgeable and thought that we should stay the course for another 3 months. This will take us beyond 12 months from the date of the surgery. He was surprised (and happy) to hear that I was driving. He said that my lid is farther closed than any others that he has seen, at this stage, but I am “obviously driven to get better.” Both he and the nurse practitioner asked if I was back to work. I could hear Connie laugh. After the appointment, I asked her why she was laughing, she said that “you never quit working!”. I did tell them that I had help, but continued on as much as possible. He went on to say that it was “huge” that I was able to drive.
Connie knows how much I love to golf, but I must have told her a hundred times that “if I never golf another day in my life, that would be fine, but I’m not sure what I’ll do if I can never drive again.” I actually played in a couple of golf-scrambles in 2011. It was nice. This year I hope to be able to play more. I’ll be starting off, just as I did last year, with a trip to Florida with my friends Pete Miller, Eric Gowans and Earl Osborne. We’ve added a couple of golfers this year. Our friend Steve Rogers and my oldest-brother Dan will be joining us. It’ll nearly double the number of people to give me grief. I may regret this.
I can’t make the trip without remembering last year. We had a great time and I played well with a 94 at Mystic Dunes on the final day. If any of my golfing partners want to dispute it, I still have the card! Three days after coming home, everything went wrong. That’s in the past and that’s where I need to leave it. … but I’m keeping the scorecard!
Dr. Collins offered some possible remedies, but will look to Dr. Katz when he returns for a decision. He told me that I need to sell Dr. Katz on more aggressive surgery if that’s what I want. That should be within me. The range of options may include a lid lift for the left-eye and possible surgery on the right-eye muscles. This will allow me to have a “forward gaze” and limited range of motion. Something will also need to be done about my right-eyelid. As for Dr. Katz, it seems that he had some heart issues, but his surgery went well.
As always it’s good to see and be seen. We had our annual dinner with the Lowder’s on Friday. It’s always great to catch up, but it’s unfortunate that so much of the conversation is about me.
I’m planning a party…and hoping that Connie will join me. It’s for all of you that read my blog and share my story. I wanted to call it a “Celebration of Life” party. Connie informed me that they already have those, but for dead people. Still working on a name. Maybe I’ll call it “We’re still here party”. Still working on a date. More news to follow. I hope that you’ll join me.
As always, your thoughts are appreciated.
- UPDATE – The old and the new - July 18, 2023
- Rehab is work - April 14, 2023
- I lost my wallet - April 6, 2023
