No Reason to Panic

There is no reason to panic with what I am about to report. I didn't panic and if I didn't, then there's no reason for the readers of this blog to do so.

While visiting with my friend in San Leandro, I woke up last Monday morning unable to see out of my left eye.

There was a web of small gray dots that was meshing together to obliterate most of my sight. I could see some bits of light and shapes but nothing definitive. Due to this "blindness" in the left I was I was having trouble focusing my right eye. I sat quietly over coffee and toast waiting to see if this was just a temporary thing. Alas, it was not.

I went to the drug store, picked up a eye patch and now was more easily able to focus my right eye. I decided that I would prefer to deal with this issue in Chatsworth. I drove the six hours with my left eye patched. I would periodically check to see if I was still blind, but other than that I simply drove.

Yes, yes being blind in one eye could have been scary--many may have panicked. I simply chose not to. I sincerely mean this. I chose not to. I realized that such an emotional response was not going to serve me or repair the eye, so I chose to remain peaceful.

I did call my friends in Chatsworth and left voice mails that stated I could use some assistance. They did eventually return my call--as I pulled up in front of the condo. They had a name of good optometrist. Before making an appointment, I decided to check in with my insurance company as I was here in California and wanted to verify my coverage here. Lo and behold, I learned I haven't had health insurance since I retired. As simple as that, I could not see a doctor for my ailment.

I called Retiree Services to find out what had happened to my coverage. They were surprised to learn that I was entitled to health insurance. (Some employees do not get coverage, as a union member, I do.) They were apologetic and expedited enrollment.

Meanwhile, my eyesight improved each day. I still had to use an eye patch on Tuesday to be able to focus enough to read and/or type. I often blew the screen up to 150% to be able to see without strain. At first my eyesight seemed to improve from the outside edge in and by Wednesday there were patches of sight. I found I could somewhat read with that eye. This was greatly improved by Thursday but there were still dots of blindness.

I am grateful to the those who served to expedite my enrollment--even if I did not get coverage until Thursday. I was able to get an appointment for Friday morning with an Ophthalmologist that my friend's optometrist suggested.

So the report is this: There are still dots of blindness and I often have to squint my left eye and force my eyes to focus. After extensive testing, mostly what we learned it what it's not such as degenerative eye disease or a detached retina, or a cataract or glaucoma. All that appeared was a very subtly inflamed optic nerve. The doctor felt this was due from reduced blood flow to the nerve. Most likely caused by a blood clot or a bit of blood plague or cholesterol lodging in the veins to the nerve. Additional blood tests have been ordered and I have an appointment in two weeks. Planning on the results we may choose to have additional testing in regards to the blood flow to the brain and therefore the eye. I am not suffered from headaches or any other symptoms that might indication a deeper issue. The doctor suspects that my eyesight will continue to improve and sees no reason that there might be a repeat of the episode.

He approved me returning to exercise. I had not exercised for a week and attended a water aerobics class last evening. My muscles resisted the idea of exercise and I am sore today.

Now as to all of those who are wondering why I didn't call them, or inform them of my condition the answer is quite simple. I chose not to panic. I saw this as not life threateneing and mostly just an inconvenience. I didn't have answers to what was going on, and I chose to remain calm about all of this. In this post I both inform my dear devoted supporters of the condition and the answers as I have them.

I thank you for your love and concern and remind you that if I can chose to be peaceful about all of this, so can you.

My eyesight is still not perfect and I am adapting . . . meanwhile the journey continues.