Praise then darkness, and creation unfinished

I saw Dr. Lazzara this afternoon, for the last post-surgery check-up. He is happy with how my eyes look generally, as well as specifically with the eye pressure and my corneas. I have an eyeglass prescription, and he suggested I could get either progressive lenses or bifocal computer glasses. I can in fact see without my glasses; what I can't do is read without them, and it's annoying to have to pull out reading glasses to do things on my cell phone. Meanwhile the non-prescription reading glasses don't work well for distance, and I can't use the same ones to read a book and look at the computer screen.

I will go to the optician in Arlington Center in a couple of days and talk about eyeglass options and prices. (I may also consider going online for reading glasses that correct for the astigmatism; I had poor results in the past trying to mail-order my complicated bifocal/progressive prescription.)

That was the second medical appointment of the day.

I've had an annoying cough for more than a week; over the weekend I decided that since it wasn't getting any better, I should talk to a doctor, make sure it's not pneumonia, and find out if I need an antibiotic. I called Davis Square Family Practice first thing this morning, and they gave me a 1:30 appointment. After asking me some questions, and listening to my lungs very carefully, the doctor said that this is in fact just a lingering cough left from an otherwise-gone respiratory infection. I have a prescription cough suppressant, and an okay to go back to my regular exercises, including walking—"just don't run a marathon." This is disappointing in the sense that she couldn't say "take these, you'll feel a lot better in 48 hours," but it also means that no, calling the doctor Friday would not have been better: I had to remind myself a few time yesterday and Sunday that any plan involving a time machine can be safely disregarded.

I saw a lot of forsythias in bloom today, as well as a few cherry trees, the first maple flowers, and many daffodils; I'd stayed close to home the last few days, and saw a nice variety of bulbs and one dandelion, but no flowering trees.

I seem to like, or want, my apartment to be brighter now than before the cataract surgery, which is counter-intuitive. A month ago I had (mild) cataracts in both eyes, and was wearing photo-sensitive glasses that were old enough that they were always very slightly dark. Now, I'm using over-the-counter reading glasses, with clear lenses, and am comfortable with a level of light that seemed like too much pre-surgery.

My guess here would be that, pre-surgery, my pupils were dilating a bit more, to make up for the cataract blocking some of the light. But that's a guess. What I know is that I'm now comfortable with the overhead light on when I'm exercising on the bedroom floor, rather than needing to turn off everything except the lamp on my bedside table.

I'm also adjusting more easily than I'd expected to walking around without glasses, either in the apartment (when not reading) or outdoors at night and on cloudy days.

(I had been wearing glasses essentially all the time--taking them off only to shower and sleep--for many years, so I literally don't remember what it was like to go outside without glasses.)

The second eye surgery also went smoothly, despite the minor annoyance of what felt like a long wait in the pre-op area. My vision now seems a lot better in that eye as well; I'll be surer of how much better when I take the eye shield off, either briefly to put in eye drops, or tomorrow morning. For now, I have the drugstore reading glasses on over the eye shield, which means I'm reading mostly with my left eye.

Like the first surgery, this was easier than I expected. The anesthesiologist predicted I'd remember more of this one, that being how Versed tends to work when given twice in a relatively short period; instead, I remember significantly less, which is fine with me.

Less cheerfully, the doctor's office called while I was in the pre-op area (with my eye dilated etc.) and left a message that they were rescheduling tomorrow morning's appointment to *8:45* instead of 11. I called back after listening to the voicemail and they had nothing later available; the receptionist said Dr. Lazzara was going to be in surgery most of the day, which I assume means something came up on short notice. Elizabeth is a hero of the revolution--her response to this news was that she could do that, but will need a wake-up call. I thanked her, and we discussed the fine points of me handing her a thermos of strong tea when she gets here.

I saw Dr. Lazzara yesterday afternoon. He was pleased with how well I'm healing, and suggested I either buy non-prescription reading glasses at the drugstore, have the glass removed from the left side of my spectacles, or both.

We stopped at the CVS on the way home, told them I don't need those eye drop prescriptions yet and might not ever, and I bought a cheap pair of (+2.5) reading glasses. Those turned out to work okay for the operated-on left eye but, unsurprisingly, not so well for my right eye. So after dinner cattitude got out one of his tiny screwdrivers and took the left lens out of my glasses, and I'm doing pretty well that way.

My pupil is still dilated enough from the eyedrops they put in Tuesday that I'm seeing random bright flickering on my left in any well-lighted room, but this has diminished significantly since yesterday.

Cattitude and I went for a walk after lunch, because he felt the need and I thought it would be fun. Blue sky, bright sunlight, and fresh snow reflecting the light, so I got out an old pair of vaguely goggle-shaped prescription sunglasses to see if they would protect my eyes sufficiently to enjoy a walk. To my pleased surprise, I could see quite well as we walked down the Community Path to Davis. I got these glasses more than seven years ago, and had stopped using them, I think partly because my vision changed over time and partly because I decided the self-darkening kind were more convenient.

I am having to remind myself that I am recovering from surgery three days ago and shouldn't push myself. Yes, it's minor surgery, nothing like when I had my gall bladder out, but healing takes some of the body's energy. (And now it's time for another dose of one of the eye drops.)

I am just back from having the surgery on my left eye. It was much easier than I had feared, and I can already see better through that eye. @Cattitude and @Adrian_Turtle came along for moral support, mainly to reassure themselves. The only problem now is that I can't put my glasses on (because of the eye shield), so I can't read. Elizabeth kindly drove us there, and to Lizzy's for ice cream afterwards. I see Dr. Lazzara for follow-up tomorrow.

No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise, and no floor exercises for a week. I'm very glad I did those particular exercises this morning.

I may not be reading responses for a bit, because of the difficulty with my glasses. I am using Adrian's eyes to post this.

The surgical center called this morning with scheduling information: they want me there at 1 p.m., and it's okay to have a "light meal" beforehand. I'm also supposed to take my regular morning medications at the usual time.

Also, my doctor's office doctor sent me the lab report on the pre-surgical blood testing, with the comment "looks good."

!markup
I just heard from my eye doctor's office. One (?) of the eye drops I will need to take isn't covered by my insurance. So they are sending me coupons (she should have handed them to me Monday, but didn't think I'd need them). When I get them, I should call the company to activate them (this may be three calls, one for each medication). Then I take them to the pharmacy and tell them that the 12/31 expiration date doesn't natter, because they company hasn't gotten around to printing new coupons, and they can call the pharmacy to confirm that.

This reminds me of @siderea's post about the hidden cost, to patients, doctors, and everyone else involved, of all sorts of pointless medical paperwork. I also know some of the insurance paperwork is meant to delay things so they can hold onto the money longer, and maybe the person will get better on their own, or change insurance and then this company won't have to pay for whatever it is, or die while waiting for treatment.

Single-payer would be fairer, it would produce better health outcomes, and it would free up enormous amounts of time that people could use doing actual useful work, or playing, or even sleeping.