I say that like it doesn’t happen often. Today I had an appointment to see Dr. Garg, the retina specialist I visited several times in January and February. As far as I was concerned, he was my last hope of finding why I was having difficulty seeing over the last couple of weeks, after noticeably better sight after the cataract extraction on 15 April. I mentioned in this space last week that I didn’t think he’d spot anything. Fortunately, I was wrong!
After having difficulty reading the 20/200 line (their chart is different than all the others, the 20/200 line is CD not SL) I had my IOP taken (9 in the left, 28 in the right – that is high, but since there is no pain and virtually no sight, who cares,) I was given drops to dilate my eyes. After a 10-15 minute wait, we went to another examination room. Dr. Garg came in and asked me about the trouble I’ve been having and the surgery, then had a look. He noticed something and said he would like me to have an OCT scan. After another short wait, Tom called me in and did the OCT scan. After another short wait, we went into a different exam room.
Dr. Garg came in and immediately said that I have Macular Edema. I was pretty happy for a second. I thought, “Wow, he actually found something!” Then I though, “Uh oh, now what?” I asked the doctor how it is treated and then I was happy again. Eye drops (the name escapes me at the moment, but I think it begins with a D) four times per day. That is easy enough. He then showed Eliz and I (between my dilated eye and poor vision, I couldn’t really see much) the OCT scan from today and the one from 15 January. He pointed out the difference in the one today, which Eliz was able to see. After about two hours, we were done. I go back in four weeks.
Today was the first of three doctor’s appointments for the week. Tomorrow, I go to my general practitioner for a check-up. Perfect timing for me to visit her, as I’ve had a sore throat for about eight or nine days. I’m interested to see what she says about my weight. I was in the mid-180′s the last time I was there in March. I was 168 this morning. I know many of you have been asking about how I dropped a total of 66 pounds since 10 December 2009 and want to know my secrets. The short answer is 1500 calories a day and I weigh everything I eat at home (unless it is packaged, then I use the nutritional info on the package.) When we’re out, I use the restaurant’s own nutritional info. If a restaurant doesn’t provide the info, then I calculate it. If I can’t calculate it, we don’t eat there. Do you hear me Bertucci’s? I’ve kept a food journal since February and I’ll post it soon (I wanted to do it a couple of weeks ago, but my vision issues got in the way.) Friday, I visit Dr. Ayres for another post op check.
Lastly tonight, I went to Anthem Institute (formerly Chubb Institute) for a Graphic Design Advisory Board meeting. It was both good and bad. Good because I love talking about graphic design work, the industry, and the curriculum at the school. They’re making some positive changes there that will give students a deeper design knowledge that should translate into being better prepared to land a job once they graduate. The bad part about tonight was talking about new version of programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Flash. How is that bad? I so want to use them, start shooting pictures again, shooting videos (and editing them,) and cool stuff like that, but my vision is not cooperating. Maybe I’ll be able to get back to it once the drops work their magic…
Oh, and one last thing. Really. The parent daughter softball game is Thursday afternoon at Friends Central. I am hoping to get an at-bat. I will most likely strike out, if given the okay to hit, but I want to try. I’ll let you know how it goes. Fortunately, Lankenau Hospital is literally right around the corner…
