It was my nasty Valentine's gift from the Universe! On the
eve before Valentine's Day I was watching a movie on my DVR titled: Best Laid
Plans. The movie was kind'a sucky, but I've always liked Reese Witherspoon. She
reminds me of peanut butter cups. Anyway, about 45 minutes into the film I
noticed my giant eye floater darting about like a speedballing bug! Suddenly
flashing, spinning, neon lights appeared inside the outer edge. My
right eye seemed to be on an acid trip!
Alarmed, I hurried to get my eye drops, the ones specially
formulated for dry eyes like mine hoping it would normalize the situation. It
didn't, not even after repeated applications every half hour. I kept examining
the eye in the mirror searching for a difference between it and the left one.
But they looked exactly the same, yet one was acting bizarre. After the movie, I
went to bed hoping the eye would return to normal the next AM. It didn't!
On Valentine's Day it was still acting crazy as I
awoke. I Googled my symptoms. -- I had been warned previously by a healthcare
professional never to believe Dr. Google because he would mess with my head.
Well my eye was messing with my head and I wanted answers! To my horror, I
discovered I had symptoms of a detached retina. The bottom line was to seek
medical treatment immediately or I would permanently lose vision in that eye.
I phoned the Florida Eye Institute and gave a nurse my
symptoms. She instructed me to come in early the next AM; they made a space for
me. Just last October, I had cataract surgery in both eyes there. I don't
have Insurance and despite my age, I don't qualify for S.S. or Medicare. And my
bank account couldn't handle a hit from another surgery! I was sick with stress
and foreboding.
Later, my friend Marie dropped over with cookies from a
French bakery. It was the one bright spot in my worst Valentine's Day ever! I
told her the horrible news.
Marie said she had a giant eye floater, too. Hers looks like a
lobster! We both laughed. Marie offered to drive me the following morning. I
could still drive. Besides, I knew I was in for a long, tedious wait there and
I couldn't subject her to that. So I thanked her and declined.
At the Institute the next day, I had to be examined by 4
technicians (with long waits between each) before even seeing the doctor. The
morning felt excruciatingly long. I heard a nurse inform a patient that they
were running late due to an emergency case. I wondered if that was me.
The doctor stated that the gel in my right eye was loosening
and it was age-related, but he saw no signs of a tear in the retina. I asked
about the flashing, spinning, neon lights, and the floater gone wild. He said I
was having a migraine!
I told him I didn't get migraines anymore, although I had
terrible ones during my early to mid-50's. He stated that if you are migraine
prone they never go away, you just outgrow the pain. I've never heard that
before and it sounded crazy to me! But I reminded myself that I was talking to
a professional.
Thinking back, my migraines were always over my right eye
stretching clear to the back of my head on the one side. They were nothing short of torture! I
would go 3 days or more without food because I couldn't even keep water on my
stomach! But I NEVER saw flashing,
spinning, neon lights or even halos which many migraine sufferers do!
He said my symptoms would eventually go away and the floater
would settle back down. The light show in my right eye is less dramatic, now. However, the floater is still darting around
the screen as I type.
Thankfully, no surgery was required, I left $500
poorer; but I should be grateful it's not thousands!
What scares me, if this occurs again, how can I be
absolutely certain it's only a migraine.
I doubt there will ever be affordable healthcare in this
country, at least not during my lifetime. This is a for-profit industry and
too many people with influence are getting rich off it. If you are a senior citizen
with health issues to them you are just a piece of stale meat with a wallet!
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