Monday afternoon, I’m sitting there, minding my own business, when BAM! my right eye starts giving me all nature of problems. It starts to hurt, it’s getting red, it weeps, it hurts. Oh, and did I mention it hurts?
This gets progressively worse overnight until when I wake up Tuesday I can’t see out of it and it hurts like a sonofabitch. In fact, it hurts so much I just sit there being miserable all day, thinking, “It’s got to stop soon! Don’t eyes heal quickly?” Yesterday I didn’t do more than sleep and pop pills, thinking, “Surely it’s going to end soon.”
No Such Luck.
I wake up today and it’s marginally better, but still not good. At least I can open it without going into a paroxysm of pain and I can see to type (though it’s taken me three times as long to post this as normal – some of the typos have been entertaining). But I decide to take control and go see a doctor.
This afternoon I finally get an appointment with an opthamologist (can never spell that correctly). Out of network, of course, because none of the in-network eye docs can see me on such short notice. That means this is costing me a mint, in addition to being the biggest pain in my ass wallet eye ass I have had to deal with in a long while.
What’s the diagnosis you ask? corneal ulcer.
NOT!
I am now on a plethora of drops and creams, tackling this thing from a variety of angles. I have to see this doctor every day for the next few days ($$$ x 3). I should just bring the K-Y to their office tomorrow and bend over – it might feel better and will be much more entertaining than having someone stick their fingers in my eye.
Have any of you ever tried to read one-eyed?! It’s a pain in the arse! And you should see me try to walk up or down stairs! It’s humorous. Thank goodness for my 8-year old walking stick, a.k.a. daughter. And my apologies for whining like a little bitch to those of you who live with eye problems every day. I can now say I sincerely feel for you.
So, word to the wise, take care of your eyes. Don’t wear your contacts too long. Go see the opthamothingiemabob as soon as something like this happens. And I do mean AS SOON AS! Don’t wait for it to get better.
I will soon be back up to fighting form, reading like a demon, reviewing all of those lovely, lovely books. Meanwhile, all due commiserations, sympath
y, and chastising accepted in the Comments section. I have this nifty software on my laptop that can read them to me. And it won’t be my 8-year old – she’s not quite up to the minimal age for us romance whoores fans.
My sympathies, really. I’m just the opposite — a writer who has wrist problems. I have tendonitis and can’t type with my left hand until the end of September. You type; I’ll read aloud…
You got a deal, Carrie. But I take no responsibility for the typos! 😉
Holy Cow!! Did you follow that link on your eye!? It mentions morbidity – that means death right? And the treatment sounds horrible but there was no mention of creams or drops so I would take it up the arse and pray they don’t operate 😉
I hope your eye gets better quickly – nothing like a leaky eye (I get that if I wear any kind of cream or makeup on my face) to have you wanting to rub them.
CindyS
Holy Crap, Gwen! My eyes are watering in sympathy for you! Are you going to still try and get in to see your regular opthamologist?
Two words of advice- AUDIO BOOKS! I mean, I’m sure your computer has a very nice speaking voice (NOT), but you can’t beat a good audio book. A lot of libraries let you download them. Or, for ten bucks a year, join Audible and get member pricing.
Sheesh! I winced at least twice reading this. I had my first stye ever last year and I wanked about that, but this is just so not good. Hope you are feeling better and getting some relief for your eye.
Wow Gwen, I’m amazed that you were able to type this so well! I do feel a minimal amount of your pain, I got shampoo in my right eye this morning. Definitely nothing like this though. Get better soon!
Oh God — ouch! Your EYE! How awful! And what a brave bunny you are for showing up anyway! shouldn’t you be lying down with an eye patch or something instead of working for us?
TAKE CARE OF IT! Don’t overdo it! Follow the ophthamingie’s instructions to the letter.
We need you!
Hugs, Gwen! I once got bleach in my eye and had to have it flushed with saline, then had a pound of cream put in it and an eye patch taped on. I can sympathize, but your situation sounds waaaay more painful! Your depth of perception is off and it’s frustrating. Why not get someone to grab you a couple of audio books from the library and use the time to get a little rest if you can? And I hope you feel better soon!
Kathryn
Thanks for all the well wishes folks!
Yeah – I read the “morbidity” thing too and went, “Huh?!” I’m guessing that can happen because you can’t see, not because of the actual infection, but who knows. I’ll have to ask the ophthasomethingorother when I see her AGAIN today.
It feels so much better today, though, it isn’t funny. Still hurts and is getting a little itchy, but it’s much better.
But I may still have to put my feet up and eat bon-bons this afternoon. Screw this “working for a living” gig.
(Note to self: pick up some bon-bons on the way home. Fresh out.)
OUCH!! See I’m a wimp. The day I couldn’t open my eye and had horrible, stabbing pain, I’d have been camped out at the IN network doctor (I’m not just a wimp, but a cheap wimp with an attitude when I’m not feeling well).
I hope you heal fast!
**BIG HUG** god forbid I lost my eyesight and couldn’t read 🙁
I had a bee once sting me near my eye and it wasn’t a preety sight!
Feel better.
I hate when I have problems with my eyes. It’s a misery. Hope you feel better real soon.
So sorry Gwen! How awful! Hope you feel better real soon!
Yuck, Gwen!! I hope your eye starts seeing better soon. And not hurting!
poor poor gwen! I sowry… I didn’t mean to disappear on you this morning my computer got sick and they have to come fix it tomorrow. I am twitchy now. 5hours without email just isn’t right.
ugh, you remind me I need to get my eyes checked… hate hate hate eye problems. Soooooo painful and you can’t READ! Glad the kiddo is helpful! And that you are feeling better.
You should get better soon though since I finally think I am ready for you to borrow lover unbound.
YAY!! LU LU LU LU – LOVER UNBOUND!! Love me some Vishous. Can’t wait to get my mitts on that thing.
Eye update: this afternoon’s appointment was $90 and 15-minutes of “yup – it’s healing”. Monday’s
reamingcheckup should be more of the same if I don’t stick something like, say, a LOG in my eye this weekend. And guess what, starting tomorrow morning I go from putting stinging little drops in my eye every HOUR to every OTHER hour. And if I’m a good girl, on Sunday, I can go to every THIRD hour. I know, I know. Their largesse knows no bounds!I’m thinking these doctors practice with large, Lora Leigh-recommended butt plugs and whips.
Ouch, sounds painful. I hope you feel better soon.