Eye see you

It's Friday. I am almost done for the week. YIPEE.

I came up to my office this morning at 7:30 to do some things I didn't get done yesterday due to my doctor's appointment. My goodness people call early. I had a voicemail from 6 am. I was up and heard the phone but I was not going to my office to answer it. People don't know this is my home when they call our office so I get why they call when they can and when they remember.

I admit though the calls that come in at 2 am that startled the shit out of us at that hour is a bit crazy. I don't think I have ever had a remodeling idea at 2 am and made a call to a contractor. 

I made it to my eye appointment and then just sat in the office and responded to comments on blogger while I still had my eyesight.  I knew once those drops were in I would not be able to read much.

I got inside and met the new doctor who was lovely and smart.

I like that combo in a doctor. She mentioned this appointment as a second opinion and we went over everything that I had gone through. I brought a folder of files for her to review of tests and doctors records etc. 

When telling her this from my perspective I did not leave out a single thing, not even their smug, arrogant and rude attitudes and comments to me. She said that she was a bit surprised to hear this. These 2 doctors were well known and highly regarded nationwide as well as being quite good at their jobs, and she added, as am I. I liked that she added that. The difference was she was more humble about it. I want someone who thinks they are good and can back that up. Hell, at my old job I knew I was good. I didn't think it was arrogant to know that but I didn't walk around saying it or acting above anyone else. 

She went on to say that she would have done most of these tests too to rule out all they did because this is so different. She also stated that seeing Dr. D., the oncologist ophthalmologist is the best in the country and that we are so lucky to have him in our area. That made her happy that he ruled out cancer and had me do those types of test as well. That also gave her confidence moving forward of what I didn't have for certain and how to deal with this questionable mass I do have.

My new doctor, Dr. L. specializes in Uveitis. She said she did not believe this was Uveitis or like anything she has ever seen during her career, but she believes because no one knows what the hell this is and my symptoms are that of Uveitis that is why it is being treated as such. Before she would say more she dilated my eyes and then I had to sit for another 15-20 minutes before she could examine me.

I had explained to her that once I was weaned off my prednisone eye drops it felt like it was getting worse again. I notice my vision changing back as well as floaters and the pressure that appears on the top of my eye. 

During the exam, she did say it was smaller than my records indicate it was at the very beginning, but a bit larger than where it was at my last appointment. (so I was correct that it was reverting back)

This was a very very thorough exam and lasted a long time. 

When it was done she said that she believes this not to Uveitis but since the prednisone drops worked so well to reduce this she felt I needed to stay on the drops until we could get this either gone or much smaller. She felt if I agreed, to monitor this for awhile since it was responsive to the drops. I would have to take them 4 times a day for 3 weeks and then return. However, I will be on vacation at the 3-week point so we are going to do this at 4 weeks instead. She said, "We will get this, whatever it is, gone and get you back to normal. I feel it should be monitored should it come back and we will continue to search for answers. I am sorry I am not 100% certain this is Uveitis or that it is NOT Uveitis but I have never seen Uveitis like this before. We've ruled out everything else so now all we can do is monitor this and continue this protocol and see where it goes. Can you work with me on that?"  Hell yes! All I ever wanted was the truth, expectations and to be spoken to like another human being. How nice to finally get it.

At one point she was speaking about the group of doctors I saw as though I was going back to them. I told her that I was not comfortable going back there and asked if would she be my doctor. She looked me straight in the eye and said it would be my pleasure. Her hand on my arm as she said this. Not once would Dr. B look at me, only through me or he spoke to his minions who followed him and they spoke to me. 

I asked if the reason when I asked Dr. B if this was gone and his response was, "You're seeing better aren't you" was because it wasn't gone and he just didn't know what it was. She didn't say that was right but she didn't say it wasn't. She said something to the effect of I'm sure he wasn't avoiding the question just was happy it was working. Bullshit but I let it go. She didn't say it. I know what he said and the tone it was said, I also know how she avoided this meant I was correct in my assumption but she didn't wish to throw a colleague under the bus. I surely get that. But knowing that she felt what I felt made me feel better - I know that sounds odd but somehow it was comforting that this wasn't in my head. It wasn't ever completely gone to begin with.

She mentioned my Celiac and how this wrecks havoc on your body with inflammation etc. This could be somewhere it is affecting me but it's all a guess right now. This is an unusual case and I guess I will be a science experiment for awhile. Also, she stated that Celiac is not taught much in school or that it is not well documented until recently so she is learning as well as those of us with it in regards to the disease and its plethora of symptoms it takes on in our bodies. At least she was honest that she knew very little but was learning. I get that.

I am back on the steroid drops. I already feel less pressure on my eye this morning after just 2 drops yesterday and 1 this morning. At least this doctor listened to me, communicated WITH me not AT me and we had a real conversation. It is not cancer. I don't have cancer in my body from all those tests and they are all perplexed. So just call me Science Experiment number 4.

I just want this good enough so that I can get new glasses. We discussed that as well. I mean this all started because I wanted new glasses. She also gave praise to my optometrist who made me deal with this immediately before I lost my eye sight. He may work at Costco but he is damn good. Did I tell you he called me a 2nd time? He called to see how things were going. I filled him in on my improvement. He was so relieved.  How nice is that?

Allow me to leave you all for the weekend on another happy note.

My 3 nieces were raised by my parents, their grandparents.

They are not so much grandparents but the only parents they know. 

My parents feel they are their children - a second set if you will.

The 3 of them bought a photography session. My niece Ariana is an event planner and I think she knew him through work. These are 4 of the photos of Dad and Mom now. Dad is 89 and Mom is 75. (remember she is my step mom, she was not 14 when she had me. 😋)  

This one is my favorite. It is so them. Laughing and the look on their faces. This is my Dad to a T. That mischevious look and smile.

 You can sure see the difference from the last photo I shared of him, can't you?

I love the old coot but it sometimes saddens me to see him so frail.

 You can see here that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree right? Yep, we all love our wine in my family. It's an odd photo of my mom in the middle of saying something but it made me laugh, the wine and all so I had to share.

 As a teenager, it used to bug the hell out of me that they were always kissing. Now of course I think it's nice.