Wednesday, March 08, 2017

involute (or the latest saga in Elizabeth's life, with 2 cool eye pictures)







I learned a new word today: "involute" which means "wither" (google says 'curl up'). So my trip to the Ophthalmologist was as interesting as always. The doctor, a kind professional doctor with a knack for conversation that makes you feel he is paying attention to you in the moment but you realize that he is seeing probably 20-40 or more people a day; this doctor is Jewish and has the mezuzah on each door way. His office is clean, with nice furniture and lots of doctor's chairs and fancy eye equipment. The people, from elderly and middle aged Jewish people, to a 60 year Malaysian woman who was an aid to an older woman from the Hebrew Home, to a thin black woman, probably from Africa... the Asian lady said she married a man at 39 who was 15 years older than she is and he had already died. She came to NYC to work and was very good at her job. She, the African woman, and I talked about how God always has a way...if one grows old and has no family, there is still a way that one will be cared for.... it was such a fascinating meeting, as if we were having tea and could talk about what really mattered in life. The African woman pointed upwards and said one must live knowing God.... So I had lots of tests for my eye and it showed that there was a change since my first appointment there on November 30th... basically a blood vessel near the retina was enlarged, with a possibility that it may bleed or leak. That's where the 'involute' word was learned. First I was given an eye test where they put dye (via a needle on the top of my right hand) into me, that went directly to the eye. Then they took lots of pictures of the back of the eye, to try to see what was going on. So I was given the choice of 3 medicines in the form of a needle in the eye; I called my Husband so he could be in on the choice and then, once it was chosen what shot I would have, they put many drops in my right eye (to clean, to numb) and put a small eye speculum (something that keeps what it is holding open) in my eye (quite uncomfortable!)...by this time I was lying back on the medical reclining chair and they gave me a shot in the eye. I could feel the needle in my eye, but there was no sharp pain. Afterwards it felt like I had been punched in the eye and my eye felt so dry, still having some of the drops in it (many antibiotic drops were put in my eye after the shot). This shot was to involute the blood vessel. I go back in 4 weeks to see how this went. Most likely I will need another shot, maybe 2 or 3 more.  :( ... but thank God that I have this medical care! And had such an interesting people-watching time... (There was also this Jewish man who was not cooperating with the woman caring for him, most likely a daughter, and when we were getting into the elevator we looked at each other and I knew quickly that he knew that I knew that he was being difficult on purpose because he found it humorous to do so). Anyway. A day in the life of Elizabeth having NYC adventures!

12 comments:

Helensmum said...

Hello Elizabeth,you are such a trooper,well done!
I hope you can fit a "treat" in at some point,

Many blessings,
Hope you get relief and improvement eye wise,
Ann Marie

Tracy said...

OH, Elizabeth... so glad all went well yesterday--prayers answered! :) And I'm so glad there seems a good possibility that you eye, with treatment, may be well yet... I pray so! And what a great wait you had, and meeting those women and sharing your stories. Quite fitting for International Women's Day yesterday ;) Hope you have a chance to rest today, as I'm sure yesterday was tiring in a lot ways. ((HUGS))

Juliana said...

Oh man. What an ordeal! Good on you for getting through it all. Glad they were able to figure out right away what was going on and treat it at the same time. Hope you are feeling okay today after all that.

GretchenJoanna said...

That does sound interesting... but you must be tired from such a day!

Lisa said...

Oh, my gosh Elizabeth - a shot in the eye! I know someone else who gets that; don't know how I'd be in that situation. I hope it'll solve your issue soon.

Isn't it something when we look at a stranger, and know we understand each other without speaking? Funny.

Emmie said...

I love reading about your conversation with the woman from Africa. And i am impressed with the way you describe the whole experience. Prayers for continues succesful treatment and healing of your eye.

karen said...

I pray fervently that your procedures worked and that you don't need any more needles in the eye. You are BRAVE.

Nancy said...

You make getting a shot in the eye as if it were a shot in the arm! Very brave!

I would love to have been with you in the waiting room. Such interesting people and a Jewish doctor to go with it!!! I always wanted a Jewish doctor who treated mostly Jewish people. Not sure why.

Take care of yourself!


Nancy

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

It seems you are in very good hands for the treatment of your eye condition, and look how God gave you encouraging people to converse with while you were waiting! All prayers for a very good outcome to the treatment. We are blessed to live at a time that effective medical procedures are available for such conditions.

Martha said...

Hope all is well with your eye. ♥ I'm glad to hear it seems to be so far. My dad had an amazing experience with a Jewish eye doctor about 20 years ago. At that time, my father couldn't afford an eye surgery (I believe it was for glaucoma, laser surgery, where they would relieve the pressure in the eye, by putting many "pin holes" in the eye) and since he knew my father was a Russian Orthodox priest, he offered to do it FREE. May God bless him!

Rachel said...

It's wonderful that you're receiving such kind and meaningful care, I know many people who are scared to death of their eye doctors! I do have to say that you're very brave! I'll say a prayer that the vessel "involutes" (thanks for teaching me a new word!) quickly.

elizabeth said...

Thanks everyone!!! I really appreciate your kind words and prayers, so much!!!!