After Bikram, I had a 9:30 am appointment with the eye doctor at Kaiser Permanente. I was planning to pick up Elsa, take her home, and make it back to Kaiser for my 11:30 appointment for a mammogram. I didn't get finished with the eye doctor until eleven.
I had to wait for the first phase of the exam; I sat outdoors at a table provided for that purpose; every building at Kaiser is over chilled. When they called me, I saw the nurse first. I had requested that two problems be looked at at the same time. The nurse said I had to choose between having my macular checked or my drooping eyelids. I decided on my issue with the macular because I had been warned that lowering my head or lifting something heavy could make it worse.
First, the nurse had me look at one of those old fashion eye charts. I was shocked at the difference between my right and left eye. She also took pictures of my retina and macular, duplicating what the optometrist did, and checked my eye pressure for glaucoma. She used one of those old fashioned devices that actually poke the eye. She managed to get a reading on the right eye, but not the left. I could not for the life of me keep my eye open while that damn thing poked and poked and poked me. The job was passed off to the doctor.
I went back outside to wait for the doctor to be free. When she called me, she asked about how my condition affected my vision, and when did I first notice the change. I told her that my eyes got tired more quickly, but I couldn't tell her when it started. It was a gradual process. Then she checked the pressure in my left eye with some fancy gadget which didn't disturb me at all, at all, and put in dilating drops. Next, it was back outside to wait for my eyes to be ready for the next phase of the exam. The doctor said it would only take fifteen minutes for my eyes to fully dilate because I had light eyes. Now, what does the color of eyes have to do with how rapidly the eyes dilate?
When the doctor called me back in, she looked into my eyes with high powered lenses and lights. Her conclusion was somewhat different from the optometrist’s. I will have to check with him. She said it was not just a separation of the macular from the retina; it was an accumulation of cells that would have to be removed surgically. While she said the ophthalmic surgeon was excellent, the operation is very delicate and not always successful. Sometimes, the results make the eye worse. I decided to wait until the problem got worse before I opt for surgery.
When I was finished with the eye doctor, it was already eleven o'clock. So much for my plans to pick up Elsa, go home and shower and then come back. I gave my name at the desk pf the imaging department for my mammogram; the clerk said I didn't have an appointment. I had made one and canceled it within minutes.
I called to see if Elsa was ready. The groomer said he had called me to let me know she was. I have no idea why I don't hear my own phone ring at times. Elsa was glad to see me and anxious to leave. The groomer said none of the dogs like to be groomed. He also told me she had a whopping ear infection. I had noticed a smell, treated it with the ear wash, and thought that took care of it. He said none of the ear wash would have gotten in because she had so much hair in her ears. He said if he pulled the hair out, she would shake her head a lot, possibly causing some hemorrhaging at the tips of her ears. It had to come out so I could treat it. I have a pair of hemoccult which I got from the kidney dialysis center, which are suitable for pulling out ear hair, but do I do it? Not so much.
Elsa doesn't have the most diligent human at her service. Despite her problems with me, she seems to tolerate my presence. When I got home, did I immediately clean her ears with the ear wash? No. I forgot- or just chose to forget because I know she doesn't like it when I do it. I did some ironing and tried to nap.
I was invited to a 3 pm potluck at Sue and Al Brio's house. These are folks from the church. It was a good chance to get to know these folks better. While I rarely went to church on Sunday when Mike was alive, I now go regularly. It started because I thought this is what he would want, what he always wanted. Whatever the church service provides, I get a community along with it.
Posting the blog on blogger.com has brought forth a rash of news from people all over the world about medical problems that have plagued them. A woman who I have known since I was two told me that her husband just died on January 21, of prostate cancer. Another told me she was diagnosed with breast cancer; another has some neurological degenerative disease which affects her ability to speak clearly; and another, whose husband already suffers from a number of chronic diseases, has now learned his kidneys are not in good shape. Whoever has to go out and collect mustard seeds, I have a list of addressed to check.
Judy and Paulette had picked up two small plates of shrimp from Costco for me to bring to the potluck. I took my car because Judy had to home by six o'clock. I was going to follow Paulette to the house, but we got separated at the turn onto Mamalahoa Hwy. I didn't get a break in the traffic. We assumed Paulette would wait for us, but when we drove along, we never saw her. Judy said the turn was one block before the church. I saw the turn too late but tried to make it anyway. I had to back up on this busy highway to complete the turn. This is the third crazy dangerous thing I have done while driving this week. No, I'm not driving like the little old lady; I'm driving like a crazed New Yorker.
Fortunately, I thought to put Sue's address into my phone before I left, just in case. That got us there. It was about 3:30 pm, and we were the first ones to arrive. Others started arriving shortly afterward. The Brios have one of those tremendous Hawaiian homes with an open-air lanai and a fantastic view of the ocean.
As it approached six o'clock, I asked Sue when the desserts were coming out. She said, "We have to have dinner first." Paulette had made lemon chicken. I had loaded up on that assuming this would be my dinner. I just had salad and some rice. My protein requirement had been adequately filled for the day. Judy and I left shortly after. Paulette didn't get home around 9 pm. Paulette said she wanted to stay later. We both assumed since it started so early it would end early. Guess not! I think six hours actively participating in social engagement is a little beyond my tolerance these days. I think next year, I'll bring a book so I can hide away and take breaks. Also, I have to arrange for someone to walk Elsa. On the other hand, they live close enough so I could just drive home, walk and feed her and return.
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