We just got back from our appointment. My main worry was that his retina was detached, but Dr. T said it was intact. He said the flashes are caused by the vitreous fluid (the "jelly" in the eyeball) separating from the retina. He said that it is something that happens as we age; the jelly becomes thinner, and in Joey's case, since he has so much going on with his eye, that his eye "ages" faster than a normal eye. So as the jelly becomes thinner, it moves around in the eye, causing these flashes of light. Once I knew what it was - Vitreous Detachment - I googled it and was amazed to find that Joey had described it exactly as the article says. Actually, he said he saw orange flashes and what looks like a "beetle" walking across the side of his eye, which I figured meant "floaters". Dr. T said that this should go away over time, but as always, to monitor him, which we do. We always see Dr. T every 3-4 months anyway. I will keep on praying for that little eye to be healed.
As for my anxiety, God must have been with me, because I was ok on the drive. I was ready to whip out my "sword" (my memorized scriptures) and fight it though. My friend, Barbara, gave me another scripture to pray - Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace which passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Thats how I feel, like I made my requests known to Him, and He guarded my mind and heart.
Meanwhile, Joey missed the first two days of first grade, and when he goes in tomorrow, his eyes will probably still be a little dilated. I'll pack his sunglasses in his backpack. Although I've learned that you can lead a horse to his sunglasses, but you cant make him wear them...
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Orange Circles
Joey was supposed to start 1st grade today, but yesterday he started puking and so, he is home today.
Last night as he was going to bed, he mentioned that he saw "orange circles" when he blinked. I asked him which eye, and he pointed to his left eye, which is his "Coats" eye. I immediately began to worry and then finally pulled out Dr. T's card, which had his cell phone number on it. I called (it was about 9pm) and apologized for calling him at home AND for calling at that hour. I explained to him what Joey had told me and asked if it was something I should be concerned about. He said he would have to take a look at him and see what was going on. He wouldn't be in the office today, as he would be in surgery all day. But told me that I could go to the office first thing Thursday. I called the office this morning, and they told me to come at around 8 or 8:15. So I'm taking him in. It's about an hour and half drive from here, so I am not looking forward to it, but I think this is important enough not to wait til next week when Dr. T will be in the nearer office. I will also admit that I have already been on the internet scaring myself about this.
I will also say this...since Joey was diagnosed a couple of years ago, I've struggled with anxiety while driving. It's gotten better since I have figured out that it is anxiety, but I still fight it. Today, I prayed to God to be with me and give me strength. I told Him that I just felt too weak to fight the battle and that He would just have be with me and help me and give me the energy to fight it. Let me backtrack a little - a couple of weeks ago, I started to memorize Psalm 143, and when I feel anxious, I begin to pray it and it helps me a lot. I am memorizing it slowly, adding a verse at a time. So today, I picked up the bible and looked for this psalm to add to what I have memorized so far, when my eye was just drawn to another psalm on the page, and in particular, this verse:
Blessed be the Lord, my rock.
Who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.
He is my lovingkindness and my fortress;
my strong tower and my deliverer;
my shield and the One who I take refuge in.
I wont say that I miraculously felt peace, but I believe that He put a weapon in my hand to use when the need arises. Since the bible says that the Word of God is a sword, then I will wave my sword (recite the Word) in my battle against the anxiety.
Last night as he was going to bed, he mentioned that he saw "orange circles" when he blinked. I asked him which eye, and he pointed to his left eye, which is his "Coats" eye. I immediately began to worry and then finally pulled out Dr. T's card, which had his cell phone number on it. I called (it was about 9pm) and apologized for calling him at home AND for calling at that hour. I explained to him what Joey had told me and asked if it was something I should be concerned about. He said he would have to take a look at him and see what was going on. He wouldn't be in the office today, as he would be in surgery all day. But told me that I could go to the office first thing Thursday. I called the office this morning, and they told me to come at around 8 or 8:15. So I'm taking him in. It's about an hour and half drive from here, so I am not looking forward to it, but I think this is important enough not to wait til next week when Dr. T will be in the nearer office. I will also admit that I have already been on the internet scaring myself about this.
I will also say this...since Joey was diagnosed a couple of years ago, I've struggled with anxiety while driving. It's gotten better since I have figured out that it is anxiety, but I still fight it. Today, I prayed to God to be with me and give me strength. I told Him that I just felt too weak to fight the battle and that He would just have be with me and help me and give me the energy to fight it. Let me backtrack a little - a couple of weeks ago, I started to memorize Psalm 143, and when I feel anxious, I begin to pray it and it helps me a lot. I am memorizing it slowly, adding a verse at a time. So today, I picked up the bible and looked for this psalm to add to what I have memorized so far, when my eye was just drawn to another psalm on the page, and in particular, this verse:
Blessed be the Lord, my rock.
Who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.
He is my lovingkindness and my fortress;
my strong tower and my deliverer;
my shield and the One who I take refuge in.
I wont say that I miraculously felt peace, but I believe that He put a weapon in my hand to use when the need arises. Since the bible says that the Word of God is a sword, then I will wave my sword (recite the Word) in my battle against the anxiety.
Monday, July 03, 2006
June 2006 Update
Dr. T is now at an office in a city MUCH closer to where we live, so the drive is not so bad. (He's in the the old office on some days, and in the new office on other days). Joey had his routine eye exam this month. He's doing pretty good. Dr. T says the eye looks good, no leakage. He still has a cataract that does not seem to be worsening yet. We are praying that it will stay as is, or go away altogether.
While I was in the waiting room, I was "eavesdropping" on some ladies talking. They were comparing notes about what their babies had. One mom said that her baby had had three laser surgeries and two retinal reattachments. She said the baby's eyesight was poor, but that the sight she did have was only due to Dr. T. She said she was SO GLAD that she had found him. That was nice to hear.
The usual visit goes like this: The nurse checks his vision with an eye chart (kind of like a slide show on the wall). His right eye can see the chart - his left eye gets the "how many fingers am I holding up" test. After that, she puts drops in his eyes (which he HATES more than anything!). We wait a while for his eyes to dilate, and then Dr. T comes in. He turns out the light, and with a BRIGHT light on a headgear-type thing, he shines the light into Joey's eyes and hold a magnifying-lens-type thing up to Joey's eye so he can look inside. Like I said, the light is VERY BRIGHT and Joey has ALWAYS fought during this exercise. As a matter of fact, up to this point, Joey has sat on my lap during his exams. This time, he sat on the examination chair all by himself and did really well. Didn't move or squirm at all. I was quite impressed. Must be the maturity that turning six years old has brought to him. I asked Dr. T if he thought Joey's vision was improving any. He said it was definitely improving and to keep patching. Our next appointment will be in October.
Last time we saw Dr. T, Joey wanted to show him a picture of him on his new motorcycle. (He's got a little green kawasaki). Dr. T made a big deal about it, telling Joey that was really cool. When we left, Joey whispered to me that he wanted Dr. T to keep the photo. I told Dr. T, and he said "Oh boy, I was hoping I could keep it!" I thought that was pretty nice.
It's summer vacation, so patching is a little easier right now. Actually, I don't mean "easy". I guess I mean that patching is "less horrific" - ha ha! I can patch him early in the day before he's too tired. I made a little schedule for him for each day and right beside "patch time", I wrote "activity time with Mom", to make it sound a little more interesting. So far, its ok. We'll see how the summer progresses.
A couple of days after the appointment, Joey asked me "What did Dr. T say I had in my eye that had to be removed?" I was caught off guard cuz I didnt realize Joey was paying such close attention to what was being said at his appointments. I told him it was a "cataract", and I found it really hard to explain what that was. I did my best and told him it might need to be fixed, but that we'd have to wait and see. He seemed satisfied with that - and for that I am thankful. I figured he'd have more questions about it all as he got older. Six years old isn't quite "older", but I guess he's paying more attention and understanding a lot more now.
Thats all for now...
While I was in the waiting room, I was "eavesdropping" on some ladies talking. They were comparing notes about what their babies had. One mom said that her baby had had three laser surgeries and two retinal reattachments. She said the baby's eyesight was poor, but that the sight she did have was only due to Dr. T. She said she was SO GLAD that she had found him. That was nice to hear.
The usual visit goes like this: The nurse checks his vision with an eye chart (kind of like a slide show on the wall). His right eye can see the chart - his left eye gets the "how many fingers am I holding up" test. After that, she puts drops in his eyes (which he HATES more than anything!). We wait a while for his eyes to dilate, and then Dr. T comes in. He turns out the light, and with a BRIGHT light on a headgear-type thing, he shines the light into Joey's eyes and hold a magnifying-lens-type thing up to Joey's eye so he can look inside. Like I said, the light is VERY BRIGHT and Joey has ALWAYS fought during this exercise. As a matter of fact, up to this point, Joey has sat on my lap during his exams. This time, he sat on the examination chair all by himself and did really well. Didn't move or squirm at all. I was quite impressed. Must be the maturity that turning six years old has brought to him. I asked Dr. T if he thought Joey's vision was improving any. He said it was definitely improving and to keep patching. Our next appointment will be in October.
Last time we saw Dr. T, Joey wanted to show him a picture of him on his new motorcycle. (He's got a little green kawasaki). Dr. T made a big deal about it, telling Joey that was really cool. When we left, Joey whispered to me that he wanted Dr. T to keep the photo. I told Dr. T, and he said "Oh boy, I was hoping I could keep it!" I thought that was pretty nice.
It's summer vacation, so patching is a little easier right now. Actually, I don't mean "easy". I guess I mean that patching is "less horrific" - ha ha! I can patch him early in the day before he's too tired. I made a little schedule for him for each day and right beside "patch time", I wrote "activity time with Mom", to make it sound a little more interesting. So far, its ok. We'll see how the summer progresses.
A couple of days after the appointment, Joey asked me "What did Dr. T say I had in my eye that had to be removed?" I was caught off guard cuz I didnt realize Joey was paying such close attention to what was being said at his appointments. I told him it was a "cataract", and I found it really hard to explain what that was. I did my best and told him it might need to be fixed, but that we'd have to wait and see. He seemed satisfied with that - and for that I am thankful. I figured he'd have more questions about it all as he got older. Six years old isn't quite "older", but I guess he's paying more attention and understanding a lot more now.
Thats all for now...
Monday, May 15, 2006
Chatting In the Car One Day
Joey: Could I see with two eyes when I was a baby?
Me: I don't know for sure, but I don't think so.
Joey: Did you know that some people can wear glasses and they see better?
Me: Yeah. I wear contacts and they help me see better, but glasses and contacts dont work for everyone.
Joey: Well, did you know Dylan wears glasses? (Dylan is his classmate)
Me: Yes I did. But you and Dylan dont have the same thing with your eyes.
Joey: (Thinks for a couple of seconds...) Yeah, I know.
Me: We'll just keep on patching to try to get your eye stronger.
Joey: I wish there were no patches.
Me: I don't know for sure, but I don't think so.
Joey: Did you know that some people can wear glasses and they see better?
Me: Yeah. I wear contacts and they help me see better, but glasses and contacts dont work for everyone.
Joey: Well, did you know Dylan wears glasses? (Dylan is his classmate)
Me: Yes I did. But you and Dylan dont have the same thing with your eyes.
Joey: (Thinks for a couple of seconds...) Yeah, I know.
Me: We'll just keep on patching to try to get your eye stronger.
Joey: I wish there were no patches.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Update on Joey
We saw Dr. T in November at his new office in a different city. I told him that Joey was becoming quite "combative" about his patching. He said, "Combative? That's a strong word!". But I assured him that I MEANT "combative"! He told Joey that patching was VERY important and that it would help his eye get better. They dilated Joey's eyes and Dr. T said that the retina looks dry, which means there is no apparent leakage...which is great! So, we just keep on patching, and go back in a couple of months for another routine appointment with Dr. T. (The drive to the new office was only a little bit longer than the drive to the Children's Hospital. Not too bad. However, we found out that he also has an office in a city closer to us.)
It's February now, and we are still struggling a bit with the patching. Some days he is very compliant, some days he is just pissed off about it. I guess "some" compliant days are better than "no" compliant days, right?
On an encouraging note - one evening while he was patched, he insisted on doing his homework. I never make him do his homework while patched, since I figure it will only frustrate him. However, I was VERY pleased to see that he did a great job! His face was practically touching the paper as he did it...but he DID it. The numbers were neat and right on the lines! I was surprised and very encouraged! He was really proud of himself, too. He even told his teacher the next day that he did his homework while patched!
Until next time...
It's February now, and we are still struggling a bit with the patching. Some days he is very compliant, some days he is just pissed off about it. I guess "some" compliant days are better than "no" compliant days, right?
On an encouraging note - one evening while he was patched, he insisted on doing his homework. I never make him do his homework while patched, since I figure it will only frustrate him. However, I was VERY pleased to see that he did a great job! His face was practically touching the paper as he did it...but he DID it. The numbers were neat and right on the lines! I was surprised and very encouraged! He was really proud of himself, too. He even told his teacher the next day that he did his homework while patched!
Until next time...
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