The story begins 9 weeks ago when my hubby text me that he set up an eye dr. appointment because he was having "trouble" with his vision. Upon further questioning, I discovered that he had a black spot in his vision that was bothering him. He ended up going in the very same day to the doctor and was told that he had "floaters" in his eye and that it would go away on it's own in 2-6 weeks. No need to worry unless things got worse or changed in his vision. 3 weeks later, he goes back to eye doctor as he is having flashing (lightning) in his eye along with the dark spots. Again told they couldn't see any tears or problems and that it should get better on it's own. 3 weeks later, at the 6 week mark, hubby went back to the eye dr but saw the other doctor in the practice. She thinks she sees "something" and tells him they are making him an appointment with a specialist in less than 2 hours. Hubby calls me and I rush out of work, leaving no plans for a sub to race him to the appointment an hour away.
Tuesday, September 26--This appointment was crazy in so many ways. The waiting room was PACKED, and loud with some very interesting characters in it, and we were there for over 4 hours. They dilated his eyes in the waiting room, and then called him back to a room a couple of different times, before actually seeing a doctor. They check out BOTH eyes as standard procedure on the first visit. I'll leave out a lot of details for time's sake...After inspecting both eyes and taking notes and dictation, we discover that BOTH eyes have detached retinas. We were shocked to say the least. We told the Dr. that he is only having trouble with one eye...the "bad eye" as we call it was 70% detached with some small tears in it as well. The "good eye" had a lesser detachment with some small tears. Both eyes need surgery as soon as possible. The doctor was hopeful that the good eye could be taken care of in the office with a laser procedure, but the bad eye would need full invasive surgery that would require hubby to be face down, head down for at least 2 weeks and off work 4-6 weeks.
Wednesday, September 27--Still in complete shock, we go for the laser surgery in the good eye. The visit lasts approximately 3 hours. They bring me back to the room after the surgery to tell us that the surgery was NOT successful and he will have to undergo the more invasive surgery on this eye as well...as soon as the bad eye heals from it's surgery. We were very disappointed, yet still in shock. We headed to Grant's football game as it would be the last one Phil would be able to attend this year.
Thursday, September 28--We go for the full invasive surgery in the late afternoon. They tell me the surgery will last for 1 1/2 hours. After 2 1/2 hours I'm pacing the room worrying. Finally he comes in to tell me that it was a much more difficult surgery than he thought and it was a very tough fix, but that it did indeed go well. We got home about 12:45 AM and had to be back at the doctor for post op at 8:30. It was a rough night of sleep for us both with Phil having pain and having to be face down.
Friday, September 29--Post op appointment went well and we go home and sleep!!! I left Phil alone to go to Brock's football game...and was so nervous leaving him with one eye ;)
The next 2 weeks appointments--Twice a week appointments (with my dad driving him--thankfully), drops 4 times a day (I come home at lunch to do drops) and still face down. We found out some more challenging news. The full surgery did not completely re-attach the retina. It is still 10% detached. He has a change in eye drops, and additional exercises to do to try to help the attachment "take" and close up.
This week, Tuesday, October 17--the exercises have worked and it is very likely that his "bad eye" is going to heal up nicely and not need additional surgery. After 3 weeks, he is STILL face down 22+ hours a day. He is staying positive, but it is hard to be face down and basically miss out on life with us. We go again on Friday to make sure that the bad eye is indeed reattaching properly and at that point will begin this whole process on the "good eye"! Goodness!!!!
Honestly, if we hadn't waited 6 weeks to see the specialist, the story may have been different. The detachment less severe or maybe only torn and major surgery prevented. But we can't go back and have that hindsight. For whatever reason, it was missed in BOTH eyes and we don't know why...but it was. It is what it is, so we move forward and deal with the cards we were dealt. We are hopeful and feeling good about the end results...it's just a long road to get there.
My hubby is a very private person, so I haven't posted "formally" about our challenges in the last 9 weeks. I've been meaning to blog, because writing it out is so very therapeutic for me, but honestly haven't had the energy or the time...So that's us for the last 9 weeks. The last 3 weeks have been stressful, emotional, exhausting, overwhelming, scary, etc...And although this post is mostly the facts and basics of what is happening...We have seen God work in amazing ways. He has been present and provided for us each step of the way...emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, etc.
I will try to post updates here for those that are interested. From now on, the updates should be shorter. I should've started blogging 3 weeks ago, huh??? :)
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