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| Thread: A little personal experience I want to share | |
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Peacemaker
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Peacemaker = double entendre
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posted August 25, 2004 07:30 PM |
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A little personal experience I want to share
Due to some temporary internet complications, combined with the fact that many of you are friends but we don't typically communicate by e-mail, I have decided to share this little experience here in HC. My group at work has dubbed this event my husband's and my "horrible adventure."
Before I launch into my little story, I first want to reveal the true identity of the individual who recently sent many of you a website link. I had forgotten that most of you guys don't know my real name. So in case you recently received such a message with a link to a painting website, that was from me.
And now for the little adventure.
My husband's retina detached while on the plane to Biloxi, Mississippi for a conference at the beginning of August. We didn't know that's what was happening and he would not agree to me calling the doc until two days later, after he had finished his portion of the presentation. When I finally called, they told us to go to the emergency room based on his symptoms.
Well, it was confirmed in Biloxi -- his retina had not only detached but torn about 60% of the way across and was floating around in there like a loose gib. One of the worst cases they's ever seen. My husband's boss gave us his rental car and I rushed my husband to an Opthalmic specialist in New Orleans, leaving everything behind at the hotel in Biloxi but a change of clothes. There is a hospital there (Ocshner) that is so world renound that it has its own hotel attached because people come from all over the world. I checked him in for surgery and myself into the hotel -- next day I had to drive back to Biloxi to get all our stuff out of the hotel there.
I actually made it there and back all by myself, in time for his surgery on Wednesday (8/4) -- they had to go back in because it detached again. The entire surgery took 4 1/2 hours! They put a "buckle" around the inside of his eye in the periphery to hold the edges of the retina down, and also a gas bubble that is supposed to float up against the part of the retina they lazered down. Both will disperse and/or melt over the next six or seven weeks.
He was in recovery until the next day about 12. Then we checked him into the hotel room. The gas bubble made air flight out of the question because of the cabin pressure. So I rented a cross-country car in downtown New Orleans, and drove us both home to Denver (check this out on the map -- about 1400 miles) Geeze, you guys. I get lost on my way to work. But between me driving and my husband navigating (with his head cocked to the side, all doped up on pain meds and one good eye) we made it all the way home. It took two and a half days.
You would not believe the stuff that happened to us on the way. Asleep truck drivers veering back and forth, a guy's tail pipe coming off at 75 miles an hour right in front of me during Dallas rush hour traffic -- I had to drive nearly off the road to keep from hitting it!
One lady drove her little SUV about half way underneath a tracter trailer right in front of us and almost lost control on a Bayou bridge (alligators chomping beneath us in the water LOL!) then sped away trying to flee the scene. She had a little child in the back seat of the car and we could see him flopping all over the place when she lost control. We were afraid to let her flee in case she might kill herself, him and whomever else she might sideswipe. My husband called the police, who kept us on the phone while we chased after her going about 80 miles an hour until the cops finally caught up with us about fifteen miles down the road. They finally caught up with us and then with her, and pulled her over. I was shaking like a leaf by the time it was all over with.
Then when we were going through New Mexico the altitude pressure started hurting my husband terribly. The surgeon in New Orleans told me it was alright to drive him home, but apparently did not comprehend the two 8000 foot mountain passes we would be driving over in order to get there. We were in a rainstorm and on a two-lane highway with semitrucks zooming by us on the wet pavement at 80 miles and hour -- no stopping. I had to keep going. The doc here said his pressure got way too high and this can cause Glaucoma. We will not know whether this little trip caused my husband's retina or optic nerve tissue damage (potentially causing up to full blindness) until several weeks pass and he begins (if ever) to get his sight back.
Anyways, the good news is we at least made it home. I could just hear the headline: State employee and wife eaten alive by alligators after wreck during high-speed chase on Bayou Bridge. Details at ten.
Then he had to hold his head constantly at a tilted angle, 90% bedrest, and sleep with his face down for the first two weeks so the bubble would exert pressure against the repaired portion of his retina. He cannot exert himself in any manner for several more weeks (bummer). He just returned to work for the first time this morning. I am driving him everywhere. The bubble and the buckle inside his eye will both dissipate during the next few weeks. We will not know whether he is permanently blind from either the surgery or the pressure from the drive for a very long time.
Has any of you had any experience with this type of thing? I was just wondering if I am allowing myself to be overly traumatized by it. My husband is extremely active and healthy and the very notion of him being permanently blind in one eye is extremely disturbing to me.
Thanks for letting me share with you all.
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bjorn190
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Jebus maker
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posted August 25, 2004 08:43 PM |
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Thers an experimental microchip that stimulates Dormant retina cells to function again if sight is lost sometimes. So if the sight doesnt come back, can search the internet for that, and try to sign up for it mayb. The way medical science is progressing, thers always hope.
Sorry to hear about the eye. Hope it turns out ok.
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Peacemaker
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Peacemaker = double entendre
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posted August 25, 2004 08:51 PM |
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Thanks Bjorn! I was not aware of this and had never heard of it. I will pass this on to my husband, although he appears to be much more calm about the whole thing than I have been.
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Asmodean
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Supreme Hero
Heroine at the weekend.
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posted August 25, 2004 08:54 PM |
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Quote:
He cannot exert himself in any manner for several more weeks (bummer).
Does that mean no sex?
Only joking babe. I was sorry to hear about your hubby and was about to tell you exactly what bjorn told you, but he got there first 
I hope he pulls through fine.
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To err is human, to arr is pirate.
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bort
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Discarded foreskin of morality
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posted August 25, 2004 09:00 PM |
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Peacemaker, look on the bright side -- just imagine how sexy and dangerous hubby will be with an eyepatch!
Good luck for him not needing it, though.
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Drive by posting.
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Peacemaker
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Peacemaker = double entendre
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posted August 25, 2004 09:08 PM |
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Quote:
Does that mean no sex?
LOL! You got it, Asmo. Hence the "bummer" part. On the funnier side of this issue, when I asked the doctor whether sex was alright or not, he said men with perfectly healthy retinas have had them detach during rigorous sex. We both laughed at that one.
Quote:
Peacemaker, look on the bright side -- just imagine how sexy and dangerous hubby will be with an eyepatch!
LOL again bort! You should have heard him doing a pirate voice the other night for our dinner guests! It was hysterical!
Thanks to all you guys for reading my little horrible adventure, and for your kindness and good humor as well.
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pandora
Honorable
Legendary Hero
The Chosen One
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posted August 25, 2004 09:56 PM |
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Wow, Peacemaker - you guys have been through quite the ordeal  Sounds like you're lucky things didn't get any worse with all the road craziness you experienced.
I've never been through anything like that myself *knock on wood* but I think your reaction is perfectly natural. I'm glad you have HC and friends to vent to whenever you need 
Tell your hubby best wishes from all of us at HC I bet that'll speed his recovery! 
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"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
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privatehudson
Responsible
Legendary Hero
The Ultimate Badass
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posted August 25, 2004 10:30 PM |
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Ah ha! Was begining to worry about you until recently when you told me this, then you dissapear again! I dunno, you just couldn't resist could you? You just had to relive your youth and go on a roadtrip again
J/K anyway, take care until next time.
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We're on an express elevator to Hell, goin' down!
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Draco
Promising
Famous Hero
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posted August 25, 2004 10:43 PM |
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I hope your hubby gets better.
but does "Before I launch into my little story, I first want to reveal the true identity of the individual who recently sent many of you a website link. I had forgotten that most of you guys don't know my real name. So in case you recently received such a message with a link to a painting website, that was from me." have anything to do with this, or was that a side note?? is there a painting website related to this condition.
I would probably be freakin out if my retna detached, i dont know how he could od a presentation like that.
Good Luck
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Daddy
Responsible
Supreme Hero
and why not.
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posted August 26, 2004 12:05 AM |
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Wow, what an expierience!
I, too hope that he gets well asap - loosing eyesight (eeven if "only" on 1) is terrible..
though you two seem to have it mastered quite well.
As to ur advernture on the road: That's exactly why I hate public traffic! All the dangers and the incompetent people in their cars.... (well, not all are ) sometimes when I read such things or storys about people driving way too fast and killing others by it, I simply wanna stay home and never go near to any street -.-
best wishes,
Daddy
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Svarog
Honorable
Supreme Hero
statue-loving necrophiliac
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posted August 26, 2004 01:54 AM |
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Such a crazy week you had, Peacemaker. And so nice of you to share that with us.
I'm sorry about your husband and I'm sorry about your temporary celibacy. Hope it works out well for both of you.
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The meek shall inherit the earth, but NOT its mineral rights.
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Consis
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Of Ruby
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posted August 26, 2004 08:04 AM |
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Edited By: Consis on 26 Aug 2004
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My Reason For Living
You are a very special woman Peacemaker. What a lucky man your husband is to have you at his side. It's times like this that I am reminded of why I enjoy life so much. An experience like yours can forge the kind of memories that you'll never forget. Someday it may give you strength to remember how close you felt to your husband during all of this. At least, that's how I see it. I like to try and fill up on these kinds of life-enriching moments. I know I've used them to bring myself a hope-filled outlook on many of my life's most dreary occasions.
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Roses Are Red And So Am I
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pietjebell
Promising
Known Hero
positive
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posted August 26, 2004 08:46 AM |
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Sorry the hear from your husband Peacemaker
All the best!
And like the others said before; since things are as they are.. he still has one good eye. Constant agony is no fun live. (I know, about it)
But as Consis said; what good friend (wife) you are! Indeed its very very praiseworthy you did what you did!
Its good to see, you haven 't lost humor..
Again I whish you (both) all the best!
If there 's anything I can do, say the word..
I live in Holland, but who knows?
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BOOT: what U give yur computer to start
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Peacemaker
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Peacemaker = double entendre
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posted August 26, 2004 07:39 PM |
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Thanks to all of you for the wonderful, supportive posts and incredible comments to me. Consis, you have such an important point about these things being bonding experiences.
Everything happens for a reason. Another way to say that is that there is something productive to be taken away from every experience.
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bjorn190
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Jebus maker
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posted August 28, 2004 01:49 AM |
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Apart from the hope given by the progress of science, there is something else I would like you to know about. Its about problems and facts, and how to view life:
If there is something wrong, that you can change - then it is a problem, and you can try to think of a good solution to it. Rational setting of goal, alternatives, and choosing a plan of action is the protestant ethic inspired way of handling the situation. *Usually works
If there is something wrong, that you cannot change, then it is a fact, and you should accept the way reality is on that point, and make the most of what you still have. Many people worry about what they cannot change, but it only results in worry and sadness and no real gain for anyone.
So, the best thing to do is sort things into 2 categories: Problems and facts. And then work on accepting the facts and living with them, and then see what you can do about the problems.
+ As I grow older, I become more and more sure that there is more to life than material reactions between particles. Love alot and pray alot if u like that. Im sure it will all turn out good in the end. Wish u the best.
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Khayman
Promising
Famous Hero
Underachiever
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posted August 28, 2004 04:39 AM |
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Goodness Of Human Nature
Peacemaker,
I received your email and then came across this thread. I was sorry to hear about your husband's situation. I hope that things work themselves out for "The Big David," and I am sure that your positive attitude and eternal optimism will pull you through.
I have been a little busy as of late, and have not been a very good friend. I will try harder to keep in touch.
Stay safe and stay cool. Your family is in my thoughts.
Khayman "The Little David"
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Peacemaker
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Peacemaker = double entendre
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posted August 29, 2004 02:16 AM |
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No so little in my eyes
I have not been so good to my David the last few days. Thanks for your support and positive assumptions. I will try to live up to them.
Will be looking for you in the new forum -- You are a good friend and person, Khayman. I am so gald to know you. We'll catch up on the side soon. Take care of the things that need taking care of, and I will try to do the same.
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