Been a busy week health wise for dh and I. On Wednesday we had to be at the Toronto Western Hospital for 8:30 am, as he had an appointment with the Eye Surgeon at either 9 am or 9:30 am, no one could make up their mind which one it was? Didn't matter as no one got in on time. Dh had to have a Laser Iridotomy.
Laser iridotomy is a surgical procedure that is performed on the eye to treat angle closure glaucoma, a condition of increased pressure in the front chamber (anterior chamber) that is caused by sudden (acute) or slowly progressive (chronic) blockage of the normal circulation of fluid within the eye. The block occurs at the angle of the anterior chamber that is formed by the junction of the cornea with the iris. All one needs to do to see this angle is to look at a person's eye from the side. Angle closure of the eye occurs when the trabecular meshwork, the drainage site for ocular fluid, is blocked by the iris. Laser iridotomy was first used to treat angle closures in 1956. During this procedure, a hole is made in the iris of the eye, changing its configuration. When this occurs, the iris moves away from the trabecular meshwork, and proper drainage of the intraocular fluid is enabled.
Read more: http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/La-Pa/Laser-Iridotomy.html#ixzz2CETKCuxu
In layman's terms, there are channels around your eye ball's, that slowly close up. If allowed to close up you can go blind. So they make a hole in your iris and this allows the liquid to wander around the eye and releases the pressure.
It was very successful and he goes back in two weeks for a follow up appointment. I couldn't even sit through the consultation and testing as it totally grossed me out. We all should pray and hope that I NEVER EVER need anything done with my eyes as I am a total baby when it comes to eyes. It was $28 to park for over two hours at the hospital, luckily I found a parking spot across the road for $10. It took us two sodding hours to get to the hospital from our house. How people commute to down town Toronto is beyond me!!!
On Tuesday morning I went to the Optometrist's to have an eye exam. I would rather go to the dentist and have my teeth pulled than have my eye's tested. I DO NOT DO DROPS what so ever, so he made me do a slew of tests on my eyes and charged me $60 for those and $90 for the actual eye test. My prescription has gone up to 1.75 from 1.50, so I need to get new lenses for my eye glasses for reading and close up work. Otherwise my eyes are fine, and I left the office telling him I was NEVER EVER having those tests done again!!!
I then went to the doctor's about my rotten hand. I have arthritis in my thumb joint that is why it is so sore. Anyone with arthritis in their hands what do you do/use to get some relief. I am being sent for another nerve test in my hand to see if the nerves are pinched AGAIN. I also need x-rays on my hand to see what else is going on.
I wish I had never let her touch my right hand. I can only type for a certain length of time now. Driving kills me, hoovering is not much better. I have very limited strength now in the right hand. Once I have had the nerve test done I can then book an appointment to see the hand surgeon again. There is no point doing it now until I get all the test results back. My mam has arthritis in both of her hands, so it is maybe a hereditary thing?
If anyone has first hand info on arthritis I would love to hear your story.
So there you are. I am hoping that's it for doctors for the next week or two!!
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19 comments:
I've enjoyed catching up here Gill.
The baby shower looked like a big success. I think I gained a pound just looking at that table of food.
I'm with you on the Christmas cards. I send way more than I get back. I think sending cards is going out of style.
So glad dh's eye appointment went well and that you made it through yours. I'm the opposite, I'd rather see the eye doctor than the dentist.
I have arthritis in my knees and have for a long time. My daily meds help a great deal. For the past couple of years my hands have begun getting stiff and my rheumotologist keeps checking and so far so good. Is yours osteoarthritis or rheumatoid? The treatments would differ. My girlfriend and her Mom both had rheumatoid so hereditary does sometimes play a part. Hope you find a good solution.
I find that warmth helps the ache and pain in my joints for a little while, but a combination of a biological drug,cortisone and methotrexate are the only things that work for me now. It's probably hereditary in my case. I'm glad that your DH procedure went well and I hope that your X-rays are positively normal. My best wishes to you and DH. :)
I don't know if if would help but my mom who has extremely bad arthritis in both of her hands heats a rice pack every morning when she gets up and puts it on each hand for about 10 minutes. She does this through out the day and it seems to help.
First I have to say the Hawaii trip was 30 years ago!
Also ....I'm the same as you when it comes to eyes! I can manage my contacts but not drops and I hate the blast of air to the eyes... and your arthritis is most likely heriditary...it amazes me the latest research that shows exactly how much of us is inherited!! Even our personality to a degree!! Xx
I know Celebrex has had great success in treating Arthritis with some of my friends and family members. Constant exercise ie sponge ball squeezing. Tylenol and Ibuprofen, one each, helps when it gets severe with pain. Hope your results come back soon, Gill.
Hello Gill
Yes I know its long time no see - I'm finally catching up on some neglected blogs lol
That sounded like a week and half you had - bet you were glad to get to bed each evening and hope the next day would be a bit less traumatic.
Arthritis seems to be the word of the day - its like that in my house as well. I take Fish Oil capsules as well as Glucosamine capsules and rub Comfrey Cream into my hands and fingers just before I go to bed when they play up. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-comfrey-cream.htm
Hope that helps - look after yourself
Take care
Cathy
Hi Gill,
My uncle had arthritis in his hands and I remember him using maximum strength Tiger balm and some other stuff with capsazine in them. Hope you feel better.
As for choosing between doctors, I do not know which is worse: Dentists vs gynecologists
As you know I've had lots of gross stuff done..the only thing I don't think I could ever do is something going down my throat...they'd have to knock me out first.
Jane x
I have had the laser procedure for narrow angle openings and very good results years ago. Eye drops are not an issue for me. Just remember your eyes are one of your most important treasures, you'll never get another set. You want to treat them very good. I hope you will never have cataract surgery. Bess
I have had arthritis in my hands (moderate) since a young teen - it is neither rheumatoid, nor osteo-injury, just an anomoly I guess since it started so young.
The BEST for me was living in a dry hot climate...obviously, that isn't possible right now, so I kind of just muddle on through.
I probably won't be too popular, but in case you are willing to consider ALL angles, I have had a great deal of success with a back to basics diet/anti-inflammatory. I know not everyone is convinced, or prefers a more direct method...but thought I would share.
DEFINITELY avoid refined sugars, heavy acids, citrus...do fine handy work in small doses, sit when idle with your hands flat, stiff/weighted gloves when sleeping, massage, mild "exercising" to keep the stiffness away...
Very interesting about your husband's eye surgery as I have glaucoma too. So far I only do eye drops. I don't like going to the eye doctor either so I totally know how you feel. My eye doctor told me I need to relax. YEAH, RIGHT! :))
I'm so sorry you are having so much trouble with your hands. How frustrating for someone as handy as you appear to be!
Oh, I feel for you with all the dr. related visits, but sure hope you find some relief for your hand. That would just not be fun at all for the hand to hurt every time you do something.
Key to getting in and out of Toronto easily: take the GO train if you can!
As for your hand problems, have you tried massage therapy? It won't cure the arthritis, but it could relieve some of the symptoms and prevent pinched nerves! Massages have done miracle for me, but they have to be the deep kind. It cna be painful while the muscles release, but believe me, you feel amazing once the tension lets up!
My son has to have laser surgery on his eyes for the same reason as your DH.
I am so lucky, no arthritis so far for me, (fingers crossed and touching wood), so can't give you any advise either one way or the other. It can be very painful, so feel very sorry for those that suffer.
Paricia
I have Fibromialgia meaning I have arthritis in over 13 points in my body with inflamation, depression, and insomnia. Yay me! I am only 43. My hands are the worst. I find Myoflex works quite well, no smell, lots of coupons out there. Also, I have an electric blanket that SAVES MY LIFE when it comes to pain. Whenever I hurt I crawl under it (Biddleford Mills is the best brand - I have had this one over 10 years and it still works great) and put my hands under it too. The heat does wonders. I do not take medication as find it just screws with other things in my body (like high blood pressure and weight gain - neither of which I need). I also moved to a warmer climate but seeing as you own the cutest stone house ever I don't see that as an option.
Sounds like an awful time you're both having. Hope your thumb & your husband's eyes get better soon. Take care Gill
Oh dear, what a week! I have been having hip pain for a while now and it's time to go get it checked out. It started when I sprained my ankle badly ages ago and that's never been right. It's been interesting reading everyone's comments. And talking about comments, I have started moderating them as I had an horrendous influx of spam recently. At least I can keep it more under control now.
You and hubby have certainly had a busy time. Hope all turns out well with the laser on your husband eye.
We both had our eyes tested and I'm like you a total suck to even look at the pictures, though I did have to have the drops for pressure testing because I can't sit still for the puff test.
Hope you get some results back on your hand or some type of relief. Nothing worse than being in pain and not being able to enjoy the things you want to do.
My thoughts are with you; I hope all goes well in the weeks ahead!
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