Tag Archives: optometrist

A month of care

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A jade plant I bought myself the other day. I’m hoping the bunnies stay away from it.

I made a commitment that July was going to be a self-care month. It’s because I have a physical, blood work, EKG and minor surgery scheduled throughout the month.

Why not be the best I can be and pass all my tests with flying colors?

My husband and I embarked on a new schedule. We’re up before the sun rises to get out the door for a three-mile walk. Add to that, we’ve been consistently going to the YMCA for swims three days a week.

We’re taking a cacophony of supplements which I have no idea if they are helping or not. I’m cutting out excess sugar, starch, wine, diet coke — and my beloved white cheddar cheetos (once the bag is empty of course.)

The new early morning schedule makes me tired. I keep thinking I’ll get used to it, but between the wee early mornings and heat, I feel exhausted.

Then add to that, my vision is fuzzy. I have trouble reading books, looking at the computer, and spotting my golf ball. I had my annual eye exam and my optometrist sent me to an ophthalmologist to schedule a YAG procedure. It’s a simple and easy laser treatment that should restore my once perfect vision.

Right before COVID shutdowns, I had cataract surgery. I was born with extreme myopia and astigmatism. My Rx for glasses and contacts was a -16. In case you don’t know, that’s really, really bad.

Then things got worse. My growing cataracts had me seeing three stop signs stacked like a pyramid. And yes, I was driving!

Fast forward to cataract surgery and it was a miracle! I came out with 20/20 vision. I only needed a slight correction for astigmatism and reading. That was Winter of 2019 — but now things are fuzzy in my right eye. Today things were really extra fuzzy. I held my glasses up to the light and discovered the lenses were smudged. Oops.

According to the doctors I’ve seen, a membrane grows over the implanted lens and a quick laser treatment will get rid of it once and for all. I was surprised to learn that this happens to 40% of cataract patients!

Sunday, July 2, my second day of self care — I woke up with a pulled muscle in my butt! I’m stumbling around in pain and skipped my morning walk. July 1 we swam, so maybe I did something then? Who knows. So far, my month of health is off to a rocky start.

What special plans do you have for the month of July?

First trip to the Dream Center

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sunset pink sky
Pink sunset sky Tuesday night.

I took a tour of the Phoenix Dream Center with a group of women yesterday. It’s the residential facility that heals and houses victims of human trafficking.

I wrote about The Dream Center HERE.

The building itself is an old Embassy Suites. It has security from Homeland Security as well as their own security staff surrounding the building.

I was impressed that it had it’s own medical office. They said they want to check the victims out physically within a day of them entering the program. Often human traffickers keep the victims documents like driver’s license or social security card when they escape, so it could take 45 days to get new documents and a doctor’s appointment. They lost one young woman to organ failure and felt that they could do better. So, they built their own medical office and doctors volunteer their time so there is no need for documents or insurance.

The girl who died said she was at peace, because she was free and felt like the Dream Center was home.

The center also has a dental office and optometrist office.

I cleaned out my closet the day before my visit and found they have two rooms for men’s and women’s clothing that were clean and organized. Residents can go into the clothing rooms and pick whatever they want off the racks for free. Residents also are responsible for maintaining the clothing rooms.

There’s a garden which is healing for the residents to work in. They also have a chapel, therapists and psychiatrists.

One of the eye popping statistics was that unlike the drug traffickers who sell their product and then need to find more to sell, human sex traffickers can sell their victims from 12 to 16 times a day for years. Young boys around 11 years old can earn $300,000 a year for their traffickers.

We were told that 95% of the residents grew up in the Phoenix area, they are not coming from the southern border. The number one trafficker is a Romeo, who a vulnerable young woman falls victim to and is manipulated into sex trafficking. They may meet their trafficker online or in person.

It was a worthwhile day, but I’m emotionally exhausted.

I thought human trafficking was a border issue, but it turns out it’s not and it’s throughout our country and the world.

What are your thoughts about human trafficking NOT being a border issue?

It’s about time

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sunglasses and glasses with shoes.
My broken sunglasses, scratched glasses and sunglasses without bifocals I wear hiking.
I like the shoes on the temples. They’re essential don’t you think?

I’m finally going to the optometrist. I am horrible about taking care of myself as far as going to doctors. I have a fear that they will find something seriously wrong with me.

After years of taking my kids to doctors, I got in the habit of not going myself. My son had allergies and asthma and we were at his doctor’s office twice a week for shots. And that doesn’t count every time he got sick, which was often.

I finally went to an ophthalmologist right before COVID hit when my Rx for contacts and glasses lasted less than six months before my vision got blurry. While driving, I noticed a pyramid of three stop signs. I’d look at the moon and see three moons racked up like they were ready for a pool cue. And yes, did I mention I was driving?

I view my cataract surgery as a blessing. I have almost perfect vision after my adult life of 20/1600 vision, hard contact lenses and coke bottle glasses. My optometrist had me in a “piggy back” approach. Contact lenses with glasses on top for when I really wanted to see.

For the past few months I’ve been struggling with my vision. Post cataract surgery, I have a very small correction on my glasses with bifocals for reading. But there is a scratch on both lenses right smack in my field of vision. I have to push up my glasses and hold onto them to read. It’s beyond annoying.

The final straw was my Rx sunglasses with bifocals broke at the hinge. I decided to find an optometrist here in my new town and get new glasses. Maybe they can fix my sunglasses. We have a vacation coming up in August at the beach. My favorite thing to do is sit at the beach, watch the waves and read. That was what motivated me to make an appointment.

What is your vision like? How long have you worn glasses or contacts? Do you need readers now?

I’m envious of people who never have had to wear glasses.

blue shoes on sunglasses
My sunglasses with blue shoes.