A Needle in the Eye...not all that great

[Freebird]

It's been a long time since I've posted an update on my health situation here. Not that I've been trying to hide anything but there just hasn't been much to report since the surgery and radiation a year ago. I've been back to Boston twice for follow-up visits and have been told each time that the tumor is shrinking and things look like they are supposed to at this point.

 

That all changed last Friday. I had been in Evansville, IN all week and was having no problems. When I woke up on Friday morning, my eye was a little red and it felt like I had an eyelash or something in it. I also had a slight headache at that time. I really thought that I had somehow gotten something in my eye during the night and it would be better in a day or two.

 

Went through the weekend thinking at times that it was getting better but at other times, feeling that it was getting worse. Headaches had gotten very bad and I was taking Tylenol to address it. Woke up on Monday morning and got ready to head out to Michigan for the week. Stopped by the post office on my way out and by the time I was finished there, my head was throbbing, eye was very red and hurting like heck and I knew that I was NOT going to make it to Michigan.

 

Went back home and called my local eye doctor. She got me in around noon and did not like what she saw. She says that the pressure was slightly high and was causing my headaches but also a lot of blood vessels growing in the eye where there should not be any. She immediately got me an appointment at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic. The appointment was for Wednesday but she was so worried about the pressure that she had me come back to her on Tuesday so that she could make sure it hadn't gotten too much higher.

 

So, went to the Cole Eye Institute yesterday for what turned out to be a four hour ordeal. A LOT of tests to determine that I have now developed Neovascular Glaucoma in the eye that I had the radiation treatment done on. Turns out that about 16% of the people who have this radiation treatment will develop Neovascular Glaucoma. I'm one of those lucky few.

 

The visit went downhill from that point. I have never been too crazy about shots but I had a total of 4 needles put in my eye yesterday. The worse was the very first one...the "numbing" shot. That one was followed by an injection of some chemical that is supposed to neutralize the natural chemical in the eye that is causing the blood vessels to grow. That injection resulted in my eye pressure going from about 20 to about 74 and another massive headache. Simple to remedy that. All they had to do was insert another needle into my eye and draw off some of the fluid. Once couldn't be enough though so they had to do it a second time. The worse part is that they tell you that you absolutely must be still and NOT jump. I dare any of you to try and NOT jump when they stick a needle in your eye. They told me that it really wouldn't hurt much...I call BS on that.

 

So, these were all temporary procedures to address the immediate pressure, inflammation and pain. Next week I go back to see a Glaucoma specialist to find out what the next steps are but it will almost certainly involve more surgery.

 

The goal now is to address the Glaucoma while hopefully saving the eye but I was told that removing the eye may be the only option either now or in the future.

 

Finally made it home yesterday evening and I tell you, my eyes were so dilated that I couldn't even stand to look at the screen of this laptop. I needed to add Snarley's rally to the countdown page and add the Ladyrider's shirts to the merchandise section and it was all I could do to get those two little things done. Never thought I would need sunglasses to work on the website.

 

Anyway, that's been my week and the reason that I haven't been posting very much. Things WILL get better. It's just another little bump in the road.

[Hummingbird]

Freebird - I'm at a loss

 

 

I just can't think of anything comforting to say except that prayers for recovery over this latest setback are sent your way.

[CaptainJoe]

You'll be in Penny and My prayers. Its no fun when your eyes are hurt. I got a sliver of sewage pipe stuck in my right eye a couple of years back. Was standing and chipping away at some rock that was around it with a shovel when a shard came off and stuck me. Dr's were afraid I was going to loose the eye due to infection but many treatements later, I did not. Hope it works out for you as well.

[eagleeye]

I wake up this morning you hear of you and Lowell. Not a good start to my day.

I'll be thinking about you two today while I'm riding.

Don, I'm very sorry to hear of your what is happening now to your eye. Yikes, how could a needle in the eye (or 4) possibly feel good? You take care of yourself, and I know that you will.

 

Steve

[Trader]

well that just sucks!

 

Not sure if it's the same in the USA but with Glucoma here in Canada you can get a doctors prescription for "medicinal marajuanah".

 

I'm not sure if it is supposed to help the problem...or just make you so mellow you just don't care!

 

Hope things get better for ya!

[dunvilsteev]

All the best to you Don. You are a bigger man than me!

Anything to do with the eyes just freaks me out, I can tell you the only way they'd get NEAR my eye with a needle is by sedating me. When I was a teenage we went to an all night movieathon, one of the little shorts was the Dali film (?) where it looks like a girl takes a razor blade and proceeds to calmly cut her eyeball out. I left the movie and had nightmares so bad that put me on tranqs for a while.

Buddies found out how freaked I was, so the #$^#^#'s used to paint ping pong balls like eyeballs and then pretend they coughed so hard their eyeballs flew out .... yeah I know, haha. Good lesson, NEVER show weakness!

[Yama Mama]

Ron and I are certainly sorry to hear about this new problem with your eye. I cannot even imagine the pain you went through. We will pray that the doctors are able to save your eye and that this is resolved.

We sure are glad you went back home to the doctor for help.

You are in our prayers.

Yama Mama and Moped.

[RandyR]

Don. I'm not sure I could deal with all that you have.

 

You can beat this....

[Sweetnothing]

Don,

I hope things don't get any worse for you! You know we always have ya'll in our thoughts and prayers, and will continue to do so!

As far as having to wear sunglasses while you are on the site.......well.....thats cause we are just soooooo brite here!:rotf::rotf:

If there is anything we can do.........you know!

[CMIKE]

Ok...Boss...hang in there buddy...you in our prayers big time...

 

We GOT to save the eye.

I think the power of prayer will work in the case...we have to pull together for it to work.

[Snarley Bill]

linda, and i will be hoping and praying for the best for you. at a loss for words. slow down, take it easy and don't worry about all of us. we,re always out here for you. bill

[Freebird]

All the best to you Don. You are a bigger man than me!

Anything to do with the eyes just freaks me out, I can tell you the only way they'd get NEAR my eye with a needle is by sedating me. When I was a teenage we went to an all night movieathon, one of the little shorts was the Dali film (?) where it looks like a girl takes a razor blade and proceeds to calmly cut her eyeball out. I left the movie and had nightmares so bad that put me on tranqs for a while.

Buddies found out how freaked I was, so the #$^#^#'s used to paint ping pong balls like eyeballs and then pretend they coughed so hard their eyeballs flew out .... yeah I know, haha. Good lesson, NEVER show weakness!

 

I don't know that I'm a bigger man. I handled it all pretty well I thought. I didn't jump..didn't scream out like I wanted to...etc. They got done and I walked out to where Eileen was waiting for me in the waiting room. Went through the check out procedure and then walked a good distance to the car. I told Eileen that she was going to have to drive because I couldn't see anything at that point. Got in the car and we left. About a quarter mile down the road, I put my seat back, broke into a cold sweat and told Eileen to not worry about me but I thought I was going to pass out. I came to some time later and told her that I thought I had indeed blacked out and she said "yes you did...please don't do that again". So I didn't. I don't know if it was from the pain, a psychological reaction or what.

 

We got home and I got into the house. Eileen had to go to the drug store to get some prescriptions filled for me. My instructions were to go straight to bed. BUT...since she had to go to the drug store, it gave me time to make the couple of changes that I needed to make to the website here and then be in bed by the time she returned. HA.....I fooled her AGAIN.

[Trader]

My instructions were to go straight to bed. BUT...since she had to go to the drug store, it gave me time to make the couple of changes that I needed to make to the website here and then be in bed by the time she returned. HA.....I fooled her AGAIN.

 

Fooled her....maybe fooled the doctors....but probably didn't help your eye any!!!

 

Don't mess around man!

 

Do as you are told....don't mess around with your vision

 

Blind men can't ride!

[utadventure]

We continue to ask the Lords blessings for you and your family.

 

It's wonderful to have such a wonderful wife to help you through (even if you do fool her once in a while, she's probably not a fooled as we think, just patient)

 

Dave

[Iowawegian]

To tell you the truth.....I've been thinking about you this past week. You hadn't posted anything about your health, so I was praying things were going well. You and I both know melanoma is nothing to ignore. I hope that anytime you feel something happening, you get to the doctor asap.

I'm so sorry for what you had to go through these past few days.

I don't want to sound like a mother hen, and I know how important Venture Riders is to you, but there is no reason for you to be "making changes" to the site when you are in pain like that.

Please take care of yourself first. Everyone here will understand if things don't get updated or changed. Not only for your sake, but for your wifes. Some things are more important than others and your health should be number 1 right now.

Ok, I'm done scolding.

[Lone Eagle]

Don, take it easy - and take care of yourself - our prayers for a speedy solution and resolution to this bump in the road are with you. You are a much stronger man than me - there is no way in heck they would get within a foot of me with needles to put in my eyes without first knocking me out - wow.

[Dragonslayer]

I don't know that I'm a bigger man. I handled it all pretty well I thought. I didn't jump..didn't scream out like I wanted to...etc.

I would have screamed like a little girl and jumped over the moon. I stuck a screwdriver in my eye one time and did not like it at all.

 

Sorry you had to go through this and hope things turn out for the best. I'll say a prayer.

[mm482]

Our heart and prayers go out to you. Keep the faith and know you have many friends that are praying for you.

 

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

 

Earl

[gunboat]

hi don thanks for the update. i hope and pray for you to get better. i know you are loved and a lot of folks here are keeping you in their thoughts and prayers.

reguards

don c.

[Marcarl]

Thanks for the update, bro. You can't get out of our prayers, it's a steady thing. We sure hope for the best for you two, especially you, but Eileen needs our prayer support as well.

Now if you can't learn how to take it easy, we're going to have to send somebody down there to learn you.

[BuddyRich]

Prayers are with you Don. Take it easy for a while. The site can wait till your ready....

[Blackjack]

Thanks for sharing your story, Don! That's just part of what makes this site such a great family. Janis and I send our thoughts and prayers your way. All of your loved ones here will rally around you, my friend, so if there is anything any of us can do to be helpful, please don't hesitate to ask...

 

Terry

[Yammer Dan]

Prayers are with you Boss. Take care of it and try to listen to the Docs.

[mini-muffin]

Ok Deb said she didn't want to sound like a mother hen, well I am not making any such promise. First of all Don please anything that you feel that makes you uncomfortable with you eye, PLEASE call your doctor. Dang you men will wait and wait. Ok now that I fussed at you. Please take care of yourself, this isn't gonna be easy. I know what they do for Glaucoma treatments. They probably won't go the medicine route. I wouldn't go that way usually too many side effects from those meds.

Now as far as stuff on the site it can wait. Yeah I know you think you have to do everything immediately. We can wait for stuff to get done later. If Tom had known what you were going through he would have told you to wait to post that stuff about the lady t-shirts.

 

You know how much we love you and don't want to see you doing anything to hurt yourself. You do what the doc says and call the docs if you have anything that seems off. Even if you think it might just go away.

 

Now be a good boy please.

 

Margaret

[Carbon_One]

Don can't add nothing anyone else has already said but do know you're in thoughts and prayers here as well. Do what must be done to get better and do take a break as needed.

Larry