So... you have all heard my epic eye story, right? VERY long story made VERY short - My eyes, in particular my left eye, have ached and hurt and driven me crazy since around October. As a result, I haven't really been able to wear my contacts since then. I've been to a GP and to the emergency room for a CT scan etc. and the resulting diagnosis was 'eye pain'.
So, we got an unexpected check for $75 the other day and Paul graciously agreed to use it to take me to an eye doctor. So, Thursday night we slogged on down to the optometrist to see what he could tell us. He did various tests including (ANDREA - skip the next sentence) turning my eyelids inside out, which made me gag several times. It was unpleasant but the doctor was very nice. He checked my vision and said 'who did this to you?'. I laughed and said that I could blame both my parents for my horrendous vision. The next thing he said was 'you have severe allergies, did both parents do that to you too?' Yup, that too.
After that he showed me a picture of what the inside of my eyelids looked like and told me that he knew what the problem was. Now, you should be aware that although what is wrong with me is actually quite serious, you are allowed to laugh and/or roll your eyes and think 'it could only happen to Jenn'. I have 'Floppy Eyelid Syndrome'. Yes, genetics and years of allergies have given me floppy eyelids, thus when I sleep, my eyelids don't close all the way and they get dry and red and scarred. The doc said that he could see 'ribbons of old infection' in my left eye.
So, I kind of laughed at the bizarre name of the syndrome (I said to Paul later 'they can tell me this is serious all they want, but if they're going to call it 'floppy' something they have to assume that people won't take it seriously. If you broke both of your legs and the doctor said you had 'floppy leg syndrome' it wouldn't sound so bad, would it?), but the doctor said that it was quite serious, and that I should have surgery. I told him that that wouldn't happen at least until Paul and I can get married and I can get on his health insurance. Then, he said that I could use steroid eye drops in the meantime, but that they were $75. So, I was kind of frustrated and scared by that time and I started crying. He handed me a kleenex and when I pulled the kleenex away from my eyes it was bright yellow. I was confused already and that made me freak out until he informed me that he had just put dye in my eyes. So, my crying made him suggest that there was a less potent eye drop that I could get that would only be $15. I managed to stop crying and said that that would be good.
I left the office and was still kind of weepy and the doctor looked sort of flustered and told his nurse that he wasn't going to charge me for the appointment. So sweet of him! So, I got a freebie eyedrop from him, a prescribed one that cost $15 and an off the shelf one that he gave me a $3 off coupon for. Nice guy. Now, I have to use eyedrops 8 times a day for the next two weeks, then go back and get checked again. I may never be able to wear contacts again depending on how these steroidal eyedrops work. That means, essentially, that I would never again feel attractive til the day I die.
So, that's my story. After all these months of pain and discomfort and idiotic diagnoses and money spent that we can't afford - floppy eyelid syndrome. I've looked it up quite a bit and there are some suggestions that I will try, such as using a sleep mask and such. I guess we'll see what happens. I'm pleased to have a name for my issue, but very scared that I'll be in pain til we can afford surgery (read - never) or that I'll never be able to wear contacts again.
Go ahead and laugh at my pain! ;)
4 comments:
I would never laugh at your pain, but I have to admit that 'Floppy leg syndrome' for broken legs was pretty funny :) You should craft yourself a pretty sleep mask!
I wouldn't laugh at your pain, either. TRUST ME! Tho it does have quite a silly name, and why in the world couldn't they have come up with something better? I hope all the eyedrops help and that you can wear your contacts again. Also glad you found a nice doctor who is sympathetic. I love my family doc for just that reason.
I ditto your friends in never laughing at your pain, although I do have to admit that "floppy" anything syndrome, and I'm specifically thinking of something right now that I don't dare put into words -- but "floppy" anything syndrome would be the pits! But I'm glad you were able to be seen by a sympathetic doctor. And who said that tears don't work? It's good to be a helpless female at times, you know, the Scarlett O'Hara type, woe is me, what's a poor damsel in distress to do? But look at the bright side, Paul feels you're beautiful whether you're a 2 or a 22, glasses or contacts, long or short hair (well, maybe he'd argue that one), short, tall, floppy eyelids or floppy legs -- he loves you for who you are and not for the contacts you can't wear anymore! Mom2
Very true, all, about the contacts. And you're right that lots of women look tremendously good with glasses, and also that Paul loves me regardless. But, -I- feel awful with my glasses on. Yes, some nice new frames would help, but mostly I just feel hideous with glasses. Not to mention the fact that they're always so heavy that they slide down my sweaty nose and that I always get acne where they rest. I have always been told that my eyes are far and away my best feature so when I have to wear glasses not only am I covering up my best feature, but I also can't put on eye makeup because I can't see myself in the mirror without my glasses/contacts.
As I said, you guys are certainly right, and lots of women look super hot in glasses. I, however, am not one of them.
By the way, my eyes do seem to be a bit better already and its been less than a week :)
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