Ow ow ow

Went in, read James Herriot. Got stabbed. Went to sleep. Got stabbed some more. Woke up. Got stabbed yet again.

Well that about covers it. Gruesome details on request.

I don't think I'm far off in saying that was one of the worst experiences of my life so far and I'm never EVER doing it again. Hospital is very stingy with their analgesia.

Now I can just about see again and can open both eyes. One is horribly blood-shot which I shall be using to my advantage to scare small children whenever possible. Can't read for very long, but on the plus side it does appear that everything is in single vision at the moment. Yay!

Going In

Yet another pre-op check has been accomplished and I've had a tour around the room of doom. Everything is set for next week, now all I need to do is get up on time! A few minor changes - they plan to operate on my working eye which has a few more risks but a better chance of outcome. It does however mean I'll be effectively blind for a few days post-op. Can I get a guide dog?

Eye Update

It's been another really long week starting with 2 lectures that didn't happen and finishing with a load of public health lectures and some equine soft tissue stuff.

Midweek I had to revisit the lovely eye doctor people and decide what is to be done. Basically the operation I had last year didn't work as it should and I still get double vision without the prism on my glasses. This usually isn't too much of a problem, except for when I attempt to do fine work, for example like operating. Small problem there.

So the plan is to cut me up once more. We will start by doing bad things to the side that was operated on last time, then the lateral side. The next bit of the plan is where my problem lies - I have to wake up and take an eye test whilst they finish suturing my eyeball to make sure everything is lined up. I don't know how I'll react to this, but it probably won't go well for anyone involved. In order to combat me hitting anyone and running away there will be someone talking to me nicely and a big syringe of knockout juice on standby.

In the few days afterwards I'll have an eye full of blood (again) and be crying blood sometimes as it heals. Woo!! Roll on March. I'm going to terrify people on EMS.

Post-op

It's been a strange week, culminating in me deciding to leave Scotland for a bit and head back to Wales for a short time. This decision was mainly due to boredom at having nothing to do; no current job and my climbing partner cancelled. More on what I've been up to later.

I'm unsure if the operation was a success just yet. My eye is still sore and I don't want to annoy it by trying to make it see single with normal glasses just yet. Last time it took a few days to adjust so I'll wait until the pain is no more. Might even post a pretty post-op pic if I can find it.

I don't really remember much about the day itself apart from a few strong memories. I remember being jabbed with the biggest syringe of propofol (an anaesthetic that's also used in vet med) I've ever seen. I recall waking up and moving beds. Some of the walk home is also in my head somewhere, although that was a little hazy.

One of the main things I remember is the feeling of relief knowing someone was coming to find me to take me home. Not someone who would drop me in Leith and leave me. Not someone who would pretend it was 2010 and I'd been in a coma. Someone kind and sensible who didn't take one look at my blood filled eye and run away screaming. Thanks :-)

Pre-Op

I had yet another pre-op check today with the lovely doctors at the eye hospital. The downside is I need the operation and my vision may be compromised for a few days/weeks. The upside is that there is a 80% chance of it working first time and all being well. There was an offer of adjustable sutures which I turned down for a number of reasons mainly:

a) No poking me in the eyes when awake
b) I like my sutures to be tight thanks
c) NO poking in the eyes when AWAKE

All said and done it went OK. The op is in a couple of weeks. I have no idea what I will do between now and then. Not used to having free time!

No Luck

Just received a letter from the Centre for Sports and Exercise regretting to inform me that I won't be invited to interview for the climbing wall job. I guess it makes sense, they are probably looking for someone more permanent. This does mean I'm now looking for a job so if anyone knows of something suitable....

There was also a hospital trip yesterday where they did invite me back at a later date to stab me in the face, remove some muscle, then re-attach it further forwards. Obviously this will require a GA and some fun drugs but the consultant guy was in such a hurry I didn't have chance to ask awkward questions. I have a pre-op consult on Friday so I shall ask searching questions then. I really hope they don't want to stab me any time before exams. It would be suboptimal.

Eye update

Yesterday was my first eye check up in a while, and it went rather well. There was some stabbing of the eyes and some magic drops that really dilated my pupils and blocked my ciliary muscles to test my eye sight and were quite happy. The conclusions so far:

- It isn't a neuro problem. Woo!
- There is a problem with a muscle that control eye movement.
- It may resolve itself with the prisms in my glasses
- Glasses must come off for close up work

If things aren't much better by the next check-up there will be a conversation about an operation to remove the aforementioned muscle and put it somewhere better so my eyes work perfectly (ish). It apparently only takes a day, although there would be a general anaesthetic and I'm guessing a neuromuscular blocker as well as some interesting things afterwards such as patches. But I intend to get fixed before that. Having eyes cut in to at exam time would not be the best plan.

The next appointment is in May so we shall see what happens between now and then. There are some things that need to be done first. Some scary, some less scary, some fun.

MRI Results

The hospital has written to me and said my head isn't going to explode any time soon. The MRI looked normal to the nice doctor type human. Rather happy. I'm still going to see if I can get my hands on a copy though.

MRI Fun

Well that was fun. Lie in a small plastic tube and try not to move your eyes for 30minutes. It wasn't as easy as it sounds. There was no problem with claustrophobia or anything like that. In fact it was quite comfortable. I also enjoyed the music selection. No spice girls for me, I had Queen greatest hits 1. Overall I rather enjoyed it, I've had a lot worse before. There was no stabbing with needles, no poking sore bits, no removing of anything. It was a little sore on the back though.

My back is getting better slowly as I'm doing less silly work. It is sore when I lie down and if I walk for a while, but in regular life it doesn't slow me down at all until I've finished what I need to do. Went for a long walk yesterday without too much bother until the last hill when I was glad for the forward planning and lack of rucksack. I should try to do of the same just to get used to the motions again. Then running. Then climbing.

MRI time

Tomorrow is the big day where I get to stick my head in a large revolving magnet. This should be quite good fun, although I have been reliably informed that their music selection is at best bad, and at worst crap. Must remember to take my own. A few doctor types have told me they aren't too worried out the problem, but it will be nice to get an MRI and know for sure what is going on.

Passed!

Yay!! I passed all my resits, so I'm now officially a 3rd year. Very happy about it. Quite a few people didn't pass, and I was a borderline with the special circumstances form allowing me to pass. Not an ideal situation, and it shows I must do a load more work over the coming few years.

Other fun news, I have been invited to go for an MRI early next month. In less that two weeks in fact. This should be quite fun and hopefully we will get an idea if my head is planning to explode or not.

My leg also started hurting again last night. I may have overdone it yesterday in terms of long walks and sitting in odd positions at the gym. With the aid of painkillers and my determination to be as lazy as possible I shall do very little today and see how it goes. Back to work tomorrow where I plan to do very little again. Should be fun!

Back Again

Well I'm at work again and for a little longer this time. I was at work for 19 hours yesterday (think of the money, think of the money) and something stupid like 20 hours planned today with the joy of keg moving at 7am. Not really the ideal way to spend my morning, but never mind.

Tonight I do have a friend around keeping me company. He is off guarding another section of the building but we are in radio contact and maintaing the perimeter. I could actually do with some company in here because the ice machine is doing its best to scare me to death. First its the rattling of ice that sounds like footsteps. Then the coughing noise as the chiller turns off. Then the random clunking noises it makes for the hell of it. It may be the only thing keeping me awake for the next 3 hours before other people arrive, but I wish it wouldn't. I'm sure it doesn't make these noises during the day.

It really doesn't help that I've taken my glasses off to read and I keep seeing things out of the corner of my eyes. Not actual hallucinations just yet. Maybe soon. The flickering is in single vision, that's how I know it's not real.