I had two new holes drilled in my head this week. Literally. Two new physical holes were drilled in my head. Their purpose is to create drainage for circulating eye fluids.
This ranks among The Things I Never Expected. It joins removal of a chunk of my tongue (2018) and having a tube jammed into my chest (without anesthesia) to inflate a collapsed lung (2002). As Pee-Wee Herman says, "They don't teach you this stuff in school."
I could tell you about the laser iridotomy but don't have energy or enthusiasm for that. I've been sleeping all day and night since it happened Thursday. While I hope this will be the last eye surgery I need, that's unrealistic: I'll likely need more -- and that stuff is even worse. Right now I want to physically and emotionally recover before facing anything further.
When I was a child my family ate dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. I was excited to get a fortune cookie that predicted I'd have "an eventful life." If only I'd realized...
"...new holes drilled in my head..."
ReplyDeleteOne of those moments in which it's perfectly rational to repeat back: "I'm sorry. Did you just say you wanted to drill into my head?"
Fingers crossed it all helps 🤞
Thanks, friend. Sometimes I think we're medically still in the Dark Ages.
DeleteI'm so sorry Ally. That sounds like an absolutely nightmare. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it helps you in any way! xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ann. Honestly at this point I'll try anything.
DeleteWhoooooooaaaaa!!!! Holes. In. Your. Head????????
ReplyDeleteI mean, that's definitely something most people can't claim! But yeaoch!!!! I'm not surprised you need some recovery time of all the types.
In GCSE history, we studied the History of medicine and learnt about Trephinning- the Prehistoric medical procedure to release something from the head. Can't remember what.....
Of course, you ve left me with a craving for Chinese food...not the takeout (ho, no pun intended but now gleefully claiming) you were expecting to send me on my way with from this post.
Sending you hugs galore, but delicate ones that won't hurt your head. Kezzie Xxx
Thanks, Kezzie. There's something primal and off-putting about holes in the head. In the future doctors will look back on such primitive treatments and shake their (hole-free) heads.
DeleteP.S. have you changed your email address? I sent you some pics and it failed to send them to you! Kezzie x
ReplyDeleteNo. My e-mail (fhu@pipeline.com) hasn't changed since 1996. It does, however, have a size limit for attached files. Big files (like multiple photos) sometimes hit the limit and are returned. Alternatives are to use a service like Dropbox, or zip-files, or mail hard-copies or digital copies on a flash drive. Sorry for the inconvenience.
DeleteI'm happy you're past this part. It sounds horrendous. I'm glad you're recovering now and I'm sending big healing vibes your way.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
Thank you, dear friend. I dreaded this and am equally glad to put it behind me.
DeleteEye things can be so horrifying. I had lasik about 8 years ago and found it mildly traumatic, even though it was entirely elective. I hope this procedure gives you the results you and your doctors are hoping for!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Emma. The purpose of this procedure was to reduce eye pressure and it did that.
DeleteIsn't that a curse? "May you live in interesting times"? Holey/holy smokes, Ally, that's wild - holes in your head! I hope it helps! <3
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheila. And this was the easy part. I'm fearing future surgeries which will remove parts of my head. I didn't know I had any to spare. :)
DeleteAlly, you've probably heard that John Lennon was allegedly very interested in getting an extra hole drilled in his head at one point?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-john-lennon-drill-hole-skull-2377952
He didn't end up having it done, though. So I think we can all agree you are now officially more hardcore than John Lennon.
I do hope all the scary stuff serves its purpose and you feel much better soon. Hugs from Prague!
No I didn't know that! What a wonderful comment. You lifted my spirits and educated me at the same time. My goal in life is to become an erudite badass; thanks for helping me on that journey. :)
DeleteSheila's comment was the first thing that came to mind.
ReplyDeleteI commiserate the strange things that can be done to our bodies in the name of health.
I hope your recovery is going well. You need bad news like a hole in the head (too soon?). I hope no matter what else you may face goes better than expected, that you heal bettet than doctors thought you might and that you may be without pain.
I'm heading back to doctors next week to start from square one with my primary care and seeing fourth GI doctor in a month. I think if they told me to dance a jig and stand on my head to feel better at this point I would.
I understand your attitude and wish you well on your health journey. I'm appreciating humor now more than ever. I need to laugh at the absurdity of all this; otherwise I'll cry non-stop.
DeleteOh yikes - even those older procedures sound rough. My father-in law has cancer in his eyes and has had biopsies done and now chemo - needles in the eye every week and boy is it hard on him.
ReplyDeleteI know this is an ongoing process or you but I hope you are at least getting some answers and finding some relief.
Karen @For What It's Worth
Thanks, Karen. I believe we're making progress. I appreciate your compassionate words.
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