Yes, I know I have not posted recently, but I have had two cataract surgeries in the past three weeks and am still recovering. The actual surgery was easy because I was pretty much out and don't remember anything. The recovery has been a little trickier.
My left eye was done first because that one had the worst cataract and my vision has always been poor in that eye. I had to take the left lens out of my old glasses, which made my depth perception really awful. It was hard to tell if a line on the pavement meant there was a curb or not, so I walked fairly carefully. I also got some drug-store reading glasses, and they helped, but were awkward because I still had bifocals in my right eye. I dutifully put in three different eye drops four times a day, and had no pain.
The right eye was a little harder because I have had more pain--really just a mild aching and itching, but that eye seems to dry out sooner, so I need to keep putting artificial tears into it, especially at night. Also, with both eyes done, my eyes are much more sensitive to the sun, and driving on Monday all day did not help. I had to stop at a rest area to rest my eyes with the shades drawn. But I still had to check my emails and grade papers for my online class. I cannot order new prescription sunglasses with lens that darken outdoor and bifocals in the lower part for at least two weeks. In the meantime, I cannot even see my cell phone without reading glasses so life is a little more complicated. Mostly, I have been spending my days inside with mesh shades drawn to keep the glare out.
Which brings me to a big consideration for people like me who travel--medical care on the road.
Minor Stuff'
I have been heavily using urgent care facilities for colds and things like infected insect bites, with an occasional emergency room visit for my ongoing kidney stone problems. One important thing I did when I went on Medicare many years ago was choose a traditional Medicare Plan and a Part C plan through AARP/United Healthcare that enables me to visit any doctor anywhere that accepts Medicare. No need to get a referral--I just make an appointment when I need to.
And I have had almost all prescriptions filled at Walgreen's which means I can refill them at the thousands of Walgreen's across the country. I visit my primary care physician once a year to get all of my routine prescriptions refilled for another year and get caught up on immunizations and routine tests.
Slightly More Major Stuff
When I started out in 2012 in my motorhome, I had carpal tunnel syndrome on my right hand from years of using computers. I reached the point where I could barely tighten my water and sewer hoses, so I had carpal tunnel surgery done in Napa, CA, by a very good hand surgeon. Soon after that, I developed a trigger finger. More surgery on that and some cortisone injections on another trigger finger. I was lucky to find a good orthopedic doctor in Napa who specialized in hands. Later in Napa, I had kidney stone treatment and a couple of emergency room visits for kidney stones over a several year period.
I also have had kidney stones surgery in Eugene, Oregon, while I was staying there for a few months to get some other treatment by a specialist. I joined a research study which required me to pop in every month or so, so I figured as long as I was there, I would get my cataracts done. I have known for years that I would eventually need cataract surgery, but I put it off as long as I could. I could have waited until I got back to the Midwest, but my left eye was bothering me when I had to spend a lot of time online and grading papers.
Needing a "Friend" to Drive me Home
The only real problem I have had with all these treatments and surgery is not having anyone to take me home afterwards. I had my son in Napa, but here in Oregon, I barely know anyone. I can take Uber into a hospital or surgical center, but getting home is a real problem.
For my first lithotripsy last December, they kept me overnight because my platelet count was so low, they expected a lot of bleeding. So the next day, I could take Uber home because I was no longer under anesthesia. I had to have another procedure, however, when I had to hire "medical transport" to take me home--basically it was a wheelchair van driven by a minimally trained person. Cost was double that of a taxi or Uber. For my cataract surgery, they required me to wait in the lobby for three extra hours after my surgery, but then let me go home via Uber.
Now I have another stuck kidney stone with surgery to remove it scheduled in less than two weeks. There is not incision, no stitches, but I am going to have to have mild anesthesia. So, how do I get home? The urologist's office would not budge--no "friend" or relative to take me home in a private car, no surgery. After calling around and talking to the campground hosts, I found a lady camphost who has agreed to pick me up when I call after my procedure. I have offered to pay her, but she says she does not want to be paid. (I think I will insist, however.) The ranger in charge says if she cannot do it, they will find someone.
I have had this same procedure several times over the past 30 years, and I know I am not going to be nauseated or in horrible pain or anything that would require someone to sit with me for hours and "take care of me," and there is really no difference between going home in a private car and in an Uber vehicle. Basically, the surgery people are afraid of a lawsuit if I pass out or get sick on my way home, which is ridiculous. This is NOT practicing medicine--just CYA. Check out this opinion piece from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201603/how-hospitals-do-us-wrong
Keeping my fingers crossed this lady or someone will agree to pick me up after my surgery. If I can't find anyone, I will have to cancel my surgery. I have no idea what the next step would be since I have exhausted all the solutions I can think of, short of flying someone here to stay with me in my RV, rent a car for that person, and have her drive me 6 miles back home after the surgery. Ridiculous!
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