December 10, 2005
Are we there yet? I think we're awfully close! Thanks to all of you who've continued to stand with me through this past year. I've been slowly working on some surprises over the past few months. My vision has not cooperated as well as I would have liked, but I was determined to get things in order at AllergyNursing.com again. Then just this week I got some new glasses that have made a huge difference for me. I'm thrilled.
So you can see the surprises I'm working on here:
AllergyNursing.com
and here:
Allergy Climates
You can see my recent posts about vision, and share my joy over what the glasses have done for me here: Eyes Apart
To all of you who have helped me through this in any way, as well as those who have waited patiently until I could get back to work at AllergyNursing.com, a big "Thank you!" Have a blessed Christmas, and a wonderful 2006!
July 6, 2005
Wow! has it been 2 1/2 months since I last provided an update? Looks like this post might be a little longer than usual. Lots has happened since then!
My surgery was changed to May 9. I'm very pleased with the results thus far. My eyes feel more relaxed than they have in years. I am much more comfortable, and in that the surgery was a huge success!
What he did was loosen outer muscles of my eyes. We had hoped that would take care of everything. But my eyes still tend to drift, and at near vision my eyes still can't focus together for extended periods of time. The next step will be to tighten the inner muscles. When I go back at the end of September we will schedule the next surgery.
I'm also continuing to do vision therapy. Hopefully that will build on what we've accomplished through surgery thus far, and things will continue to improve.
I'm slowly getting back to doing things on the web. My Allergy Nursing Newsletter is the hardest part because it requires a lot of research to make sure I get it right. I won't compromise that, so I still must put it on hold awhile longer.
But I have started a new weblog to help others with vision problems similar to mine. I was able to use a template so had only minor coding to do on the website, and sending information is as simple as sending an email.
For those of you unfamilar with weblogs, they are called that because they literally web logs, written in journal fashion at periodic intervals. The are also called blogs for short. As each item is posted, older items go toward the bottom. So if you wanted to read it from the beginning, you'd have to start at the bottom of the June archive folder, then go to the bottom of the July folder, etc. However, each item is also complete in itself.
Actually that's the same as this page. This is a weblog too! For those who've written to ask what is wrong with my eyes, just start at the bottom of this page and read up. Or visit my new weblog and click Lois' story under "Categories" in the sidebar!
You can see my new weblog here:
Eyes Apart: Living with strabismus
Since I am writing it from a personal (not medical) perspective, and I've already done most of the research in an effort to try to help myself, it is much easier to do than the Allergy site.
You could bookmark the Eyes Apart site and keep coming back for updates. But weblogs are meant to be subscribed to and read in a newsreader. If you'd like to subscribe and follow along with me, feel free. Just click the links under "Subscribe" in the sidebar at Eyes Apart for more information.
I'm considering the possibility of incorporating a blog into AllergyNursing.com at some point, but I'm not sure yet. During the next weeks, I hope to look at predesigned templates that I could use to improve the appearance of the Allergy site. It might not be so hard to cut and paste what is already there into a new template that would improve it for those of you who have been so faithful to use it. I also hope to edit some of the main pages to get it more up to date!
I want to thank all of you who have been so faithful to stick with me through this "time-out." Thank you for your prayers and encouragement during my surgery and beyond! You're a great bunch of folks!
God bless you all!
Lois
April 23, 2005
When I first wrote to subscribers of my Allergy Nursing Newsletter that I'd had to temporarily suspend the newsletter due to health problems, I expected to lose many subscribers immediately. Instead, subscribers wrote to express support and prayers and encouragement. With my January and March updates, I was again humbled and overwhelmed with your support. I wish I could write to each of you personally to say, "Thank you."
Things have finally been coordinated with my insurance and my doctor, and my surgery is scheduled for May 12. For those who are reading this page for the first time, you can start from the bottom of this page and read upward to get the details. I am relieved to finally have a date set to move forward.
As I shared below, I've been doing Vision Therapy with a Behavioral Optometrist. The therapy has helped me through the waiting time, and has prepared me to get the maximum benefit from the surgery. The Optometrist told me from the beginning that she felt in my case therapy alone would not be sufficient, but surgery also would likely be needed. We will continue the therapy after the surgery for awhile also.
There is no certainty of how much the surgery will help. There is a good chance that my vision will be very much better after the surgery. There is also a lesser chance that it could be worse, though I've been assured that I have a good surgeon who has much experience in this type of surgery. But my real assurance is that I have a good God who will do what is best for me.
As you can imagine, I have quite a back log of stuff needing my attention at home. If things go well, I must plan to catch up here before I can attend to online things. I'm sure you will understand.
I'll keep you posted as I can. Meanwhile I will especially appreciate your continued prayers during this time. For those who wish to unsubscribe from the newsletter, please feel free. To the rest of you, God willing, I will be back!
God bless you all,
Lois
March 12, 2005
Since I wrote last, I've been going through a maize of doctor appointments and insurance requirements for my eye surgery. My insurance company has not yet completed the pre-determination necessary to approve my surgery, pending pre-op photos which keep getting mis-directed to the wrong place. I am sure many of you can relate to that as you've suffered through insurance hang-ups as well!
Meanwhile, I have been referred to an Optometrist who specializes in Vision and Orthoptic Therapy. She is just setting up a practice in my town, and is the only one within 2 or 3 hours of here who offers this therapy. She comes with very high recommendations. I had my first visit with her this week, and I am excited about the program. I'll be doing intense therapy for three months. It will be a lot of hard work on my part, but I am going to give it my best efforts! If things go well, I will be able to return to my activities here, but I am not going to give a time frame, as I just don't know at this point how quickly I will progress. I am sorry for this inconvenience to those who subscribe to my Allergy Nursing Newsletter.
We are still working to get the surgery approved as well, and I will try to keep you posted of my progress in everything.
As many of you know, my faith in God is what sees me through the tough times. This has been really hard for me, but God is blessing and sustaining me through it. Thanks to each of you for your patience and prayers during this time.
God bless you,
Lois
January 5, 2005
Once again, thank you for your notes of concern, prayers, and good wishes relating to my health and my mother's illness.
My mother went home to the Lord on December 21, 2004. We wanted to have her service on Christmas Eve but icy roads prevented us from being able to do that. We had a very sweet service for her on December 27. Mother had Alzheimer's and had been ill for a long time. My children and I miss her, but we will not remember this as a bad Christmas. For us, it will always be the Christmas when our Mother/Grandmother got to go home.
Plans now are for me to travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, rather than to Oklahoma City, to see an ophthalmologist and schedule my eye surgery. My appointment is next week (yeah, finally!), and the surgery will likely be in February.
I am looking forward to being able to sustain my visual focus and do the things I enjoy again. I'll keep you posted of when I expect to be able to resume my Allergy Nursing Newsletter and other activities.
Thanks again for your patience, and all your expressions of kindness.
God bless you,
Lois
December 14, 2004
I'm humbled by the warm notes I've received from you all, many of whom I don't even know, related to my recent health needs. As much as I'd like to, I'm unable to respond individually to each, so I decided to post this instead. I will try to update it as I am able. Thank you, every one, for taking time to write and for your prayers.
Plans are for me to travel to Oklahoma City in mid January to see a specialist and schedule surgery on the muscles of my eyes. My eyes have always drifted outward when tired (called intermittent exotropia). But now it's difficult to focus long enough to read a letter or work on a project.
Several of you who are aware of my mother's declining health have also written to ask how she is doing. Thank you for your concern. Mother is in end-stage Alzheimer's, and we thought we were going to lose her earlier this year. She seems more stable now. I am praying she will remain stable until my eyes are better.
When I get my eyes fixed, I plan to resume many of my previous activities and accomplish them even better than before! Thanks to all for your patience, prayers, and kind words.
God bless you,
Lois