Sarah, pictured here sleeping in the warm spot on the couch created and just vacated by my sister, was the oldest (in dog years), quietest guest at my birthday party.
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It's been a busy week. As of Monday the 23rd, I have a new boss. He comes across as quite accomplished. He has a nice sense of humour but he doesn't fool around. Every one of the many, many briefings we have all had to do to get him up to speed were all "Just the facts. What do I need to know? Is there anything that has to happen now?"
After the last boss (who was a bit wound up) and the interim, substitute boss (who was very relaxed) the new guy presents a completely different mix of calm and stern. It's keeping us on our toes.
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On Friday the 19th, I visited my family doctor for my annual check up. I told her about the funny things that were going on in my right eye that had started just the day before. She didn't seem too concerned but, because I asked, she said she'd make arrangements for me to see an opthamologist.
I had just returned to work after my doctor's appointment when a giant (at least it seemed giant) black gash appeared in my vision in my right eye.
I Googled the symptom immediately, read the words "detached retina" on the screen and got on the phone to my doctor to see if that opthamologist appointment couldn't be moved up.
The clinic's phone was set to voicemail. No one was answering.
I googled "eye clinic Toronto." Google told me St. Michael's hospital had an eye clinic with a reassuringly long list of doctors with competent-sounding names. I called the clinic and explained my dilemma. The nice person on the other end of the line advised that I either physically go to my clinic or walk into emergency at St. Mike's.
I chose the latter.
In the space of just under three hours, I was admitted - asked if I was taking any prescription medication during five different intake interviews with five different people - and given an eye examination that I just have to tell you about.
At St. Mike's, when they really want to know what's going on in your eye, they drop some local anesthetic on your eyeball, lay you back flat on a high tech chair and then dig around your eye with a gizmo that I think I can accurately describe as an ice cream scoop attached to a flashlight.
This was an unpleasant experience. But, because my only right eye was at stake, I tried hard not to move, tried even harder not to yell and, during the last few seconds of the test, tried hard not to bite the nice young doctor who was really only trying to help.
So, the good news is that my retina did not detach that day, but I am at some risk that it may still. So I get to go back in a few weeks, won't have to go through emergency to get there, but I imagine I'll still have to answer the question "are you taking any prescription medication" a few more times.
Fun fact: just about everyone who's intake interview I overheard while I was hanging around in emergency started their long lists of prescription medications with "Lipitor."
Thanks for reading! Have a great week!
Karen
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