Monday, 22 March 2010
Wow! What a weekend.
Friday morning, I sat down with COL Scott Barnes, the chief of the refractory eye clinic and the cornea specialist at Fort Bragg. He explained there are two things wrong with my right eye. There is scar tissue plus the eye needs to be reshaped; it is too flat. Yes, the center of the cornea is thin, but the cornea tissue he needs to remove are on the outer (perimeter) edges so the cornea in that area is thick enough. He continued to explain that I have a 33% chance of improving my vision, a 33% chance of no change or a 33% chance of getting worse vision. Frankly the odds are not that great. However, he also continued by saying that if the procedure were dangerous with little chance of success he would say we are NOT doing the procedure. (My perspective is I’m not a betting man. I serve the Master Physician, so God’s ultimately in charge.) COL Barnes is a pretty good doc and eye surgeon; his clinic completed 37,000 PRK/LASEK procedures with a 99% success rate during the last 10-years. His clinic also did 3,000 LASIK procedures during the last 10-years.
So, the plan is we’re moving forward by doing a LASEK procedure on 29 March at 12:30 p.m. The EK procedure is similar to a PRK procedure with one minor difference. The difference is how to get past the outer layer of the cornea to get to the inner layer. In laymen’s terms instead of scraping the outer layer of the cornea off the eye for PRK, he’ll use eye drops to loosen it and move it aside. He’ll use a laser to burn off some of the perimeter tissue then move the outer layer back into place. Using an analogy, he’ll slide the rug off the hardwood floor, so he can make corrections to the hardwood surface. Then he’ll slide the rug back in place when he’s done.
After the meeting with COL Barnes, I spent an hour waiting in the pharmacy to get a bag full of medication valued at approximately $2K for the procedure. I signed for two varieties of narcotics for pain management. (The meds are designed to knock me out, so I sleep. This way the eye lid is not scraping against the cornea surface as it recovers. Meanwhile, the contact lens that COL Barnes places over the cornea serves as a bandage which I’m not to touch. He removes the contact on Day 5.)
I still need to figure out logistics, because I cannot drive or work for 5-days. My eyes will not be in any shape to legally drive as I’ll need to recover. The clinic will not release me until they see a driver is with me, then they’ll let me go. I’ll have follow-up appointments on Day 2 & 5, which they insist a driver report and depart with me. (Fort Bragg is a 2-hour trip from where I work in North Raleigh. My car has a Fort Bragg DoD decal, which makes it easy to get through the controlled access to post. However, if the driver is using my vehicle… a Mazda Miata, they’ll need to know how to drive a manual transmission.)
I arrived home about 2 p.m. and immediately jumped into my friend’s vehicle, who was waiting at my house. We traveled to Asheville to The Cove, which is Billy Graham’s training center in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We attended the entire men’s retreat organized by Providence Baptist Church. A number of partner churches were represented as well. (Some Marines from a church near Cherry Point attended.) Pastor Ken Smith from FL was the primary speaker. Lenny LeBlanc was the music leader. (Lenny had several “Top 40” songs back in the 1970s and 1980s. He is now the music minister at a church in Florence, AL.) It was neat to see God moving among the 350 men who attended. (Now I have another accountability partner to help me in my daily battles.)
During the Sat afternoon break, my friend & I climbed to the summit of the mountain on the premises. It was approximately 3400 feet high. The weather was beautiful (warm & sunny) and the view was awesome. The sky was mostly clear, so we could see a long ways. Wow! God has a good view.
Sun afternoon we drove in rain most of the 4-hour trip home. It’s neat to see the white and pink blossoms on the flowering trees and shrubs. (I believe most of them were crabapple and Bartlett pear trees plus some redbuds.) There were also many spots with yellow daffodils blooming. After arriving home, I watched several NCAA men’s basketball games. (My bracket is all messed up. I picked Kansas to win the whole thing.) Then I spent several hours reading. God is so good.
My sister called while I was away. She called on Sat to tell me that my favorite cousin, Sheryl Swanson, died. (I didn’t get the message until I was out of the mountains. There was no cell phone coverage, TV or internet in the hotel rooms at The Cove.) Sheryl won her first bout with cancer using chemotherapy about 12-years ago, but it came back and beat her this time. (She was approximately 5-years older than me. She was a wife and a mother of four. Her youngest is a senior in HS. Her middle two are in college. Her oldest is a Marine in Iraq.) I think she is a believer, so I am encouraged knowing I’ll see her again. I’ll send a card to Mike, her husband, in a few minutes. (We like to talk politics. He’s a conservative and very well informed. I’m sure we’ll bellyache about what Congress passed last night, because they aren't listening to the American public. Mike is an anesthesiologist, so he has a unique point of view on the subject.)
I’ll stay in Raleigh for Easter. I’ll be in recovery, so I don’t plan to go anywhere. (After my first PRK laser eye procedure in Nov 2007, my daughter read scriptures to me twice daily for nearly 3-weeks and I listened to a bunch of audio books.)
When I read Phil 1:3-6 today, I thought of you. Thanks for your prayers.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Eye Saga 4
Thursday, 18 March 2010
I have an update but the news is not what I expected.
I met with Dr Nestor at Fort Bragg yesterday. He explained that my cornea may be too thin, so I am not scheduled for PRK laser eye enhancement. Instead I have an appointment with Dr Barnes, a cornea specialist, for a second opinion tomorrow morning. He may say that since I am far-sighted in the right eye, that I’m within tolerance to have more PRK. He may say otherwise. So, I don’t know what I’ll find out tomorrow. Dr Nestor said that they will take care of me, but I don’t know what that means. I may be facing other options.
So at the moment, I don’t know what is happening to fix my eyes. However, I’m exercising faith that the docs know what they’re doing.
(I’m thinking of the passage in Matt. 6:25-34. Verse 34 says,
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Then I remember that God’s eye is on the sparrow in Matt. 10:29-31.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Ain’t it great!)
Let me paint an analogy. Instead of being on the military crest of a hill overlooking the valley with a great 10-mile commanding view of everything that is coming at me, I’m on the reverse slope looking at a small rise in front of me with no idea what’s on the other side. So from my foxhole, the only thing I see is a five-foot slope to the top of the hill in front of me with blue sky beyond it, because the valley in my sector on the other side is obscured by the immediate hilltop in my line of sight. (Therefore, I do not know what is coming at me.)
Here’s another analogy. I feel like I’m walking into a gunfight with only an 18-inch Bowie knife. Bowie knives are great weapons in a close quarter fight, but I’m at a disadvantage against ranged weapons like a .45-caliber pistol or a 12-gauge shotgun. The advantage goes to my opponent with the 25-meter stand-off capability of the firearms. (In other words, I feel unprepared for what I may face tomorrow. Maybe this analogy doesn’t clearly articulate my point.)
Thanks for praying. More to follow….
I have an update but the news is not what I expected.
I met with Dr Nestor at Fort Bragg yesterday. He explained that my cornea may be too thin, so I am not scheduled for PRK laser eye enhancement. Instead I have an appointment with Dr Barnes, a cornea specialist, for a second opinion tomorrow morning. He may say that since I am far-sighted in the right eye, that I’m within tolerance to have more PRK. He may say otherwise. So, I don’t know what I’ll find out tomorrow. Dr Nestor said that they will take care of me, but I don’t know what that means. I may be facing other options.
So at the moment, I don’t know what is happening to fix my eyes. However, I’m exercising faith that the docs know what they’re doing.
(I’m thinking of the passage in Matt. 6:25-34. Verse 34 says,
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Then I remember that God’s eye is on the sparrow in Matt. 10:29-31.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Ain’t it great!)
Let me paint an analogy. Instead of being on the military crest of a hill overlooking the valley with a great 10-mile commanding view of everything that is coming at me, I’m on the reverse slope looking at a small rise in front of me with no idea what’s on the other side. So from my foxhole, the only thing I see is a five-foot slope to the top of the hill in front of me with blue sky beyond it, because the valley in my sector on the other side is obscured by the immediate hilltop in my line of sight. (Therefore, I do not know what is coming at me.)
Here’s another analogy. I feel like I’m walking into a gunfight with only an 18-inch Bowie knife. Bowie knives are great weapons in a close quarter fight, but I’m at a disadvantage against ranged weapons like a .45-caliber pistol or a 12-gauge shotgun. The advantage goes to my opponent with the 25-meter stand-off capability of the firearms. (In other words, I feel unprepared for what I may face tomorrow. Maybe this analogy doesn’t clearly articulate my point.)
Thanks for praying. More to follow….
Eye Saga 3
Monday, 8 March 2010
I’m hoping Spring has sprung. It’s projected to get to 71 degrees on Wednesday. We’ve had at least 10-inches of snow between four snow storms in Raleigh. In comparison, my folks in Nebraska received more than 48-inches this year. So, it seems as if most of the country has enjoyed a Winter Wonderland for at least a few hours. (And people still believe the global warming garbage? Hmmm….)
I’ve had the pleasure of watching the cardinals and other birds play in the wood line behind my house while I’m having breakfast. (There’s a creek right behind the house, so about 20-feet from the deck the woods begin.) Saturday, the mourning doves were also singing. It’s neat to see how God cares for the sparrows and other critters. Just think… He loves us even more. Ain’t it great?
Yesterday, I sang for nearly seven hours. I sing bass in the choir at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh. We sang five songs in each of the three morning services after warming up for 30-minutes. The choir practiced for an hour before the evening service. During the evening service we had an old-fashioned hymn sing. We started the service by leading the congregation for 10 songs. Then people in the congregation picked another 20 songs for everyone to sing. The service lasted nearly 1.5 hours. Meanwhile, I sang to a choir CD while I drove around town to and from church. (I live about 10-miles from church and 8-miles from work, so it’s about a 20-minute drive each way when there is light traffic.)
I have not had PRK eye surgery #2 yet. This will be a long story and you’ll see my frustration creeping into the monologue. (I’m not frustrated with the docs; they’ve been great.)
The eye surgeon (Dr Hunt) here in Raleigh referred me to Fort Bragg for more PRK treatment but he also gave me a new prescription for glasses in the interim. The eye surgeon at Fort Bragg, NC (Dr Nestor) sent me a packet to fill out. I finished filling out the mountain of paperwork about 8-days ago, but was waiting for the “permission letter” from my military boss (battalion commander at Fort Jackson, SC). I received my battalion commander’s letter Thursday. Fort Bragg only accepts the packet in person during specified hours Tuesday thru Thursday. Fort Bragg is a 2-hour drive, so I’ll deliver the packet tomorrow morning. Dr Nestor will need to do more testing on my right eye: measure the cornea thickness, map out the geography of my cornea surface, and so on before he can schedule me for PRK #2. I spoke to him on the phone last Monday, and he explained that I need to be available for at least 90-days after PRK #2 to receive all the post-op treatments and follow-up appointments. (The PRK packet said I had to be available for 1-year after the procedure, which would mean there was no way that I could meet the criteria.)
Meanwhile, Thursday (the same day I received “permission” for PRK) I spoke to my branch manager in Alexandria, VA. My timetable for deployment to Egypt is moving left. Instead of deploying in 180-days in September as originally planned, it’ll be about 90-days in June. (The reason is that my skill set is in high demand.) However, I don’t have orders yet, so I don’t know my actual report date. If my report date is early June, I am too short to get PRK #2. If my report date is late June, I can still squeak by and get PRK #2. (Do you feel the plot thickening?)
The tragedy of the situation is that with government health care, the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. I’ve been struggling ever since I returned to the USA from Iraq in late March 2009 to get my eyes fixed. I’ve moved from base to base and with each move, TRICARE insists that I start the procedure over again. I know what needs to get done to fix my eyes, but TRICARE assumes the patient is ignorant and must have a Primary Care Physician to monitor the situation. So with each move I must start at Square #0. (I was at Fort Hood, TX for 4-months, then I moved but I did get a corneal scrape in May. I was at Fort Gordon for 4-months, then I moved but I did get a corneal scrape in September. Now, I’ve been at Raleigh for 4-months and I’m still not fixed but I do have a new pair of glasses and they help especially when I try to drive at night in the rain, which was very difficult without glasses. Meanwhile, my deployment is looming closer. I must be “fixed” or at least “see clearly” to deploy.) Here is the revolving sequence: Square #0 is registering with TRICARE for my new region and to receive my new Primary Care Physician assignment. Square #1 is securing an appointment with the Primary Care Physician. Square #2 is getting my Primary Care Physician to refer me to an eye surgeon. Square #3 is securing an appointment with the eye surgeon and getting him to refer me for PRK. Square #4 is securing an appointment with the PRK doctor getting him to schedule me for the procedure. Square #5 is getting the procedure. Square #6 is 90-days of recovery and follow-up appointments. The kicker is that I didn’t get to Square #1 here in Raleigh until January because of how broke the TRICARE system is. I negotiated and maneuvered as hard as I could using the TRICARE system, but the system failed me. (And our President wants everyone on this broke system. I don’t understand. Why? I don’t want to be, but I could be the poster boy for how messed up government health care is.)
So, my prayer request is… that God’s will be done. If He wants me to get PRK #2, He’ll need to work out the details because the details are mighty murky from my fox hole (because I’m literally seeing triple). I know He’s in charge and I’m glad He is. I’d be in a bigger mess if I were in charge, because He has perfect knowledge and knows the big picture. ;) Thank you for all the prayer. I definitely covet them.
I’m actually excited about the prospects of going to Egypt. It’s a change of scenery and not as dangerous. I’ve been in Iraq for nearly three of the last six years, so it’ll be different. (At least we are winning in Iraq, since the Bush Surge of 2007.) I’ll be working in the Sinai along the southern boundary of Israel and Egypt with the Multinational Force of Observers, so when I go to South Camp near Sharm El Sheik, I can go SCUBA diving in the Red Sea. The Red Sea is one of the best SCUBA diving locations in the world. I’m also hoping to go on a trip or two to see Mount Sinai and some of the other sites with the chaplain. The chaplain usually schedules some religious outreach trips for the troops.
I’m hoping Spring has sprung. It’s projected to get to 71 degrees on Wednesday. We’ve had at least 10-inches of snow between four snow storms in Raleigh. In comparison, my folks in Nebraska received more than 48-inches this year. So, it seems as if most of the country has enjoyed a Winter Wonderland for at least a few hours. (And people still believe the global warming garbage? Hmmm….)
I’ve had the pleasure of watching the cardinals and other birds play in the wood line behind my house while I’m having breakfast. (There’s a creek right behind the house, so about 20-feet from the deck the woods begin.) Saturday, the mourning doves were also singing. It’s neat to see how God cares for the sparrows and other critters. Just think… He loves us even more. Ain’t it great?
Yesterday, I sang for nearly seven hours. I sing bass in the choir at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh. We sang five songs in each of the three morning services after warming up for 30-minutes. The choir practiced for an hour before the evening service. During the evening service we had an old-fashioned hymn sing. We started the service by leading the congregation for 10 songs. Then people in the congregation picked another 20 songs for everyone to sing. The service lasted nearly 1.5 hours. Meanwhile, I sang to a choir CD while I drove around town to and from church. (I live about 10-miles from church and 8-miles from work, so it’s about a 20-minute drive each way when there is light traffic.)
I have not had PRK eye surgery #2 yet. This will be a long story and you’ll see my frustration creeping into the monologue. (I’m not frustrated with the docs; they’ve been great.)
The eye surgeon (Dr Hunt) here in Raleigh referred me to Fort Bragg for more PRK treatment but he also gave me a new prescription for glasses in the interim. The eye surgeon at Fort Bragg, NC (Dr Nestor) sent me a packet to fill out. I finished filling out the mountain of paperwork about 8-days ago, but was waiting for the “permission letter” from my military boss (battalion commander at Fort Jackson, SC). I received my battalion commander’s letter Thursday. Fort Bragg only accepts the packet in person during specified hours Tuesday thru Thursday. Fort Bragg is a 2-hour drive, so I’ll deliver the packet tomorrow morning. Dr Nestor will need to do more testing on my right eye: measure the cornea thickness, map out the geography of my cornea surface, and so on before he can schedule me for PRK #2. I spoke to him on the phone last Monday, and he explained that I need to be available for at least 90-days after PRK #2 to receive all the post-op treatments and follow-up appointments. (The PRK packet said I had to be available for 1-year after the procedure, which would mean there was no way that I could meet the criteria.)
Meanwhile, Thursday (the same day I received “permission” for PRK) I spoke to my branch manager in Alexandria, VA. My timetable for deployment to Egypt is moving left. Instead of deploying in 180-days in September as originally planned, it’ll be about 90-days in June. (The reason is that my skill set is in high demand.) However, I don’t have orders yet, so I don’t know my actual report date. If my report date is early June, I am too short to get PRK #2. If my report date is late June, I can still squeak by and get PRK #2. (Do you feel the plot thickening?)
The tragedy of the situation is that with government health care, the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. I’ve been struggling ever since I returned to the USA from Iraq in late March 2009 to get my eyes fixed. I’ve moved from base to base and with each move, TRICARE insists that I start the procedure over again. I know what needs to get done to fix my eyes, but TRICARE assumes the patient is ignorant and must have a Primary Care Physician to monitor the situation. So with each move I must start at Square #0. (I was at Fort Hood, TX for 4-months, then I moved but I did get a corneal scrape in May. I was at Fort Gordon for 4-months, then I moved but I did get a corneal scrape in September. Now, I’ve been at Raleigh for 4-months and I’m still not fixed but I do have a new pair of glasses and they help especially when I try to drive at night in the rain, which was very difficult without glasses. Meanwhile, my deployment is looming closer. I must be “fixed” or at least “see clearly” to deploy.) Here is the revolving sequence: Square #0 is registering with TRICARE for my new region and to receive my new Primary Care Physician assignment. Square #1 is securing an appointment with the Primary Care Physician. Square #2 is getting my Primary Care Physician to refer me to an eye surgeon. Square #3 is securing an appointment with the eye surgeon and getting him to refer me for PRK. Square #4 is securing an appointment with the PRK doctor getting him to schedule me for the procedure. Square #5 is getting the procedure. Square #6 is 90-days of recovery and follow-up appointments. The kicker is that I didn’t get to Square #1 here in Raleigh until January because of how broke the TRICARE system is. I negotiated and maneuvered as hard as I could using the TRICARE system, but the system failed me. (And our President wants everyone on this broke system. I don’t understand. Why? I don’t want to be, but I could be the poster boy for how messed up government health care is.)
So, my prayer request is… that God’s will be done. If He wants me to get PRK #2, He’ll need to work out the details because the details are mighty murky from my fox hole (because I’m literally seeing triple). I know He’s in charge and I’m glad He is. I’d be in a bigger mess if I were in charge, because He has perfect knowledge and knows the big picture. ;) Thank you for all the prayer. I definitely covet them.
I’m actually excited about the prospects of going to Egypt. It’s a change of scenery and not as dangerous. I’ve been in Iraq for nearly three of the last six years, so it’ll be different. (At least we are winning in Iraq, since the Bush Surge of 2007.) I’ll be working in the Sinai along the southern boundary of Israel and Egypt with the Multinational Force of Observers, so when I go to South Camp near Sharm El Sheik, I can go SCUBA diving in the Red Sea. The Red Sea is one of the best SCUBA diving locations in the world. I’m also hoping to go on a trip or two to see Mount Sinai and some of the other sites with the chaplain. The chaplain usually schedules some religious outreach trips for the troops.
Eye Saga 2
Friday, 12 February 2010
Regarding the status of my eyes, here is the latest. As you may recall, I did PRK laser eye surgery in Nov 2007. I endured corneal scrapes in May & Sep 2009 to remove scar tissue but it's still there. During a corneal scrape the surgeon used a 15-bladed scalpel to remove the outer membrane of cornea, which is traumatic to the eye.
I met with Dr Hunt, an eye surgeon Tuesday. He recommended 3 options: glasses, contacts or undergo more PRK laser treatment. Since I’m returning to the Middle East in the fall, I am requesting more PRK. Contacts are not good in a desert environment due to dust storms and blowing sand. Glasses tend to fog and fall off during high intensity activity, i.e. combat. Besides when I endured the 1st PRK treatment, it was to correct my near-sightedness so I wouldn’t have to wear glasses. My near-sightedness is fixed; I have issues with scar tissue blocking vision in one eye & causing the light to bend goofy which gives me double & triple vision.
So, I’m getting referred to Dr Nestor at Ft Bragg for PRK treatment. Until PRK #2, the eye surgeon is recommending I order glasses. Dr Nestor sent me a packet this morning. I must apply for it, like I did the 1st time with my battalion commander's permission. So, I need to get on it. You can pray that God will work out the details and that my eyes heal correctly.
Regarding the status of my eyes, here is the latest. As you may recall, I did PRK laser eye surgery in Nov 2007. I endured corneal scrapes in May & Sep 2009 to remove scar tissue but it's still there. During a corneal scrape the surgeon used a 15-bladed scalpel to remove the outer membrane of cornea, which is traumatic to the eye.
I met with Dr Hunt, an eye surgeon Tuesday. He recommended 3 options: glasses, contacts or undergo more PRK laser treatment. Since I’m returning to the Middle East in the fall, I am requesting more PRK. Contacts are not good in a desert environment due to dust storms and blowing sand. Glasses tend to fog and fall off during high intensity activity, i.e. combat. Besides when I endured the 1st PRK treatment, it was to correct my near-sightedness so I wouldn’t have to wear glasses. My near-sightedness is fixed; I have issues with scar tissue blocking vision in one eye & causing the light to bend goofy which gives me double & triple vision.
So, I’m getting referred to Dr Nestor at Ft Bragg for PRK treatment. Until PRK #2, the eye surgeon is recommending I order glasses. Dr Nestor sent me a packet this morning. I must apply for it, like I did the 1st time with my battalion commander's permission. So, I need to get on it. You can pray that God will work out the details and that my eyes heal correctly.
Eye Saga 1
Monday, 8 February 2010
I have a praise to share.
After nearly 4-months of negotiating and navigating through the bureaucracy of the gov’t health care system called TRICARE, I finally have an appointment to meet an eye surgeon. This Tuesday afternoon I visit the surgeon to discuss what is next in the saga to fix my eyes. As you recall, I’m seeing double & triple with my right eye, which is my dominant one. I received PRK laser surgery 2-years ago on both eyes to correct my near-sightedness and developed scar tissue as a result. (My near-sightedness is fixed, which is a good thing. I fell into the 2-3% category, which have issues with scarring.) I’ve endured two corneal scrapes last year to remove the scar tissue, but still have issues. Pray for the doctor’s wisdom on recommending what the next step should be.
I Cor. 10:31
I have a praise to share.
After nearly 4-months of negotiating and navigating through the bureaucracy of the gov’t health care system called TRICARE, I finally have an appointment to meet an eye surgeon. This Tuesday afternoon I visit the surgeon to discuss what is next in the saga to fix my eyes. As you recall, I’m seeing double & triple with my right eye, which is my dominant one. I received PRK laser surgery 2-years ago on both eyes to correct my near-sightedness and developed scar tissue as a result. (My near-sightedness is fixed, which is a good thing. I fell into the 2-3% category, which have issues with scarring.) I’ve endured two corneal scrapes last year to remove the scar tissue, but still have issues. Pray for the doctor’s wisdom on recommending what the next step should be.
I Cor. 10:31
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