Eye Observations

1.) dizziness 2.) Eye pain accompanies headache  3.) Iridescence when not in pain

As I wrote earlier, during this past week I had a couple of days with strong left eye pain.  One of the days I was working of course.  That whole day I noticed that my eyes were not keeping pace with me if I moved too fast, making me dizzy for just a second. Example,when I sit on my stool performing my little treatments I am sometimes having to flip back and forth from the person then back to the sink or cupboard all the while quickly rotating on my little stool.  I was aware I was moving to quickly. Then walking around the salon, a couple times, I moved my head too fast and felt that my eyes were not tracking correctly - little delayed.  I laughed with the girls about being a dizzy blonde that day.

Also, frequently when the pain is strong, I have a head ache that encompasses the entire left side of my head.

My other thing  I noted is that when I'm not in pain ( Like the week I discovered Frankincense) I could see iridescent colors again.  One day it was very apparent.  It was everywhere!  It was on my phone of course, then, street signs.  SO many street signs had an iridescent shine to them.  Then, same day, as I walked across the parking lot at work, the same one I always walk, there was one particular large oil spot that was all iridescent.   At first I thought it was because it was sunny and had been cloudy before.  But I don't think so this week It's been sunny every day, but I'm in more pain,  no iridescence this week.  Am I making all of this up?

My brother

My eye didn't hurt today and no frankincense. Although I may put a little on before I go to sleep tonight just for fun.  No meds today either.
I did have some comedic relief spending the evening with my brother and his wife on Skype.  We ended up visiting for 3.5 hours and singing. Yes, singing.  You had to be there.  But who knew you could have so much fun with a little web cam and a little red wine.

Breakfast of Champions

So my left eye was in actual pain last night and this morning.  I would rate it at a 6 today. So I took 3 ibuprofen with my coffee this morning which I know my stomach hates. But Stomach is low on priority list today.  1.5 hours later as I am to head out to work.  I had to take 3 more.  I had no time for this pain today.  Then it went away til now (7:15p.m.)  It just was so flared up. Even stings in the corner right by my nose.  Now it's calm.

Palpebrae Levator Fissure

It's official.  Frankincense stings the eye lids.  I was doing pretty well the last few days not too much pain. But if I leave the house with out my Frankincense - I end up regretting it.  I put some on my eye lid this morning just as a precautionary. Then after 7:30p.m. while I was in a meeting it got kinda crazy.  And of course we're talking about the  non operated eye.  So here I am at 10:30 and my eye actually is causing pain so I put my Frankincense on.  It just goes away. Isn't that kind of amazing?  Except it stings my eye lid now. As an eye Dr. would say I have contact dermatitis of my left superior palpebrae levator fissure.  Doctors! You got a love em.

Stressed out

Today, we regressed.  My eyes hurt/ deep ached all day.  I mean  both eyes.Frankincense worked on the non operated eye but not the surgical eye. Drugs don't stop it either - it does reduce it though.

I don't blame them as we are going through a very  hard time.  Finally yesterday we realized we're going to have to sell our home and liquidate as much as possible.  And all the while I get to watch my dear friend Nancy succumb to lung/pancreatic cancer. I was at work when it finally all hit me. I couldn't finish my last client - it was embarrassing.   So I had a rough few days.  Couldn't eat/ sleep/ Bawled my eyes out so I shouldn't be surprised my eye is inflamed again. But I am for some reason. They are just now de puffing.  I hate crying, it's exhausting.

Mon. Feb 22 - my operated eye is still quite uncomfortable.  3 ibuprofen and no go.

Jumping for Joy...

I didn't have any left eye pain again  today!  I did put the Frankincense on twice, once a bit got in my eye.
AWWWKKK- could it be true?  Is it really gone?

Feb. 17th - Pain was lurking - but then put that one drop on and it was gone.  I hope this lasts. If not I will cry.  But I really think it's working. !

Feb. 18th - pain wants to poke thru more today.  Didn't fully blow into full pain mode. Frankincense still immediately quiets it. But it's not lasting as long. Kinda stings on my eye lid.   Please don't let that pain come back.  Tomorrow and Saturday I'll be working  solid 16 hours back to back clients.  See how I feel then.

Feb 19th - Friday. No real eye pain today - Although I was taking Ibuprofen for other pain issues. Only one dose of Frankincense. Very High Stress level today.

Feb. 20th - Saturday - Worked most the day My eye should have hurt awful today as I have been under so much stress that I can't really stop crying.  My eye did good.  Now at 8:48 it's a little sore. But I haven't slept much or eaten much.  We lost a lot of jobs all of the sudden and have to get rid of the house I love.  That's not so much the stress as is how to do all of this.  I also have to get rid of cars.  But at least my eye is better.   I knew this whole eye thing was too easy.  I felt like what is coming next that I'm having such good success lately.  Well I think it's uncovered itself.

New Trick..

Well, if you noticed I didn't speak of eye pain for 2 days. I'm trying a new trick.  I'm scared to speak of it as maybe it's just a coincidence. Frankincense has anti inflammatory properties. In the past I have used this and cut my ibuprofen use with it. So I just put one drop around my orbital bone where I have the pain.  It's worth a shot.  Can't hurt, might help.

Update: 9:55 p.m.  It's working - my left eye started to hurt around 5 p.m. and I had to do two brow / lip waxes.  Put oil on and it went away.  Is this too good to be true?

I'd like to thank...

I don't know why but I'm thinking lately of all the People especially Good Doctors that have helped me over the years.
Dr. Jonathan Holmes This blog of course stemmed from the experience I had with Dr. Holmes,  I've been very grateful for his skills and kindness. This poor man ,has tolerated SO MUCH from me, phone calls, emails, silly gifts, basically I was on a rollercoaster of emotions as you can read and drug him along,  but he is always gracious and acts like his same professional self. No matter what I throw at him, I can set my watch by how he'll react.  Steady as rain.  I appreciate it.  I've learned a lot about professionalism from him. But,  in all fairness, there are several others who have helped me tremendously also.
Dr. Beth Donnelly, my G.P. with out her trusting me we wouldn't have found my heart problem until I would have had a stroke.  She also played a vital role in helping me after heart surgery.  It's such a blessing to have a good GP in network that you trust.  At times, she takes a back seat then rises at other times.
Dr. Demetre Nicolof   who fixed my heart.  I'm grateful he spent his life perfecting his trade, pioneering bloodless heart surgery. I got to use my best line ever on him, in the ICU I mustered up the strength to say,    " Doc, you really touched my heart."  But I was too weak and I don't think he really got the joke.
Dr. Anne Dunnigan who was and is my cardiologist, I trust her completely. This woman has put up with me and my incessant questions and annoying way of looking at her when I don't 'get it'. Two different times, once with open heart surgery in 2001 and now in 2011 with my recent ablation. I will be lost when she retires.  No one talks as straight as Dr. Dunnigan. Who else at her level in her career would say "oh, you can call me Ann"  no I can't, it's disrespectful. Yet, she was humble enough to ask Dr. Milstein to do my ablation.
Dr. Simon Milstein - latest addition ( 4/22/11) a Brilliant man from Uruguay South America.  He apparently  has a gift for curing Idiopathic Fascicular Ventricular tachycardia. and he was right here in my small town. Second person to fix my heart. Gracious and respectful about my request to not use blood.  I appreciated that more than he'll ever know.  He made me laugh even though drugs prevented me from audibly laughing. I suppose I should thank the heart surgeon on stand by the day of my ablation.  Sorry I wasted your time Dr. Pineada. But so glad that because of Dr. Milstein, I didn't need you. I made a video of course.
Dr. B. Gerdes for being honest wtih me and helping me get off the meds that were killing me for 3.5 years.
Jeff - at the St. CLoud hospital. This guy is worth his weight in GOLD.
Dr. Mark Halstrom gets honorable mention as I know I can count on him. He's a kind person and a advocate for his patients.  I appreciate that when I am at my worst I can drag my carcus into his office and I don't have to say anything he just 'knows' what to do with me but more importantly, I don't have to explain everything.
Dr. Vornbrock  (previously) and  Venables D.C. (currently)  Keep me going and are my first line of defense.
Jeremy Olson as he also pieces me back together when I am at my worst, making house calls.
Dr. Nancy Holden. GOD BLESS THIS WOMAN. She has been a LIFE saver and helps me keep my head on straight.
Dr. Stephen Lore  He was my podiatrist since I was 3.  I had him for 33 years.  I was one of his first patients - he was old school. No frills and very entertaining - I miss him.

I may add more later if I think of them.  I know it sounds like I'm a mess but this has been over the last 36 years really.  So they add up.

The curse of the housewife

I'll paint the setting for you.  I'm sitting in my living room in this big sunny window on my two chase lounges folding laundry listening to pandora - missy higgins right now. And I find myself thinking about the 'curse of the house wife' This is what I term matching and folding socks. The Most thankless job a woman can do.I can't help but think.  This is what my life has comedown to. The most thankless job a human can have is matching and folding socks.  However, I realize that while I do these mindless, thankless chores such as socks, empting the dishwasher, change the sheets, vacuuming, is when I can think and clear my head.  So maybe it's not so bad.  Maybe even therapeutic.  Just kidding. It's still a curse.
So I'm thinking about my coversation with a client I had yesterday. She asked me, "how do I take care of myself so that I can keep taking care of others?"  Good question. Although I don't see myself as taking care of others really.  My answer as lame as it may seem was only two things I could think of telling her.  1) my job, when I'm at work I have less stress.  I have to be calm and positive or else I can't get the person to become calm and relax.  2) This little blog. I enjoy putting my thoughts down in writing.  WHY?  I had no clue.  And why on the internet?  Why not in a journal that only I will read? - After discussing it with her I concluded, it was after my pschycologist had me write a letter to a Dr. I felt did me really wrong I realized the value in putting your thoughts down and be willing to give them to someone else.  I write it down it helps organize my thoughts and then I can let them go.  It's kind of freeing.

Micro Current Idea

Alright, So again with the eye today!  I took 2 ex. st. tylenol this morning before going out in my volunteer work. No results.  Then at 10:30a.m. took 2 Ibup. - No GO.  So then I took Two more at 12:30p.m. as I couldn't shake the ache. I worked from 1-6p.m. My eye hurt til about 3:30p.m .  So since nothing is going as predicted maybe I should take a chance and try something new.  I was using my micro current on a client yesterday when I go to wondering what if I used it on my eye/ orbital area that is hurting. Back in the 60's they used this machine to help Bells Palsy.  Typically, I would think that this would increase blood flow.  Which would not be typical for inflammation.  But I'm at my wits end with this.  I usually can figure my little weird pains out. But I'm clue less. Maybe I should try something that doesn't make sense.

My New Word

Idiopathic- That's going to be my new middle name.      Greta Idiopathic Weisman...

Back to the Eye Ectomy plan

It's Friday morning - I have my long day at work today - already loaded up with Ibup. and the left eye is just going to have one of those days.  Like I got punched. It travels around the inside of the orbital bone, even under the eye.  I give up.  I just wish I knew why.  I can't imagine why.  I tried to understand really.  This is just silly. The really funny part - I just emailed my doctor like two days ago and said I wasn't taking any OTC meds for my eyes.  Just when I think I'm making progress! Every day is different.  I never know what the next day will bring.

Finally, I took two more Ibup. and the pain receded around 12:30.p.m. Now I'm fine and it's 4:20p.m.  So - whatever!

3 weeks from heaven

Back around Dec. 21st began what I termed the 'three weeks of heaven' I felt this weight lifted off my shoulders. I felt great!  I did have eye pain but for some reason I didn't care. Every day at work I had a full schedule and was on top of my game!  I blew all my old sales records out of the water.  My clients were fantastic.  ( still are ) Saying things to me that were just so kind and sweet the tips weren't bad either but I'll take a card any day.
I felt on top of the world and I could accomplish anything.  I blogged about it for me so that when I didn't feel that great I could go back and read it.  And I can.  It ended with some back and shoulder pain issues that were more than distracting, my friends cancer is progressing and my work schedule slowed.  But I can see we are getting back on track.  Work is nice and steady full days.  Things are stabilizing in all other areas so now I can go back to being my best.  Right now I'm focusing on my ASL classes and for fun I'm re learning all my facial muscles, bones and nerves while I give facials.  I was doing my accupressure facial massage on a client Tuesday, I thought she was sleeping but then all of the sudden she said, "oh that feels great, I wonder what muscle that is...."  Oh well, let me tell you.  :)  I'll  post my facial muscle paper - I keep this in my drawer at work and when my client closes their eyes I pull open my drawer and work on memorizing. Makes things more interesting.  Stirs up my day a little.

A Compensating Hair Cut

I went into work today and got my hair cut and colored.  I was admiring my straight neck in the mirror the WHOLE time!  Finally, I mentioned it to Brandi - my co worker/ hairstylist.  She proceeded to tell me that she had been cutting the right side of my hair longer  to compensate for my left head tilt.  That was interesting.  I guess I appreciated how she didn't tell me until my head was straight.  Was my head tilt really that noticeable? Really?

"these eyes"

Last night a bunch of us were down the street at our friends house for the 'super' bowl. Those of us who weren't into football sat at the table and laughed our heads off playing a game.  My eyes didn't hurt much at all yesterday until then.  Why then? So you know, your'e having a good time and then my eyes!  UGH.  I really can't wait until we get to the point that I can forget for a while that my eyes are working.
I have pretty much stopped talking about my eyes even though I think about them a lot.  When they hurt I can't help but be aware of them.  But even when say I'm sitting across from people at a table.  Sometimes I like to just cock my head to the Right and see things from that angle.  It's so cool to do that and see single.  Even when I'm doing facials and the person is resting.  I am tilting my head slightly in all different directions enjoying the single view. But I can't explain it to people, well, I could, and I have initially.  But then you get the look that says, "Yeah Greta, we're not following you here"  So I just keep quiet.  But my mind still thinks it.  I kind of wish I had someone who could relate.  I don't know anyone who's had strabismus surgery.  I'd like someone else to know what it feels like to have your superior oblique muscle pulled.  Or even know how to pronounce strabismus.  Or what a inferior oblique is. Just to hold a conversation about it. Or maybe, I just wish I didn't know all of this.  Yeah, that's the ticket.  It's not them it is actually - me.

And then today...

And then today. My left eye felt better.  What is going on?  Make up your mind already!  My operated eye ached most of the day.  Ibuprofen does knock it out.  I usually can rationalize, justify, semi understand my weird random pains. But not this left eye.  I tried to understand it but Bottom line, I can't understand it. I hate not understanding my own 'freak of nature' body. Oh well. Can't win em' all.
We'll see how my eyes do after 10 hours at work tomorrow with only a 45 min. break for lunch.

You've got to be kidding...

Well, I'm off my dilaudid for back pain. My left eye is just being ridiculous! RIDICULOUS! Again, this is the NON operated eye. I have this head ache, much like the old headache I used to know with my head tilt. But it extends most days all the way up into corner of my eye. So I wondered if maybe the pain in the back of my head was pinching a nerve connecting to my eye. I took 2 Exedrin Tension Headache. The head ache went away but not any of the eye pain particularly in the corner - the Trochlea area. I want to call the eye Dr. but what's the point. I don't think there's anything NON radical that he could do. No doubt he'd say he wants to see me. Well, that's nice and all but that's a 9 hour day with at least 6 hours of driving. And if I went down there he'd see there is nothing to see, nothing to measure. So I'll just try to wait it out more. Ibuprofen does help. Next phase of my life will be the liver replacement I will be needing from all the pain reliever. It's only 8 a.m. and am already just frustrated. Why am I blogging this? Because I don't want to complain to the people around me all the time. They don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it why would they?

Matthew 6:10

I am a bit frustrated as I have been in some form of pain since Oct. 20. 2009. My eyes, (Sigh) I just wish I could not feel them for one whole day. I don't want to complain to others around me. But I think about it almost all the time. I'm so tired of being aware of my eyes. Just frustrated today. I'm tired too so that doesn't help. I have taken pain relievers for a very long time. I've been taking pain relievers every day for the past 3 mo. but some weeks I would take regular dosing every few hours just to try to forget about the pain and give me a break. I want to stop taking them but then I also can't stand feeling pain. So whats a girl to do... nothing. There is nothing to do. Just pray for God's Kingdom to come. Mt 6: 10.