Pengalanty's Blog

Cataract Operation(s) and Business

I have rather neglected my blog recently. Some of you may think that I am tired of writing but that is not the case. So much has been changing within my day-to-day life that I have not had enough time each day to complete all my tasks. Some of them had to be “carried over”.

At the beginning of October, it was necessary for me to visit Bristol several times. One of the important appointments was the Bristol Eye Hospital, for a post operation check-up.

Cataracts

I haven’t mentioned this before but I had my first cataract operation last June. This was a success but I have a sneaky feeling that there were some slight complications. The operation is done by local anaesthetic, which means that although you cannot see, (Or feel), what is taking place, one can hear everything that is going on. It usually takes 20 minutes to complete a normal procedure.

I had my suspicions when the surgeon conducting the procedure dropped a couple of things on the floor. Then there was several alterations of the laser strength of the instrument and that my first eye, (The right one), took at least 25 minutes to a finalise a successful operation.

I had the feeling for at least 3 months that there was something in my eye. It felt like a grain of sand or a small flying insect that had lodged there. Strangely enough, I got used to this very quickly and it only became a nuisance when I became tired.

My post operation visit should have taken place around 6 weeks after the event. The hospital was extremely busy at that time and got behind with the check-ups. I didn’t get my (Second) appointment until mid-October. This turned out to be a bonus, as I will explain >>>

I am not living in the Bristol area at the present time and it is over 100 miles each way to attend any appointment. I happened to mention this during my visit. The Staff Nurse who was “Checking me out,” rang another department and fortunately arranged for me to have a “Pre-Op.” check-up later the same day. This saved me another trip to Bristol. I was most surprised to hear from them within 2 weeks of the Check-Up, to say that my next “Proceedure,” (Left eye), was booked in for me and I was to attend just 3 weeks after my post op. check-up.

Believe it or not, I was quite excited about this: not the fact that I was soon to have another operation but the fact that it would be done well before Christmas, with plenty of time to heal and gain strength.

One must not do anything that causes increased eye pressure for the first 2 weeks and then you are supposed to be careful for another 4 weeks after that! Apparently the eye takes about 6 months to be its normal self again.

I duly arrived in the early part of November, on a Saturday morning at 07.30am. My second operation went much more quickly than the first and was, if anything less than 20 minutes. This doesn’t include the waiting time when drops are put into the eye several times to dilate the iris and to act as a local anaesthetic. The time comes, when one walks to the operating theatre, gets prepared for the op. and finally “Wheeled In” for the event.

Now, if anybody said that they could operated on my eye, whist I was awake, inject the eye with anaesthetic and fit an artificial lens, in place of the natural cataract lens, I would have cringed at the thought. However, the procedure is completely painless. The nursing staff and everyone are most helpful and informative, so you know what is going to happen and how it is going to happen. Nothing is a surprise – except myself! I was more than surprised that I took all this I my stride and was not a bit concerned about the immediate work to my first, or my second eye!

On my first visit, I was naturally apprehensive. There were a couple of patients who were returning for their second eye to be “renovated” and they definitely helped to assure the “first timers” to overcome their anxiety. There were a couple of patients who were having there second eye done. They couldn’t wait to get to the operating theatre, which did give me great confidence. Perhaps this had something to do with my relaxed approach.

I was able to chat to the anaesthetist whilst he was getting me ready. It was a most interesting and informative discussion. We discussed how he approached his job, the fact that enough anaesthetic was given to be effective for about 2 hours. This was to give the surgeon plenty of leeway, should a complication arise. I not only knew when and where my injections in the eye were going, I was also informed that he was putting some behind the eye which was, (So I understand being pushed under pressure), around the socket. On one of the machines I was “Hooked” up to, it actually showed the oxygen level in my blood. I would have liked to have known what the norm. was, so I could compare any differences. Mine was actually running at 97/98 whatever the measurement was – parts per million, I suppose? I never got to find out – but I will! Just for interests sake.

Whatever he did in preparing me far out surpassed my previous visit. My eye didn’t start coming back to life again for about 4 ½ hours after the injections. My skull was also completely numb too. This was a weird feeling. When I tapped my head with my knuckles, it sounded and felt like I was tapping a coconut shell! I could move my scalp around my skull with the palm of my hand. The feeling had returned to the scalp but not my skull. This was very weird but not unpleasant or pleasant, just weird and unusual. My scalp & skull didn’t start returning to normal for over 7 hours. Whatever he did, was more than adequate.

I also learned as I was being returned to the reception area, that my pulse had dropped to a beat of 37bpm during the operation. Now, that is slow! It gave the people in the theatre a few anxious moments. However, I don’t think it was that serious, as all my family have slow heart rates. I think that the norm. is around 60/70bpm and mine is usually running at 43, so the differential was not too great.

Some of the patients had heart rates of around 90bpm and one even higher. They were the ones that were quite worried about what they were to undergo! One of the patients had high blood pressure but after some treatment, this was lowered and her op. went ahead, as far as I know.

Business and Private Matters

I have a position as a part time agent for a company. This is coming to an end at the end of this year and my last day in the Home Counties is during the first week in January 2009. My position with them in the Cotswold area will stay in existence for the time being, (Which is my choice and decision). I though it probably best to wind down in 2 stages. Both these appointments are one day per month, so it is not difficult to accommodate into my life schedule.

By the middle of 2009, I hope that my Internet business will be busier, as I will have more time to spend cultivating this. There is the possibility that the World financial situation will effect even the Internet based businesses. Who would have thought that problems arising in the USA, would eventually lead to lay-off and unemployment in China! It seems that nobody can escape. Being an optimist most of the time, with a positive outlook, I don’t dwell on the negative side too much, although it would be unwise not to be aware of the situation. It will be most interesting how the Heads of State the World over, will tackle these seemingly insurmountable difficulties. 2009 will be a most interesting year, to be sure!

I am still in the middle of John Thornhill’s Personal Coaching course, which I am enjoying immensely. Unfortunately, due to my business commitments and my visit to the eye hospital recently, I am now about a month behind with my coursework. I hope to do some catching up between now and the end of November. It is probably too much to expect that I can catch up completely. After all, it is over 50 years since I went to school and getting back to studying and learning again is not so easy! I was never a brilliant scholar anyway!

Due to my business commitment in the Watford/ Berkhampstead area over the past 2 years, I have come to the conclusion that my ties with Bristol are not that strong. I prefer being just outside the M25 area with beautiful countryside and a canal network leading to the Midlands. I will probably break all my ties with Bristol at the end of this year. Much of my renewals, (Chores like, Car and Boat insurances Snail Mail Postal address etc.,) are being redirected to a local address here. I will keep my Doctor and Dentist commitment at Bristol for the time being, as I do have exceptional service from these two services. I would be hard pressed to get the same service elsewhere. No doubt, that in time, I will severe these connections too!

I guess that’s enough folks, I’ll have some more news next month.