Well it's been quite awhile since my last post, my apologies. It seems like God had a busier fall season planned for me, full of photography and appointments. My original plan was to return to photography in the spring, but as the bills were piling up, clients were emailing in, and the need to start taking jobs was apparent.
So I started booking sessions, and before I knew it, December & the holiday season was here! I can't say thank you enough to those client who chose to book with me despite everything that's happened with my eyesight. They put their trust in me & praise Jesus I was able to deliver. Chasing kids is more difficult than before but my love for photography and giving captured memories to these families hasn't diminished a bit.
My central vision hasn't changed much, but my peripheral vision has opened up a bit, enough for me to pass the dmv standards for driving. I needed 110 degrees of uninterrupted vision and I have about 115. But on my right side there is still some cause for concern & my doctors classified me as "borderline." Which basically means I get choose whether or not I drive.
I am apprehensive, because there are those blind spots & that will effect my reaction time, yet I'm sure once I get back into a car, I'll readjust and be fine. My doctor that helps with the daily life stuff and rehab is doctor Tran. She's been quite wonderful and realistic. The last time I went in we talked about driving and the fact that, just because I meet the numerical degree necessary, that doesn't mean I'll be able to drive. She said that when I'm ready, I needed to go take a rehabilitation course on driving, which I'm not thrilled about. I don't see what they're going to tell me other than, 'you'll have to turn your head more often to see things.' Well duh, I don't have all my peripheral vision so how else would I see things?
I haven't driven since June and Matt took the car back to school with him for the year, and so far I've survived. So I don't think I'll be hoping on the band wagon for driving until the spring. Hopefully my vision will continue to improve and I'll feel a little more confident about being on the road.
With all that being said, my prescription, diamox, the common medication for IH is still working. I started back in July on 2000mg a day (the max dosage), in other words, I had to take 2 pills, 4 times a day. That was a hassle. Dr. Falardeau has reduced me slowly over the past 6 months and I'm down to 1000mg a day, with no IH symptoms creeping back. So thankful for that! I would LOVE to be off this awful drug by summer & be able to sit in the sun again & have carbonated drinks! That means that I could be tan for my wedding, drink champagne, and enjoy our sunny honeymoon! Here's to hoping**
__________________
Switching notes just a tad, I wanted to relay what it's like for someone with IH, who deals with the symptoms daily. I've had so much time to read online forums, groups, discussions, blogs about IH and people who battle it 24/7.
It is not like me now. I have IH but I tend to consider myself in remission since the headaches haven't come back and whooshing in my ear is gone. It's like the first 23 days of my summer this year.
IH is daily headaches, whether they be minor or so bad that you literally can not get up. There's whooshing in your ear that is deafening, and it doesn't go away. The headaches usually cause naseau & that makes eating difficult. Not everyone with IH has issues with their eyes. Often, people with IH also have fibromyalgia, which is a constant ache of joints and muscles. Weather temperature changes, and pressure changes, can make the headaches worse. Many doctors opt for routine spinal taps to help manage the pressure and headaches. You can also get a shunt in your lower back, abdomen, or temple to help drain the extra cranial fluid. Thankfully, I didn't have to have brain surgery, the medication & eye surgeries were enough for me. But Diamox doesn't work fully for everyone. It might help keep the headaches more manageable but they're still present. It's a daily battle, that can last years, and it doesn't have cure.
Every day I am thankful that my struggle with IH has been relatively easy compared to so many people who have fought it for years. I pray that I never leave remission and that my battle was a one time thing.
No comments:
Post a Comment