Life's Ups and Downs...

[Dale D]

It's been an eventful couple of weeks for me. I found out that the retina in one of my eyes had become detached, which required surgery. After undergoing one surgery, my retina became detached again, so I had to undergo a second, much more invasive surgery. At this point, it's a fight to save the sight in my left eye. The surgery has left me with no sight in that eye for the next couple of months, after which my sight will hopefully return gradually. It will take a lot of patience in the meantime, as I won't know whether the outcome is successful for a couple of months. The prospect of losing half my vision at 44 is sobering, humbling, and depressing. Although this is like a bad dream, I've decided not to sit around worrying, and am taking an optimistic outlook. My left eye has always been my shooting eye, and I've not taken any photos since the surgeries. However, I did go into my darkroom a couple of nights ago, and found that to be comforting. I missed a week of work after each surgery, but will go back tomorrow, even if part time.

I read the forums here often, but have not posted much because I don't yet have a rangefinder. I like the level of civility here...

Dale

 

[aad]

Keep your spirits up. My dad went through that, as did a friend of mine. My dad ignored doctor's orders and lost his sight in the left eye, my friend did as told and he's fine. Have faith .

 

[Dale D]

Thank you for your good wishes. aad, in what way did your father ignore doctor's orders?

Dale

 

[NIKON KIU]

I feel for ya, wish you better times.
Hang in there.

Kiu

 

[Xmas]

You gotta be patient and good, e.g. wear safety glasses doing anything risky. It is real difficult adapting to right eye only field of view.

Relax, your auto immune system works better when you are not stressed.

Most of the people in the hospital will be worse off.

It is annoying being ill.

Noel

 

[Jocko]

Dale, most of us here will have faced similar-yet-different crises, and will well understand your position. You will undoubtedly find the strength to pull through and an optimistic approach is by far the best course in any such situation, not least because in all likelihood, all will be well. Good luck and don't hesitate to voice your worries - this place is full of willing listeners and talking can help.

Cheers, Ian

 

[Thardy]

I hope you fully recover.

 

[peter_n]

Sorry for your troubles Dale. You are optimistic and that is good. You need a strong mentality to pull through and oddly enough, it can be very helpful to focus on others at this time. Your family and others who love you will be upset and need reassurance, and conveying your own optimism about the outcome can be very helpful for them.

It can also help you in the sense that repetition of the desired outcome will reinforce it in your own mind. Being strong for those around you can work wonders.

 

[Dale D]

Thank you all again for your thoughts and good wishes. I hope that I can someday look back on this experience and laugh. I can handle the discomfort, but dealing with the uncertainty is the hardest part of it all.

Dale

 

[PetarDima]

whish you best, Dale. You are at good place, understanding RFF comunnity 🙂

 

[nikon_sam]

Thank you all again for your thoughts and good wishes. I hope that I can someday look back on this experience and laugh. I can handle the discomfort, but dealing with the uncertainty is the hardest part of it all.

Dale

Dale,

I pray for a speedy and complete recovery not only for your eye but for you too...
I am about 95% completely healed of Bell's Palsey today...it's been a 7 month ordeal for me as of today...My biggest concern was not being able to blink or close my left eye (other than doing it manually)...The doctor's concern was the same...Your vision can deteriate if the eye isn't lubricated regularly...
I shoot with my left eye, so I know how you feel...
All I could do, along with my family, is Laugh...the kids still continue to make fun of me and I in turn do the same...what are my options???
Bell's Palsey affects one half of your whole face...you have absolutely no muscle control other than opening your eye lid (different nerve).
As of two weeks ago I could whistle again...although that sounds trivial...not being able to for the past 7 months, it's a huge thing for me...It means I'm getting better...
If you have to go to the other eye to shoot with, approach the whole idea as a New Adventure and Learning Experience...

All the best and speedy recovery for you and yours...

 

[FrankS]

Best wishes to Dale and Sam.

 

[charjohncarter]

Well, best of luck on your surgery. I know someone that is a photographer that had the same thing, but it was six months before he could even be in bright light. I'll be thinking of you.

Carter

 

[Dale D]

Sam,

I sincerely hope that you continue toward a full recovery. It's amazing how easy it is to take our health for granted, and I now have a sense for the amount of patience that you've needed. Hang in there the rest of the way.

I'll also keep your advice in mind about having to shoot with the other eye, which feels very unnatural right now. I think I'll be able to get used to it, but for now I'm not comfortable shooting outside because the eyedrops that I'm taking make me too sensitive to bright light. I guess I'll have to stick to doing dark room work for now, which is okay since I'm so far behind in printing...

Dale

 

[nikon_sam]

Dale,

Thanks...This is my second time with Bell's so on the first day of symptoms I had a pretty good idea what I was in for...although it's been over 20 years since the first time it seems like this is taking forever...

I have used this time to heal other issues in my life...dealing with an alcoholic brother and a mother in deep denial...and me being a perfectionist and one who hates being embarrassed in public or making fun of myself...
Well...I'm not perfect...and once I said it out loud and the world continued to spin on it's axis...I got over myself...
I could lay around and feel sorry for me but I wouldn't allow myself to go there...We had a friend for the last three years who had been battling with ALS. The only way we ever saw him was laying in bed or strapped in a special wheelchair...The only thing Bill could do was move his eyes and sometimes smile...He had been in this state for the past 8 or 9 years...There was no way I could feel sorry for myself as long as he was in this condition...and in my life.
Bill passed away in Feburary this year and it was an honor for me that they used a picture I shot of Bill and his wife Sue at his service...
I have been so blessed by Bill and his family and now know that anything I have or will go through would never come close to what he went through...with a smile on his wonderful face.

 

[bsdunek]

Dale and Sam, and others, prayers are in order. We do tend to take things for granted until something like this happens. Like you said, Sam, seeing Bill opened your eyes.

We photographers certainly place a high value on our eyesight. My Father-In-Law is suffering from macular degeneration and can’t photograph any more. While he is 92, his mind is still good, and he would like to do some photography. He and my Father (deceased) were photo buddies for at least 70 years.

As said, keep the faith, and be patient. It sounds like you will recover in time.

 

[peter_n]

Yes indeed Sam. Everything is relative. Best to you as well as Dale. Keep strong.