I managed to finish the trees for the Winter Village quilt. They were easy and really didn’t take long at all. The frosty, silvery look of the grey ones is going to look great in the quilt top. I am now ready to start in on the houses, and there are quite a lot of those to do! The pattern is Winter Village from The Pattern Basket.
This project requires a surprising amount of background fabric, and I need to starch another large piece of it before I can proceed to the next step.
My husband is having cataract surgery this week. All these trips to the Bay Area are really starting to cut into my sewing time. Argh.
I had my cataracts removed a few years ago and was so pleased with the results. It was as if a dirty yellow curtain had been lifted away from my eyes. I don’t recall the recovery from the surgery being any kind of issue at all, except that I was very sensitive to bright light for a period of time.
I’ve been reading up on it on various ophthalmology sites, and they are stating that it takes 4-6 weeks to recover! I did not find that to be the case at all. Other than the light sensitivity, I certainly did not feel as if I needed extensive rest or that I had to abstain from any of my usual activities. Maybe these websites are referring to a 4-6 week period of time for the eyesight to become “normal” again, and the eye healing and getting used to its new lens.
Cataract surgery is super common and one of the most successful outpatient procedures there is. Everyone I have ever known to have it has been delighted with the results. Have any of you had cataract surgery? Did you bounce right back afterwards?
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My mum had her cataracts sorted out years ago. She was very scared because it was to be a local anaesthetic and she tends to choke as she feels her throat close up in panic. But she said it wasn’t as bad as she thought and went through her second surgery without the worries she had before. It was a double whammy because glaucoma runs in our family and it relieved the pressure – she hasn’t needed glaucoma medication since!
When I had mine done, the anesthesiologist told me that the twilight sleep drug they give patients during the procedure has something in it that causes amnesia. I don’t remember a thing about my surgery except them saying “here we go” and “Nicole, wake up”,
I wish I could experience that every day, Nicole. It was all just a bad dream….wake up, Ina. wake up.
I know! Sometimes I think my husband is under the influence of an amnesiac. He is often so confused about the things we discussed in detail previously.. “You don’t remember that I told you I was going to be out for two hours today having lunch with my friend?” “How could you forget to go to CVS for your flu shot at 10:30? We JUST talked about it two hours ago.” “I TOLD you the dog hadn’t been out to pee when you asked me this morning. Now who’s going to clean up this mess?”
we set timers on Siri in the house, so she gives us a verbal reminder (turn off the sprinkler, make sure you turned off the stove, remember to close the garage door at dusk).
I also use the “send later” function to send texts to my husband. When we are talking about it, I set a text to go at the correct time to remind him (it’s 10am take the dogs for a walk, it’s 4pm remember you have to be home early because I have a board meeting, it’s 1pm the guy is coming to dig the Joe Pye Weed in a few minutes).
wow! that’s amazing about no longer needing glaucoma medicine.
Yes indeed! All those drops that she had to use, she was in her early 80’s and now she’s 97 – her eyesight is amazing! Hearing not so good – some you win, some you lose! LOL! I guess any pressure was eased by her lenses. I haven’t got glaucoma at the moment, it might miss, and I make sure my children (adults now) get checked regularly just in case.
I had cataract surgery in October of this year on my right eye. I’m scheduled to have the left eye done in a couple of weeks. I was amazed how much better I could see.
My recovery time was just a day or two really. Your husband will do great. Cataract surgery has advanced so much over the years.
I was astonished too after my surgery. Not only could I see the individual leaves on trees (at a distance!), colors were so much clearer, and light so much brighter. I was so pleased.
My great grandmother was one of the first to ever have cataract surgery…probably 70 years ago. I had mine done 7 years ago. No big deal and I love not having to mess with contacts or glasses. The schedule for the eye drops was a little crazy for the first days. Make a chart and set alarms on your phone. Safe travels.
I do remember the eye drop rigamarole. Dennis has picked up two prescriptions for it from CVS.
My sister and I were each others drivers. She had hers before Covid and was put to sleep. Mine was after and the prep was different. I was given a “relaxer” but was awake and could hear everything. I wasn’t worried about the procedure but afraid I would cough. I have chronic bronchitis. I asked what I should do if I needed to cough. He said to say stop but otherwise keep my mouth shut😂. I obeyed and it took eight minutes. Two weeks later the second eye. Eight minutes
Also. All went well both times.
I had no issues either. Honestly, I have never heard from anyone who regretted doing it.
I haven’t needed it yet but I know a lot of people who have had cataract surgery and only one had a problem, resolved when the second eye was done. I think the 6 weeks refers to the amount of time to wait to be tested for a new prescription for glasses or contacts, if you still need them.
I think you are right, Cathy. Six weeks is probably the total recovery time before one should get a new eyeglasses prescription. I was groggy the day of surgery, but was just fine the next day.
I think the cataract surgery is different for everyone. My first right eye bled profusely – the whites of my eye were completely red for two weeks. Second eye went better. I had opacification in both, which means the new lens starts to cloud up. That can be easily fixed in office by laser zapping. What also happened was I could do all my close needlework, play piano and read without my glasses. After the surgery I need glasses and its not as sharp. I’m always happy when most go well for people. You just don’t know. My nephew needed cataract surgery in his 30’s and he had opacification as well.
I had not heard of that complication. My dad had worn glasses his whole life, and after he had his cataracts removed, he didn’t need them anymore. It was so weird to see him without glasses! Eventually, he did need them just for reading.
I had both eyes done 8-10 years ago. I chose to have the lens put in for distance. I like my glasses-always have and I knew with hand sewing that I would need correction there. I recently had laser surgery on one eye to clear the lens. So dang easy! Took longer to dilate then to clear the lens! I’m pleased with technology for sure!
Before I was diagnosed with macular degeneration, it was mentioned that perhaps I just needed the laser procedure to clear the lens. I sure wish it had been that simple! Although I am so grateful that the macular degeneration was treatable and has vastly improved.
I want to thank you for suggesting books by Derva McTiernan! I found The Ruin at our library and it is spellbinding. I rarely find a book that I don’t want to take a break from, but this one is hard to put down. I have a book I need to read for our book club, but I have been playing hookey and spending my reading time with this engrossing book. I’m almost finished with it, so I can turn my attention to a very interesting book club book. I’ll look for other books by this author!
I am so glad you discovered this author and are enjoying her books! I really appreciate you letting me know; it honestly makes my day. I’ve read the three Cormac Reilly books (the fourth one isn’t out yet in the US), and her standalone “What Happened to Nina”, which was also really good. I bought another standalone of hers called “The Murder Rule”, but I haven’t started it yet. Maybe this week! I just learned that there is a prequel to the Cormac Reilly books called “The Sisters”, and it’s only $4.99 on Amazon for Kindle.
I had cataract surgery 3 years ago. Post-surgery recovery was just a couple of days. The 4-6 week period is a wait-time before getting new eyeglass lenses, if they’re required. The pre & post-op eyedrops came with a simple chart to mark off each use & I didn’t find them to be problematic at all. But, I was shocked at once again being able to see blue! I had no idea there were blue squares on our plaid bedspread until one afternoon I did a double-take as I walked by it! I was told that I may need to have the opacification laser procedure at some point, but so far, so good.
Oh my gosh, how weird. I can’t imagine not being able to see blue! With the macular degeneration in my left eye, I do notice that colors are kind of greyed out, not as sharp as they should be. Luckily my right eye is ok, so for now I’m good.
oh, my gosh, Jan! now you need to make a blue and white quilt to celebrate blue!!
DH and I both had cataract surgery on both eyes a month apart about 6 years ago and the only bother was the two months of eye drops a couple of times each day. I could do my own but needed to put the drops in DH’s eyes. It’s good to be a nurse!
Hope your sweetie did well and will recover without complications.
Love your trees and hope the houses are fun to make!
Hugs!
My friend Sue told me she was instructed to rest the eyedrop bottle on the bridge of her nose to steady it, and the bottle would be in the perfect position to have the drop land plop, right where it should go in the corner of the eye. She claims she can’t do it, but I tried it and it works like a charm for me!
good luck, Dennis! hope everything goes quickly and smoothly for him.
I know it will go great. He will be amazed at the difference in how clear everything is. It is so strange how we can get used to the deterioration of our sight over the years. Everyone is so astonished after having cataracts removed. I remember my mother-in-law exclaiming at seeing the individual leaves on the trees. She couldn’t get over it. I read that it is the most common out patient surgery in the US.
Vickie, using Siri to give a verbal reminder is brilliant! Accidentally leaving the garage door wide open all night happens WAY too often at our house! I need to start setting Siri up to give me a regular prompt at dusk every day.
I can top this. My husband left my car running in front of our house for about 15 mins. when a neighbor came over and knocked on our door. “Do you know your car is running unattended?” no, he did not. he had gotten distracted and came inside the house and completely forgotten about the car. “Siri? Please turn off all unattended running cars.”
If you haven’t watched Fisk on Netflix you might enjoy it. It’s delightful Aussie comedy. It has a running bit about Alexa being asked all kinds of absurd things.
OMG. That’s not good! Our neighbor behind us leaves his car doors open for hours at a time. At first we reminded him a couple of times, but then gave up. If he wants to come out to a dead battery, so be it. How hard can it be to close your car door behind you when you get out?
My mom once left her car running while she did her shopping in downtown Los Altos one time. It was probably running unattended for an hour. It just goes to show you what a low crime rate some communities have!
Love your trees! No experience with cataracts… yet-haha! It seems like it’s a rite of passage these days. A speedy recovery to your husband. Can that be it for appointments now?
I have an appointment in January to discuss cataract surgery. I think it’s time. All of your responses help me feel better-thanks!! And I, too have macular degeneration, but not like yours Nicole. Mine is the dry form. My retina doc said there should be no problem with the surgery, but she doesn’t do it. I have to see the “cataract” guy instead. So many specialty doctors!
We just got back to our hotel after Dennis’ surgery this morning. All went well, and he is having a coffee and apple Danish while he checks out the news on tv. He will rest today, we will stop by the Dr’s tomorrow morning for a check up and then head for home. He says he was awake for the entire procedure and found it interesting. I hope your experience goes as smoothly!
Nicole, I’m responding to your last group of book reviews. I found “The Ruin” at our library and brought it home. I could hardly put it down, though I needed to spend time reading the book club’s choice for November! Well, I finished it and I always write a brief summary of a book I’ve read and file it in a file box. To my amazement, there was already a card for The Ruin!!!! I read it in 2022 and never had a clue as I have had my nose in it for the past few days!!!!! That’s bad! Apparently I loved it then too! I am going on to read more of her books soon. She is a very good writer.