Adjustments ~

Riding into the sunset~

How does a person adjust to vision loss?  To pick one sense over another would seem contradictory. Vision, is so much of how we perceive our world...  I'm in somewhat of a funk, that is certain.  What vision the eye has, is worse in the morning.   If the weather would cool down a bit, I'd be in the saddle & that would make me feel better...  Instead we're breaking records for heat.  End of May?  It's more like mid-July & taking a toll on the flowers, the early garden plants & me.

Late Tuesday afternoon, it cooled down.  Thunderstorms were in the forecast - so no point in heading to the farm.  I worked outside weeding my marigolds.  The cool air, gray skies & wind felt so good.  Even weeding is difficult now, without depth perception - differentiating between a thin weed & thin stem of a flower wasn't easy.  When the thunder, lightening & rain hit - Butch had just gotten home & called me up from the backyard.  We sat out for a long while - just enjoying the smell & the sound of rain~

I'm unstable too, the ground looks to be almost in my face & perfectly flat.  I know how far to lift my foot for a step, but if there's slight incline or decline - I don't see it.  I did some research & decided to buy myself a new toy - Trekking poles.

My new toys~

I did a lot of looking & as with all outdoor equipment, you can spend as much or as little as you want.  I settled for good reviews & moderate price.  I've been practicing on our big hill in the back yard & it's crazy how much easier they make things & how much more secure I feel.  I figure the last thing I need is to fall & break something.

The google support group I've joined does help.  Reading what others have gone through & tried is interesting & I can ask questions.  My good eye gets so tired & even my brain has a difficult time, since it spends the day trying to reconcile vision with blotches.

My new NP, after checking my balance, suggested physical therapy in Council Bluffs.  That's scheduled with a therapist that specializes in patients with vision problems.  I'm looking forward to being given something to work on.  I'm also going to consult with a naturopathic Doctor & make changes in my diet.

I'm reading the book;  Blind Faith - by John Crittenden.  A real eye-opener if you don't mind the pun.  World wide, there are 285 million visually impaired people, of which 246 had low vision & 39 million were blind.  The cost in Canada & the US alone is over $49 billion/year.  The drug companies make a fortune on eye injections.