Day 673 - Diminished Vision

While I'm happy with my eye procedures (other than the pain and the slow recovery time), one thing I kind of missed is my diminished eyesight in the dark.  Not that I used to be able to see in the dark, but ever since the procedures, I have great difficulty reading in dimly lite environment.  This also makes wearing sunglasses a challenge, since I have to take them off indoor as they greatly affect how I read things.  Well, it's a trade off.

114/78/67 164.8lb 83 mg/DL

Day 629 - Recovery Day 13

I have my second follow up with my doctor today. Structurally, he cannot see anything wrong, but really cannot explain why my vision still haven't recovered as much as expected. I'm still having issue with changing focus of my vision from near to far (and vice versa). At least the only thing I still have to put in my eyes are artificial tears whenever they're too dry. 121/71/52 172.4lb 95 mg/DL

Day 628 - End of Week 90

08-07-2010 Front

08-07-2010 Side

04-29-2012 Front

04-29-2012 Side

My eye sight is still no where near where I wanted.  Tomorrow is another follow up visit with the doctor.  At this junction, the best I can hope for is wait and see. 

118.73/56 171.6lb 93 mg/DL
Week to Week -2.6lb

Day 625 - Recovery Day 9

Not exactly a good day for me.  I've noticed that my eye felt much better after a good night of sleep.  According to Fitbit, I got 2 hours of sleep this morning due to some work related issue that requires me to stay up most of the night.

I worked from home (due to some truly screwed up scheduling, I had to start my work day at 7AM this morning) today.  At least the rest of Los Angeles will not have to be subject to my driving today.

130/86/59 170.6lb 86 mg/DL

Day 624 - Recovery Day 8

Got back on the exercise routine today.  I was thinking about hitting the gym tonight, but tonight's work schedule plus tomorrow's insane schedule pretty much ruled that out.

In terms of my eyes, I've been working at office without aid of reading glasses.  I just have to push back the monitor back to where they used to be at, and I can read the writing.

127/75/57 171.8lb 93 mg/DL

Day 623 - Recovery Day 7

Physically back at work. I've mentioned that I've become much more forgetful in recent years. Well, today I not only have to drive back home to get my lunch, I've left them in the car even as I type this. I have to skip my work out this morning due to the fact that I did my workout late yesterday. When I woke up this morning, I know that those muscle is nowhere near recovered, and there's no point in over stressing them. Perhaps I'll hit the gym tonight and get some work in.

112/70/55 172lb 102 mg/DL

Day 622 - Recovery Day 6

I worked from home today, being that I can actually do some of these things well enough without pain. Yes, this is yet another back fill post. At least it's only one day late.

120/75/59 171.4lb 90 mg/DL

Day 621 - End of Week 89

08-07-2010 Front

08-07-2010 Side

04-22-2012 Front

04-22-2012 Side

Day 5 of my recovery.  I actually walk around today without wearing sunglasses.  Albeit, I didn't go outside of the house during the day time, but still a good improvement.  The pain in my eye is being replaced by slight annoyances that I have to pay attention to every so often.  I really should ice my eyes more, but without the pain to remind me, I really got side tracked.

I spend a good chunk of Saturday and Sunday continue to level my panda monk.  She's up to level 63 and 1/3 way through the second leveling zone.  The phasing problem with quest also exist with the current build, but it isn't slowing me down that much.

126/79/62 169lb 96 mg/DL
Week to Week 0.6lb

Day 620 - Recovery Day 4

Much better today.  I wake up not needing the sunglasses to even turn on the lamp.  I feel well enough to do all of the back fill posts.  I'm not going anywhere today, unlike yesterday.

The past 3 days I've been off my exercise routine.  Today I went back with some tuning.  I went 5-20-5 at the pace of 4MPH-4.5MPH-4MPH.  I'm not sure whether it's because I haven't been exercising the past 3 days or the hotter weather, but I really got sweaty after the walk.  This hasn't happened in months.

128/88/63 167.6lb 90mg/DL

Day 619 - Recovery Day 3

I have my first follow up with my doctor today.  But first, I tried out going outside driving.  Mind you, I'm still very light sensative,so I cannot function without my polarized sunglasses.  Driving is a bit more unusual in that I can judge object's distance more or less the same.  Just don't ask me to read the sign.

The doctor is happy with the rate of my healing.  However, the protective contact lenses will stay in until Monday.

I tried to hunt down some of the supplies I will be needing (messenger's bag for both my ultrabook and the new laptop, and new sweat pants).  I came up empty handed on both.  I'll have to come up with something.

Oh, today's picture from Rose Hills:

On my way home, I stopped by Noodle King to pick up dinner for the family.  Since I'm not eating in, no picture there.  But I did take this self portrait:

131/79/62/168.8lb 88mg/DL

Day 618 - Recovery Day 2

I've been struggling with icing my eyes.  As it stands, it freezes my forehead more than my eyes, which is where it's desperately needed.  It's only towards the end of the day that I finally come up with a working solution regarding the icing.  Partially fill the bag, put some water in it to melt some of the ice and then places part of the ice on the eye, leaving the rest of the bag away from my head.  That seems a bit complicated for icing the eyes, but it works for me.

130/90/73 170lb 90 mg/DL

Day 617 - Eye Surgery Round 2

Today is my second go at Lasik surgery.  This time, I'm not going to take the pain medication, since I despises the side effects.  I also tried to use as little of the numbing eye-drop as possible, since they inhibits eye growth.

What I didn't remember is how much I'm tearing up.  I'm going through a lot of tissue paper.

124/81/64 170.6lb 92 mg/DL

Day 446 - More Clothing Purchase Year 2

I don't like buying clothing.  For one thing, I almost never find what I'm looking for, and what I'm looking isn't all that exotic.  With the cloth switching coming, I figure it's time to get clothings that fits better.  I've already taken cared of the pants last week, this week, I tried to address some of the other area.

I last bought newer underwear back when I'm wear waist size 40 and shirt size L.  I've since shrunk beyond those sizes.  So instead of fighting parking at the mall and getting into Nordstrom, I went to Nordstrom Rack across the street at the strip mall.  We'll see how they fit.

In terms of T-Shirts with pocket, once again, I was looking for darker colored shirt with pocket.  The only store that I know that reliably stock those are Old Navy.  Unfortunately, I only found 3 shirts.  Well, it beats zero.

The last thing I bought while looking for long sleeve shirts with pocket at Wal-Mart & Target.  Both places' didn't have what I want, but I was able to pick up 2 pair of sweat pants for home use.  It's getting cold enough that shorts at home isn't practical.

I still cannot tell whether my vision is improving or not.  We'll see in 4 days.

112/74/74 169.6lb 84 mg/DL

Day 445 - Breaking Out Long Sleeves

Today is the last nominal week of October, and this year's Santa Ana wind driven heat has been a great disappointment.  At least the weather feels cooler than last year.  I usually switch to long sleeves shirts at the start of November, and today, I'm wearing my Friday casual pocket t-shirt, but wearing a hoodie sweatshirt due to the weather.  The hoodie took cared of two problem at once, warm my body, and cover my head.

Last weekend, I decided even the size 36 pants weren't doing its job, so I broke down and bought 2 pairs of size 34 from Costco.  It's been so long since I actually wear correct size pants, it's difficult for me to describe the sensation.  I think size 34 is my limit, since that's about the size of my hip bones.

On the vision front, still no dramatic improvement.

113/70/71 169.6lb 75 mg/DL

Day 444 - Look At That Number

The desk pushups that I did 2 days ago at the support meeting is currently making itself felt.  Both of my bicep muscles are quit sore, letting me know that the pace and the amount that I did probably exceeds my current limit.

I had my second follow up yesterday.  While the doctor was happy with the rate of the healing my corneas have achieve, we're both still frustrated with the recovery of my actual vision.  Today one of my co-worker who have similar procedures done did say that it could take up to a week for full vision recovery.  Tomorrow will be a full week, and I doubt I'll get my vision back. 

111/78/65 168.4lb 75 mg/DL

Day 443 - Breaking out the Heater

Not wanting to spend another cold night sleeping, I plug in the space heater and let it run in my room while I sleep.  It make sleeping a whole lot easier.

Today is also the first day back in the office.  As far as I can tell, my eyes still hasn't adjusted enough to take the florescent light tubes that the office uses.  I'll ask about that on my follow up today.

115/77/63 170lb 72 mg/DL

Day 442 - Adding New Exercise Routine Fails

Two days ago, I decided to add sit-up as part of exercise routine.  I did about 15 of them, and I'm not even trying very hard.  Today, the results are in, I'm not ready for even that amount.  I guess I'll try them again, only take it even more slowly.

Inspired by a post from Erin, here's something similar.  A comparison between a year ago and recently.

October 24 2011 272lb

October 23 2011 171.4lb

I don't quit remember what the temperature back last year around this time was, but it has come to a point where I'm ready to change to winter clothing and break out the heater.

My vision hasn't improved to 20/20 yet, but it's well enough that I can drive safely.  Just don't ask me to go anywhere I haven't been before.  The doctor actually suspend my use of both percocet and the numbing eye-drop.  What I have to take instead is Prenisolone Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension.  Quit a mouthful, but it's basically a steroid based ophthalmic solution design to help assist my current healing and reduce swelling.  The minus side is that I have to take it every 4 waking hours.

121/80/59 168.2lb 76 mg/DL

Day 441 - Lasik Recovery Day 4

I had my first follow up this morning with my ophthalmologist regarding my recovery progress.  He was most please with my recovery.  It would seem that massive dosage of vitamin C is helping.  Although ice pack on the eye help, it also introduced weight on the eye, which is annoying.  I've stop taking percocet, which I detest due to its many side effect, not to mention narcotic addiction property.

The actual procedure is call Photorefractive Keratectomy.  According to the log, the actual laser time on my right eye is 40 seconds, and 53 seconds on my left.  As of this morning, I feel well enough not to have to use pain medication, and the doctor have removed the non-corrective contact lenses.  I can almost read the monitor without squinting...

124/84/61 168.2lb 76 mg/DL

Day 440 - End of Week 63

08-07-2010 Front

08-07-2010 Side

10-23-2011 Front

10-23-2011 Side

I was only slightly kidding about my appointment with agony.  The lasik surgery itself went without much drama.  I really didn't start feeling pain until the numbing eye drops wears off.  And at the end of the first day, I got some really adverse reaction to percocet with nausea and throwing up sensation leading the charge.  The second day went a bit better on the side effect front, and I was well enough that shopping trip to Costco went well, with me wearing the cover-all sun glasses.  However, I'm still fighting the other side effect, and one that I'll probably not win until I get off the medication, constipation.  Lets just hope that I'm well enough to get off med by Monday and I can actually read without squinting.

One thing I keep on doing even though I'm not wearing glasses is me trying to adjust them unconsciously.  I find this mildly annoying and amusing.

130/60/71 171.4lb 79 mg/DL
Week to Week 0.8lb

Day 439 - Lasik Eye Surgery Aftermath First Day

Yesterday morning, I had the lasik eye surgery performed.  The procedure itself is relative straight forward.  I had my eye ball mapped, and then given valium to help with anxiety.  Surprising enough, the only anesthesia I was given were just numbing eye drop (at least those are the only one I recognized)).  I lay upon the operating bed, with my eyelash taped, and my eyelid secured in place.  The doctor put in some sort of fluid and then clean my retina.  The actual laser firing  took 45 seconds as the machine goes through its sequence.  Same thing was performed on the other eye, with the exact same sequence.  Afterward, the doctor place a pair of non-corrective contact lenses to assist in healing process.  I spend less than 30 minutes inside the operating room.

I was given percocet and the same numbing eye drop liquid for pain control.  However, the doctor did advice to rely on ice and percocet more for the pain control.  The pain itself is not as I feared.  I'm not bouncing off the wall, like I had in the pass with tooth ache.  However, I'm not sure if that's due to percocet or not.  The first 4 hours post procedure went fine, if somewhat annoyingly with incidental background pains and discomfort.  However, after my third attempt at trying to catching up on sleeping failed, I awake with more pain, and was adviced by my doctor to go ahead and use percocet with more frequency.  Now, the side effect of percocet finally kicked me in the stomach.  Nausea, dizziness, and wanting to throw up.  All of this is described in the literature.  This is somewhat unexpected.  I've never had percocet before, but I have plenty of experience with codein and codein with Tylenol.  I've never had any of these reactions before.  


I went back to the doctor for an impromptu meeting about an episode of almost uncontrollable tear shedding.  The doctor conform that's normal as part of the recovery.  My recovery appears to be on course.


117/7768 171.4lb 79 mg/DL