Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Tampa Area

Here’s the problem.  New Years weekend I woke up with some eye discomfort in my left eye – Yes – the one I just had corneal surgery on this past August at the Kellogg Eye Institute in Ann Arbor!   I thought I had come down with a cold in it. Of course it was the holiday weekend and we were miles from home.  Tuesday we called and right away got into the Mid Florida Eye Center in Mt Dora.  I was diagnosed with an injury to the outer layer of my cornea, prescribed a pricey eye drop and referred to one of their corneal specialists.  I have seen that corneal doctor 2 times - at 2 different branch offices and a third specialist at yet another of their offices!  The “injury” has been given the name Corneal Ulcer. Within the first 3 days of the New Year, I already met my Medicare deductible AND have even more costly, stronger eye drops with names that we can’t pronounce and had to be compounded at a real pharmacy!  No Wal-Mart this time! 


Lithia Spring  in the morning



We moved from Trimble Park down towards Brandon and parked at one of the 3 Hillsborough county parks – Lithia Springs.    SPFB!!  Check out this picture of the springs from H’s up high drone camera!  The weather was cold and gray but the spring was still clear as it bubbled up and then flowed around the point and out to the river.  The campground sites are still cozy, carved out niches in the live oak woods.  Our favorite site was surprisingly available and without hesitation we chose it!  It’s also the biggest and most open – and a pull thru!
 
With only 5 days here and with my eye situation, our “list” has been curtailed - significantly!   We did bundle up (I covered my eye) and wandered thru the Big Red Barn Flea Market and had our annual lunch at Anna Marie’s Oyster Bar!   A visit with hometown/ high-school friends at their new home in Sun City Center was a must!   And no matter what – we cannot leave the area without revisiting the Apollo Beach Power Station and the Manatee Observation Park!  Sunday broke breezy and cool but with bright sunshine so we headed out – with my days supply of eye drops in our trusty little cooler!   Everyone else in the county had the same idea – they were all tired of the cold and gray and wanted to be outside!  We had NEVER seen so many people out on those wonderfully strong looking observation walkways!   But – just how much could those beams endure???  YES – the manatee were there in abundance, trying to stay warm – hovering just below the surface of the steaming discharge water of the power plant.


And then there was the run to Brandon to visit yet another corneal specialist!   Dr Fouraker wedged me in on his busy Friday schedule and was very personable and VERY thorough!  He also changed one of the compounded eye drops for an even more powerful one!  I explained how H and I move around the state and that we were moving down to Ft Myers on Monday morning.  Not only did he schedule me at 7AM Monday – he checked for a new doctor in Ft Myers!   He also knows “my” Doctor Sugar up in Ann Arbor!  Oh – I wish I could bring this doctor with us!

H has been patient throughout this ordeal of spending most of the last week waiting for me to do my eye drops or chasing to this eye doctors office or to another.  But now it’s getting old.    And it’s time to move to WP Franklin Lock and Dam Campground  – and to call the new corneal specialist for an appointment!

Yes – after almost 3 very uncomfortable weeks, 3 specialists, and 3 changes in eye drop prescriptions – the eye is finally STARTING to heal.  Thanks to our Great Healer, the wisdom He gave to these specialists, the amazing knowledge behind those powerful drugs prescribed and the hard work of all my prayer warriors – healing is on the horizon!