Debbi Bifulco Update

[ppearl214]

Debbi, great pic!!!! Looks fab and healing terrific!!!!!!!

Phyl

[Debbi]

Thanks, Phyl!  'Bout time the darned thing looks good!  You wouldn't have wanted to see the pictures in mid May! 

Debbi, pretty darned happy with the world right now...

[Pooter]

Great pic, Debbi!  Congrats on healing so well!  I know ya have had some bumps, but they are somewhat to be expected (we didn't think it'd be easy right?).. I'm right there with ya in terms of the scar healing.  I still have some swelling, but it's not near what it once was.  Continued healing, my friend..

Brian

[cmp]

"The Roland Technique", hmm? Wonder if he's published about that in the medical journals... 

[Debbi]

Welll, the haircut was the highlight of my week!  I feel SO much better now!!  The hair salon was predictably noisy, and I had to wear my eye patch to keep the blow dryer from dying my eye out (meaning that I felt like everyone was staring at me) but it was still time well spent.  Between the anesthesia and all the other drugs after surgery, my hair was really a mess!

Now, I know that you may have seen some of my references to the Bosu Ball...  For those unfamiliar with this bit of devilry, here's a picture of me on the blasted thing.  It's quite a challenge, but very good for my overall balance, I think!



Debbi, sneaking up on the Bosu again!

[cmp]

Terrific haircut, Debbi--can see why you feel so good about it! You look so healthy, and I can't believe you can balance on that ball...  (Are you sure there isn't an invisible cable holding you in place somewhere?)

[yardtick]

You look great!!!  Your scar is in the same place as mine.  Love your house!!!

Anne Marie

[MaryBKAriz]

Hi Debbi,

You GO girl!!!!!

Great balancing on the bosu ball!! Oh my I can only imagine what my dogs would do if I even tried that.

Also, your new do is lovely!

I love your spunk.

Mary

[Debbi]

Thanks, everyone!  And, you should all know that this picture was snapped about half a second before I had to
"dismount" the ball!  (Code for, I was about to fall off...) 

So, I have been really enviious of all the folks with Blinkeze removable eye weights and have been trying to figure out how to find an opthamologist who could actually prescribe them for me.  On a whim, I emailed a local guy who I have heard some good things about, on Saturday and experessed my interest in Blinkeze and asked if he was able to "fit" me for one.  Lo and behold, he emailed me back Saturday night (what, does he think he's a neurosurgeon or something!) with a very detailed and helpful email!  He even asked in his return email if I the surgery I had was for an acoustic neuroma!!  I am going to call his office first thing tomorrow morning and schedule and appointment. I am SO excited!  It would be heaven to be able to blink my eye, and I am so impressed with Tammy's account of her Blinkeze (thanks, Tammy!) 

So, keep fingers crossed that the doc will be able to fit me in this week.  And, btw, I would never have imagined six months ago that I'd be excited about taping a weight to my eyelid...   

Debbi, sneaking up on a Blinkeze...

[Debbi]

Just a quick update - I was able to score an appointment tomorrow morning at 8:45!! Very excited!

Debbi, Blinkeze in sight...

[cmp]

I'll be very interested to hear more about these gizmos...

Good luck!

Carrie

[Debbi]

I've ordered my Blinkeze!!! He tested different weights, and we settled on the 1.2 mm weight, which allows me to completely close and re-open my eye.  I said I'd pay for rush delivery, in the hopes that the weight will be here on Friday.  I am SO excited!!  He said this should make a difference with my dry eye.

He also talked about some additional things he could do if the eye weight isn't enough. The first would be a punctal plug.  I've posted elsewhere to try to learn more about this, but if anyone reading this thread can comment on punctal plugs, I'd appreciate and and all feedback.

He said a third procedure would be a surgical lift of the lower lid.  And, of course, a permanent eye weight.  Well, one step at a time.  At least he was conversant with all of these things, and even knew about acoustic neuromas.  Yay!  Afte the first dud opthamologist, this guy was a breath of fresh air.

So, I am keeping fingers crossed that on Friday I'll have a brand new Blinkeze!  If so, I'll make sure to post a picture.  Big thanks to Tammy, Sara and Nancy for sharing so much good info about this.

Meanwhille, when is the fatigue going to go away?  I can definitely do so much more than I could a month ago, but when I get tired - I really get tired!  Sometimes I feel like I've been hit by a Mac truck!  I know, I know - patience, Debbi....

Debbi, eagerly awaiting Blinkeze

[Jim Scott]

Debbi:

Congratulations on your (soon-to-be-here) Blinkeze! 

I'm sure it will be a big help.  The fact that this ophthalmologist is AN-savvy and helpful is certainly a day-brightener. 

The fatigue is a variable that we all have to deal with but it does take time to dissipate and often seems to be at a glacial pace.  I doubt even a doctor could give you a credible time frame.  It seems that everybody's experience is slightly different.  At about 6½ weeks post-op, you probably have a few months to go before you're back to full strength.  As my doctor explained it, "your body was invaded and traumatized by the surgery.  It takes some time to heal and saps a lot of your energy to do it".  I would hope that by Labor Day, you'll be feeling less fatigued.  Of course, I'm just speculating wildly and have no idea what the actual post-fatigue time frame will be.  I hope it's next week.

Meanwhile, enjoy your Blinkeze and accept my wishes for your continued healing as you move forward. 

Jim

[MaryBKAriz]

                    

Hooray Debbi!!!!!!! I was keeping my fingers crossed for you. I thought of you when I got up this morning hoping you were in getting your Blinkeze ordered. I can't wait to see how you like them. My friend here with dry eyes, got the plugs and said they helped. She is out of town right now and just left, so I will ask her more about it when she gets back. Dry eyes are a problems for a lot of people here, needless to say.

Take care, dear person!

Congratulation hugs....

Mary

[cindyj]

So glad you're getting your Blinkeze...good to know there's such a thing. 

Sorry you continue to feel so fatigued.  Anesthesia, let alone invasive surgery, especially of the magnitude of yours, takes so much out of our bodies and it seems to take so long to get the energy back - but you WILL !

In case I haven't mentioned to you, thanks for your continued updates as well as your support of others here.  Don't know how you've done it w/ all you've been through...same to all you others on the forum that have recently undergone treatment and yet continue to contribute here while you're trying to recover.

cindy