Update: should I take my bike?

[cusepack]

Just a little update:

Had decided to take my bike - even though Delta was going to charge me $100 each way - I figured I'd just bite the bullet and take full advantage of the wonderful hills in the mountains . . . anyway . . . yesterday, while using the weedeater, a stone kicked up and got me smack dab in the middle of my eye. I heard and felt a pop, then, my vision was blurry. Rushed over to the eye doctor's office and to my surprise, the rock tore my cornea. I'm now sporting an oh so attractive white patch with lovely white tape, and was told "no driving, no watching TV (hey, I'm sorry, but the TdF is once a year, so I'll make do with my one eye!!!), no computer/reading (he just doesn't realize I need to stay in the loop online!!) and absolutely no riding. I have to go back again today to have the patch removed and the eye examined, and then he'll tell me if I'm even able to fly (something to do with altitude/pressure and it's effects on the eye). So, needless to say, I'm pretty much beside myself - actually I am - this one eye gig is tough to adapt to - I look in the mirror and I see more than one of me, and my depth perception is horrendous!!

Of course, if the eye problem weren't enough to bring me to tears, one of my kitties caught her hind leg on a fence and tore a hole right to her muscle. I had to have someone drive me to the vet, and my kitty had the wound irrigated and 5 staples to close it up. Now, she's on antibiotics and pain meds for 10 days. Thank goodness, if I'm able to fly, I have someone that can come in and take care of her. Funny, my Mom said to me, "I bet you were more concerned about your kitty than you were your eye." She was right. Oh, what we go through in love of our animals!!!

So, when I return to the eye doctor today I'll find out if I'm able to travel. I'll feel terrible if I can't, as my family is looking forward to my visit. And, I was going to surprise my nieces (ages 14 & 17), and, my birthday is Saturday - haven't spent a birthday with my family in 13 years - I know in my heart, things could be much worse, but that doesn't mean I still can't cry about it - maybe it's just that I got my period two weeks early and I'm a bundle of emotion!!!!!

[Barb]

ohhh poor thing! I scratched my cornea one time and was a total baby about it. I am going out to weed wack today. Now I am paranoid to death! My BF put eye protection on the table before he left for work. Funny, he doesn't always wear it, but I do!!!

Feel better, eat some chocolate and cross your fingers that you can fly!

[cusepack]

Thanks Barb!

You know, I kept saying I needed to get some eye protection glasses at Home Depot, and it was just one of those things I said, but never got around to doing - shame on me!! Be careful out there today.

Kathryn

[Pedal Wench]

Last year, I scratched my cornea on a ride - 37 miles away from my car. The ride back was absolute agony, horribly dangerous, and something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy! Seriously - double-vision and these funky star patterns around any light, and it was even worse when I tried to cover up the bad eye. Don't play around with this one!

[cusepack]

You're right PW, nothing to mess around with - at least I was at home and was able to get to the doctor right away.

So, good news, I'm able to fly. Bad news, need to take about a week off from the bike - there's still some swelling & vision is not back to normal - doctor just doesn't want me to risk any debris getting into my eye (but I told him I wear sunglasses!!!) Just too risky, he said. Anyway, I'll see my family and do some trail running while I'm there - I'll sure miss riding, but I'm thankful I still have my vision.

[Pedal Wench]

Be careful even with the trail running -- your depth perception is probably messed up still.

[Jen Jen]

You're right PW, nothing to mess around with - at least I was at home and was able to get to the doctor right away.

So, good news, I'm able to fly. Bad news, need to take about a week off from the bike - there's still some swelling & vision is not back to normal - doctor just doesn't want me to risk any debris getting into my eye (but I told him I wear sunglasses!!!) Just too risky, he said. Anyway, I'll see my family and do some trail running while I'm there - I'll sure miss riding, but I'm thankful I still have my vision.

I hate to bum you out more, but I'd really hold off on ANY outdoor exercise. Your eyes are so precious, you can't replace them. I was out for A WALK, that's right, A WALK, and a bug literally flew STRAIGHT INTO MY EYE. It was a tiny fruit fly thing, and it still hurt like nobody's business.

Be careful, you want to have two great peepers so you can get back on your bike. Don't rush things...