Squint
Saturday January 26th 2008, 4:09 pm
Filed under: "Wrapped in Comfort",Life

Bigfoot scarf Kidsilk Haze(Photo: my Bigfoot pattern, done as a scarf with three repeats across of the stitch pattern given in “Wrapped in Comfort,” Kidsilk Haze, size 4.5 mm needles.)

Such a weird reaction to a common cold. Autoimmunity is always an interesting variety show, and so, I found myself in sudden pain last night and in the eye doctor’s this morning. Lupus inflammation leading to a tear in the cornea, drops for three weeks.

I had never seen that doctor before. She was gentle, she was thorough, she asked questions, she gave me lots of details and she asked for any questions from me after giving me enough information so that I had some idea of what to ask. This is the eye that went blind on the left half for three weeks a few years ago; I don’t trust it to behave. (Stomp my feet, demand, “But I’m too DEAF to go blind!”) But in her competent hands, I came away with a sense of grateful relief. It’ll be okay? I see.

It’s not just the technical competence of a good doctor, although that’s essential, it’s the caring that conveys the strength I need to let all this stuff just be background noise so that I can tune it out.

Back to my merino wool and 4mm needles. I can already see it more clearly than I could last night.


12 Comments so far
Leave a comment

I hardly dare even email you with the cold I’ve got. I keep hearing about these computer viruses . . . . But at least I know it is viral since I’m already on antibiotics for something else. I hope you feel better soon and that you can see your way through this (literally.) And now I must decide–more cocoa, or a nap. That is all I’m up for at the moment.

Comment by Laura 01.26.08 @ 5:07 pm

I am glad all will be well. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you have knitting to help you feel better. Blessings to you.

Comment by Vicki 01.26.08 @ 6:52 pm

I’m glad you got the drops. I hope they continue to work well for you.

Comment by Amanda 01.26.08 @ 9:00 pm

WOW, you just arent havin much luck so far with the flare ups of your Lupus. Brian and I offer our prayers for you and your continued recovery from this latest round of trouble. Heres hoping you make through the rest of the winter with flying colors. No more ER visits for you younglady!:-)

Comment by Danielle from SW Missouri 01.26.08 @ 9:29 pm

According to a survey I saw recently, doctors who are women have a better “bedside manner” than male doctors. Go figure!

Comment by Carol 01.27.08 @ 6:06 am

Oh Carol, I could tell you stories (let’s not, on some of them…) In my experience, it’s an entirely mixed bag.

Comment by AlisonH 01.27.08 @ 11:30 am

i hope that your eye continues to improve. colds can certainly provide rude paths occassionally.

Comment by marti 01.27.08 @ 1:38 pm

Hi Alison! “Wrapped in Comfort” is your book? Wow, it is on my list to purchase, since I’ve found that lace knitting is my “knitch”. I wish you good health. Thank you for visiting my blog!

Comment by Nancy 01.27.08 @ 1:45 pm

Ouchy! I hope things heal up soon. I’m glad you had such good care. It’s really key to have a doctor who appears caring and smart. Sometimes, I don’t even care if it’s all an act, if the person treats me with respect and kindness!

Comment by Joanne 01.27.08 @ 1:46 pm

Check my blog later tonight for your award!

Comment by Allison 01.27.08 @ 3:00 pm

I am glad everything will be okay with your eye. I hope you’re feeling better soon.

Comment by Lisa 01.27.08 @ 7:00 pm

Yikes. That had to be scary; I’m glad she set your mind at ease. I agree, it’s really a mixed bag and gender is not really a good predictor on whether a doctor will have a good bedside manner. I adore my eye doctor–he’s so knowledgeable. When there was some question whether I had lupus anticoagulant issues (which is different from lupus and not well understood) he knew as much about the issue as any doctor I’d seen. He’s also in the practice that diagnosed my mother’s MS. Excellent, excellent doctors.

Comment by amy 01.27.08 @ 7:23 pm



Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

(required)

(required)