Fairegold, you hit the nail on the head. Her ability to deal with any kind of problem is so low now as to be non-existent. This had been happening gradually, but it really accelerated after she broke her hip last year and had to have surgery followed by a month-long stay in a convalescent hospital. I remember you once saying that dealing with an elderly loved one is mainly going from one crisis to the next, some of them real & some of them not. Settling fear & soothing them is almost as important, maybe more important, than dealing with physical issues. I understand what you're saying about finding another doctor with a better bedside manner. When my husband & I went to calm my mother down, I put some moisturizing drops in her eyes. Even though both the doctor & I have told her numerous times to use the drops, especially after the injections, she never has bothered. But, apparently, they really helped her. When I called the next day to tell her I had made an emergency appointment for her, she told me she felt 100% better; her eyes didn't hurt anymore. I had asked her over & over the night before about pain & irritation in her eyes, but she assured me that there was no pain only vision loss. And, of course, once the irritation was gone, her vision seemed to improve too (to her way of thinking). So this crisis has passed, but I know there's another one just lurking around the corner. Her tolerance for pain has diminished so much that I don't think another injection, no matter how helpful it may be, is an option any longer. Thanks for your encouragement & advice. I'll be back when the next crisis, real or imagined, happens. Sue

Contact lenses are much abused eye products and can actually cause damage if not picked wisely. Here are a few reasons why contact lenses should be picked wisely after a prescription and that too after a visit to a qualified eye specialist. To begin with, a contact lens need not be 'fits-all' type. One must get it prescribed. Since a prescription is an authorized statement that clearly mentions what is ok, you can shop with confidence and it feels good that you are doing the right thing. Since buying a pair of contact lens can happen only through a prescription, any website selling 'branded' contact lens are likely to be selling lens that may not be branded and that isn't good news for your eye. If you have been wearing both glasses and contact lens, you are now aware that the prescriptions are a little different from each other. While most of us know what we need a prescription to buy glasses for eye sight problems, the same prescription cannot be used for contact lenses. This means, you need to get a separate prescription for contact lens. Even if you wish to wear contact lens for changing your eye color, you will need a prescription from an Opthalmogist. If you prefer to wear a specific type of contact lens, you can talk to your doctor so that she or he can recommend and also mention that brand in the prescription so that there are no hassles tomorrow. The doctor can also clear any doubt and specify the positives and negatives about any special type of Contact Lens. A prescription will have the doctor's contact details and this way, the dealer can call and check should there be any kind of confusion or if any clarification needs to be sought. Here is a link that might be useful: Contact Lenses

Unfortunately, I also cannot read it. Here are some tips...you may have already done these, if so, then ignore them! Draw up the kitchen space on graph paper (if you did this, I cannot tell, sorry!) Initially, don't worry about cabinets, appliances, islands, etc., just draw up the space. Measure and label everything...walls, ceiling height, widths of doors/doorways & windows, distances between windows, walls, doors/doorways, posts, etc. Mark all doors/doorways & windows (with dimensions) and label them as to where they lead. If they're actual doors, mark how they swing. Make note of traffic flows in and out of the kitchen It also would be helpful to see the connecting rooms, even entire first floor layouts (or whatever floor your kitchen is on), so we see how they interact with the kitchen and/or extend the kitchen feel and flow. What appliances do you plan on having (helps to figure out work flow, work zones, and types of cabinets...upper/lower vs full height, etc.) Range or Cooktop or Rangetop? Single or Double or no Wall Oven? Warming Drawer? MW? (Advantium, MW Drawer, OTR MW/Hood, countertop, built-in, shelf?) DW? Standard or drawers? If drawers, 1 or 2? Refrigerator (Top/bottom freezer, SxS, or all-fridge/freezer? Counter-depth (CD), standard-depth, or built-in?) Ventilation Hood? Other? Sizes of desired appliances (e.g., 30" or 36" or 48" cooktop; 36" or 42" or 48" wide or other Refrigerator? etc.) Pantry: Walk-in or cabinets? In the Kitchen or outside the Kitchen (e.g., Mudroom or hall)? Do you have a scanner? If so, it will most likely give you a better "picture" of the floor plan than taking a picture of it with a camera. If you must use a camera (I did when I planned my kitchen!), take a picture of the floor plan from above, not the side. You may have to put the floor plan on the floor and stand over it to take a picture. Zoom in on the floor plan so there's nothing else in the picture except the floor plan. You may also have to post a bigger size to be legible. I suggest posting a bit bigger here and providing an even bigger version in a Photobucket album for us to click to to review...either a direct link or create a public album on your Photobucket account and put the Kitchen Design pics there for everyone to see. Just make the kitchen pictures public, leave the rest private....no one will be able to see that you even have a private album, we will only see the public albums. Hope this helps and good luck!

I haven't had misdiagnoses but I have had different paths to a solution-- and different prognoses. I understand some of it because no two conditions are the same and vision is a fairly complex function. Are you having vision issues also? I guess regardless of the issue, finding the right dr is key. My first dr said there was nothing to be done-- this is when the symptoms were just developing and perhaps could have been addressed more completely. I am so kicking myself for just accepting his word. I lost two years of critical time. I am normally a strong person-- unwilling to accept that there's nothing to be done.. but I can look back now and say that I accepted it because I was soooo bummed.. and also very ashamed and embarrassed by my issues. Also, I was seeing one of the most highly regarded ophthalmologists in the area-- and I am sure he IS good for a lot of eye issues. Just not mine. I am now seeing a dr at Wills Eye Hospital 2 hr away. If you think you aren't getting good care-- keep seeking the care you deserve! And yes, thanks-- today is good. I am working 3 hr today.. we'll see how that goes!