Ten days ago, Steve started having double vision. He felt okay every other way but each day, the double vision got a little worse and he was getting headaches. During church last Sunday, he just about walked off the platform because he had no depth perception. After the service we headed out to Charlotte: I drove the whole way because it wasn’t safe for him to do so.
When we got up Monday morning, I started consulting Dr. Google and discovered that there are two kinds of double vision. (The medical term for double vision is diplopia.)
The first kind is monocular diplopia which means that if you cover one eye, your double vision doesn’t change. That is the more common and less serious version and it always has something to do with the eye itself.
The second kind is binocular diplopia which means that if you cover one eye, your double vision goes away. This is the more serious kind and often has to do with vascular and nerve issues, brain tumors, strokes, and other things. And that is the kind Steve had.
We knew by that point that Steve needed to get medical attention but the challenge (besides being six hours from home) was that his general practitioner had retired and had not yet been replaced. Therefore, if we had tests or scans done in Charlotte, there was no place to send them to.
Also, in the midst of all my reading, I couldn’t decide if he should see an eye doctor or a medical doctor. In addition, we have a reasonably priced place we get scans done back home and we knew an ER visit and CT in Charlotte would cost us a bundle.
But we knew we had to do something so we finally just decided to deal with the complexities later and headed out to a local Urgent Care. (Side note: we were due to go visit Vernie but we didn’t want to tell her what was happening because we didn’t want her to worry needlessly. We just kept giving vague reasons as to why we weren’t there.)
The physician’s assistant spent twenty minutes with Steve doing various tests and then said, “I’m sending you to the Emergency Room for a head CT. Even though I don’t believe you are having a stroke, I can’t say that you haven’t had one already. We need to find out what is causing this.”
The PA sent an order over and when we walked into the ER, they took us straight back to a room.
We waited about thirty minutes for the CT scan results. You can probably imagine that our minds were pretty busy during that time, thinking dire thoughts and then praying for peace and the assurance that we could handle whatever came our way.
As soon as the doctor came back into the room he said, “Good news. You have a fovea and after treatment and/or surgery, it will get better.”
Well, of course, Steve and I breathed concurrent sighs of relief at hearing the words “will get better.”
As soon as I had a chance, I looked up fovea and was puzzled because, according to what I read, every person has a fovea. It’s a part of the eye, just like the pupil is.
I mentioned to Steve that it seemed like an odd diagnosis. He replied, “Well, eyes are not the ER doctor’s specialty so he might have used the wrong term.” I went back over the ER notes and it said the doctor had consulted with an ophthalmologist who had also said that Steve had a fovea.
Well, that didn’t bring us any peace of mind because we still had no idea what was wrong with Steve. We did know that the scan didn’t show any brain bleeds or evidence of tumor or stroke, so we knew we were okay in that regard. But what was wrong with his vision?
After the stressful morning, we headed over to visit Vernie. (By the way, Vernie has just been diagnosed with pneumonia again; as of right now, they are treating her at the rehab center and haven’t had to move her back to the hospital.)
Steve hadn’t been able to get an eye patch yet so he walked into Vernie’s room looking like this. Sort of a festive look, dontcha think? Half of the time he was talking to his mom, he had his other eye closed because looking at things gave him a headache.
Steve found a local eye doctor who would fit him for an appointment once we got back home. Once again, there was a good deal of stress while we waited because we had absolutely no clue what was going on. All we knew was that two medical people said he “had a fovea” so we weren’t real confident in their diagnostic abilities. Because after all, all God’s children got a fovea!
Waiting.
Wondering. Worrying.
When the doctor finally came in we quickly discovered that she was low on people skills but high on diagnostic confidence.
She only spent about ten minutes with Steve before stating, “You have cranial 6th nerve palsy, which is a rare condition.” She also mentioned the words vascular and decompensating phoria, which I guess is what the doctors in Charlotte were attempting to refer to.
She went on to add that if Steve hadn’t had the CT in Charlotte she would have ordered one here because possible causes for this condition are injury, stroke, infection, brain tumor, inflammation of the nerve, multiple sclerosis, and elevated pressure inside the brain. We were walking through some scary territory.
So what’s next?
Well, besides hearing (and making) a lot of pirate jokes, Steve is having bloodwork done this morning to check for–among other things–diabetes. He will have a follow-up visit to the eye doctor to have her take another look, discuss his blood work, and decide on a final plan.
Her initial take on the situation is that his condition will probably get better on its own although he will have to wear the patch for at least three months. If there is not an improvement in that period of time, surgery may be necessary to correct the muscle.
It has been a difficult week for Steve. Although he has done his best to maintain a positive outlook, the stress of not knowing what is going on has been huge both mentally and emotionally. And of course, it’s been challenging just getting used to wearing an eye patch. You don’t realize how much you rely on two-eyed vision until you don’t have it anymore.
I was just thinking back a little over the past year and all the medical stuff that has gone on in with just the Manteo Smiths/Longs and the moms. (Nathan and Meagan’s family have their own extensive list.)
Mom is in hospice, Vernie is on her second case of pneumonia, Summer came within hours/days of dying, Sarah was diagnosed with a large desmoid tumor, and also had a severe case of mono right before her wedding, and Gage shattered his finger which resulted in surgery, extensive physical therapy, and the loss of a job.
I had a lung nodule that grew, requiring two CTs, Steve and I both had COVID which caused a significant decrease in my lung function. I was diagnosed with a paralyzed lower esophagus, went through two PH impedance tests, Steve had dental repairs and an an injection for severe hip pain. Of course, let’s not forget his trip in an ambulance for anaphylactic shock. We’ve both had colonoscopies and endoscopies, and my rheumatoid arthritis continues to worsen. Many of these maladies have required numerous, long trips to Duke and UNC hospitals.
And now Steve is having eye problems.
I jokingly said earlier, “All God’s children got foveas.”
I’ll change that to say, “All God’s children got peace.”
How can I know that?
It’s because God’s peace is promised . . . over and over and over again. His peace is bigger than medical lists and stronger than worry, and greater than uncertainty. The Bible calls it perfect peace.
Steve and I are breathing in that peace right now.
What about you? What stressful season have you been in that has required extra doses of peace?
Have you ever had an out-of-the-ordinary issue with your eyes?
Hi, Mrs. Smith! First, I am thinking of you and Steve and both your sweet moms and sending my love to you all.
I just wanted to comment on this post because I was born with a bilateral cranial nerve IV palsy, which means I have an alternating exotropia (a tropia is like a phoria but it’s always present, and an exotropia means my eye deviates outward). I never developed binocular vision, which is actually lucky because it means I also never had double vision. I don’t have depth perception which is a small annoyance but not insurmountable.
Anyway, I know you and Steve have much bigger things on your minds right now, but just wanted to comment that Steve has a Cranial Nerve Neighbor. I hope his vision gets back to normal soon!
I’m so thankful Steve didn’t have a stroke! Praying for all of you! Health issues are a pain, sometimes literally, and they are worrisome in a lot of ways. I’m glad y’all are able to feel God’s hand in your care and His peace! 💜💙
Lizz,
So true that health issues can be extra, extra worrisome. Thankful right along with you that it wasn’t a stroke.
Oh gosh…so very thankful that Steve will be ok. The fear and unknown can be crippling.
My dad got shingles in his eye in November and lost his vision for a while. Pretty much back to normal now. Thank God!
Leeanne,
Ouch. Didn’t know shingles could go to the eye. Steve had them on his torso a couple of years ago and they were horrible. Can’t imagine them in the eye!
So glad his vision returned.
Embrace the peace, yes! Poor Steve, this getting older thing is no joke. Sometimes it seems like there are so many medical things popping up that it leaves us little time to live. It’s one medical thing to another medical thing with lines of space in between. I hope that diabetes has been ruled out.
I have auras without migraines. Also had a brief episode of double vision, no answer as to why. Now, blurry things in my vision(normal) and some bright arcs that resemble christmas tinsel in my vision(normal as long as they don’t tear the retina).
It stinks to get old. I hope Steve’s headaches are settling down. Maybe he can get some fancy patches 🙂
Lesley,
Sounds like you’ve had your own share of vision issues. It’s a scary thing when one’s eyes start to be affected by various maladies; vision is so precious.
Steve’s initial bloodwork came back and his blood sugar was elevated but not to diabetes numbers. He will see his eye doctor again this Friday and she’ll go over the bloodwork with us and examine Steve’s eye again and see if there is any change.
I have had a couple eye issues. The first started about 25 years ago. I was at work and started seeing swirling lights. It looked like I was looking at a light through a ceiling fan. I went to the eye doctor and he diagnosed it as ocular migraines. It’s basically the visual aspects of a migraine. I continue to have these sporadically over the last 25 years. I think stress brings them on some as the last one I had was when I met my mom at the orthopedic doctor. There was a miscommunication on who we were supposed to call to get the wheelchair van to pick her up once the visit was over. Another time I had one in the Atlanta airport or once I boarded the plane.
The other eye issue I had was a lesion on my eye lid. I went to my regular ophthalmologist who after a few visits referred me to the eye lid specialist – didn’t know there was such a doctor. After several visits with him, he mentioned doing a biopsy on it. Fortunately, it cleared up on its own and I didn’t have to have the biopsy.
Hope Steve gets a clear treatment plan at this next visit.
Phyllis,
I believe another commenter mentioned ocular migraines; I had never heard of them till now. What a scary thing to go through!
And I’d also never heard of an eyelid specialist. So glad you got the excellent help you needed and found out you didn’t need a biopsy.
Wow! When you do things, you do them good! Meaning all of the medical issues. Now, you can stop. =)
Seriously tho, I do continue to pray for all of the Smiths, Longs and Campbells!
Krista,
Yeah, definitely ready to stop! 🙂 Thanks for the prayers.
Bless y’all’s hearts. Too much stress. I guess we all keep padding those doctor’s pockets… uggg.. Praying they can find answers for Steve. Medical issues are so common as we age and it is not any fun. Aging ain’t for sissy’s. I have had bad eyes all my life. Started wearing glasses at 13 because I was sitting about six inches from the tv to see it….yes,, we did have tv’s when I was 13.. 😀 In 2020 I had cataract surgery and the doc did toric lens implants and now I only wear glasses when I read or do something on the computer. I felt naked for awhile because I was going out in public and driving without glasses on. It was strange. I always said, that if you have good eyesight you are truly blessed.
I will surely be praying for Steve..YOU… Vernie and your mom. Praying for peace as only our Heavenly Father can give at times like this. Have a blessed week.
Kaye,
How great that your cataract surgery and toric lens implant was so successful! You’re right–good eyesight is a HUGE blessing that we never even think about till it’s not working right.
I liked your line about having TV when you were 13. That just reminds us that you’re not THAT old! 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that y’all are getting some answers for Steve’s vision issues AND they include that wonderful phrase “get better”. I hope Steve continues to adjust to his patch. And I’m so happy to hear you both are now breathing peace. Continued prayers for all of you, whether in Manteo, Charlotte, Wisconsin, Florida or somewhere else.
Sue Ellen,
Steve is looking online for a more comfortable patch with an adjustable headband. I think that will make a big difference in the adjustment, at least comfort wise.
Thanks for the prayers for us in ALL locations! 🙂
Our prayers are with y’all. My husband Ray has had more than eleven eye surgeries, including three cornea transplants, so he feels a “in the trenches with you” kind of compassion. Praying for happy news soon!
Angela,
Eleven eye surgeries? Wow!
In the trenches compassion is the best kind. Thanks so much for the prayers.
I never mentioned Steve! Steve, I hope your ordeal is short and not to horrible for you. I suggest you learn to “speak pirate, and that your family does the same. Be well, Mr. Smith.
Please make that “to horrible” into “too horrible.”
That’s my quota of mistakes for the day. I’m going to bed.
Jan,
That’s a great time to go to bed–once your quota of mistakes has been made. 🙂 Hope you rested well.
When I was in college, I managed to scratch my cornea. I had to wear an eye patch for a full week and it was awful! The lack of depth perception was frustrating as all get-out. I remember being extremely crabby.
As for peace, it came to me at the most amazing time. My husband had been given 8 weeks to live (brain cancer), and I literally felt lifted by Heavenly hands throughout my his last days. There’s no other explanation for all that I was able to do for him except that great peace.
How funny that just above as I type this I see Mrs. Pam’s entry of “Peace like a river…” I’ve always loved the “It is well with my soul” parts of that hymn!
Jan,
Yeah, it is extremely disconcerting and disorienting to have sudden vision change. Crabbiness is a natural reaction to have.
I love your story of peace in caring for your husband in his last days–the Bible calls it “peace beyond understanding” and that is truly what it is. And I love that hymn, too!
And as for your Steve comment, he’s been saying “Arrrghh” a lot–and hearing it a lot, too!
Had cataract surgery about 5 years ago, but still have blurred vision, so continue to wear glasses. My eyes also blur since I use my laptop, or Ipad. Need the blue lens/yellow lens which is suppose to help (do have that lens in my glasses). My ipad is too old to use a screen with the colored screen (so just tone down the brightness of the scfreen) and don’t have one for my laptop. So each day I take a nap or just lay down and close my eyes to help my blurred vision.
But that is nothing compared to what you and Steve had or are going through. There used to be a saying, “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.” But we don’t believe in luck, we believe in Jesus and His touch and peace. Praying the following weeks will give that peace and healing for all of you.
Sharyn,
I’ve never heard of the blue lens/yellow lens before; glad that has been at least somewhat helpful for you.
Steve is the same way; he has to close his eyes and rest them throughout the day just because there is such a strain on them getting used to changed vision.
As always, thank you for your kind words and prayers.
I only have good vision in one eye since I had optic nerve damage to the other as a child. I can see out of both eyes but if I lost my vision in my left (good) eye I would no longer be able to drive. Back in Nov 2019, I had partial vision loss in my good eye and was seeing flashes of light in both eyes. I went to an eye doc and he sent me to the ER for a stroke protocol but my CT was normal. I had an MRI a few weeks later for a different doctor and was told I did in fact have a stroke in the occipital (vision) lobe. So that might be an alternative (although expensive). I was put on 81 mg ASA but have had 2 TIA since then and am now on 325 mg ASA. I have a feeling I will be changed to Plavix before long. Hope Steve’s situation resolves.
Marylea,
Sounds like you’ve been through a whole lot, vision-wise. And to start with the problems as a child must have been so difficult!
It sounds like you’re staying on top of things well and getting the best kind of care. Our vision is so, so precious.
So glad that peace is prevailing thru the storm with Steve’s vision problem. You and Steve are being prayed for by my connect group @ Biltmore Church in Arden, NC.
Late January thru mid February 2022 was very stressful for my family. We had just celebrated a very nice Christmas holiday with 91 year old Mom. Christmas 2021 in Roanoke Rapids NC was a very pleasant day weather wise. We cooked outside on the grill and enjoyed a fabulous celebration with our Mom.
Around mid January Mom fell at home on two occasions and was transported to the hospital. The local clinic had recommended previously that Mom not take the Covid-19 vaccine due to the fact that she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2018. According to Roanoke Clinic elderly heart patients did not do very well after being vaccinated.
Long story short, Mom contracted Covid-19 on the second hospital admission around mid January. My brother, sister and I quickly learned that elderly congestive heart patients were targets for Covid-19. The virus attacked her weak lungs and even though she was being given 15% nasal oxygen and 100% oxygen with the mask, her lungs were not functioning to absorb the oxygen being given to her.
Mom was in the hospital for 15 days before we were allowed to see her, due to Covid-19. By this time she was unable to communicate. So on February 1st we were informed that ‘comfort care’ aka in-hospital Hospice care was our only alternative. My brother and sister sent me to the hospital to visit Mom to make sure that we were doing the right thing. I am convinced that she knew I was in the room even though she couldn’t talk. When I touched her hand she immediately held my hand. She was saying goodbye. Mom passed away on February 4, 2022 @ Halifax Memorial Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, NC.
Mom mentioned to me in a telephone conversation back in November 2021 that “she had a very good life”. She is truly missed by my brother, sister and I.
Thank you for allowing me to express my feelings Becky.
Gloria,
How wonderful that some of your mom’s last words were that she’s had a very good life. I know you must relive the contentment in those words often.
Thank you for telling me part of the story of her last days. I’m thankful that you had a wonderful last Christmas together–I know you’ll be sustained by those memories for a long, long time.
And what a treasure that you got to see her before she died and she held your hand. I can only imagine how precious those moments were to you. And to her, as well.
Hugs.
You two have way more courage than I. Double vision would have meant cancelling, or at least postponing any travel p plans. Maybe because I have a latticed retina. I must have missed your post about the results of the horrible tube test?? I hope the patch does the trick for Steve
Randee,
Yes, the thought did occur briefly not to go but Steve is so concerned about his mom and I was available to drive and we went for it!
I’ve never heard of a latticed retina so I just did some reading on it. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that.
My horrible tube test just showed I had problems with my esophagus. I’m going to see my GI doctor about it in a few weeks.
Ummmmmmm. Isn’t that the same results from the first time? Tell them I said they must stop torturing you. I demand it be so😘. Yup re: my eye, oi just get to wait and pray it doesn’t detach. If I could is snap my fingers for magical cues for all of you.
Lloyd struggled with double vision for many years which was somewhat corrected by prisms in his eye glasses. As you know, he never complained much but I know it was frustrating. I hope Steve’s vision resolves soon! I have had two retinal tears since last May and know how scary it is to have issues with your sight. We have struggled since November with our aging furbabies. We lost Tessa in January which was somewhat unexpected since Mattie has had multiple recurrences of pancreatitis resulting in hospitalization since November. We treasure every day we have with her but fear she will not be with us much longer. We are enjoying our full time RV life but having a new vet take over her care depending on where we are has added a bit to the struggle
Ginny,
I never knew Lloyd struggled with that! No, he was not a complainer, that’s for sure. Such a wonderful man.
Sorry to hear about losing your dog; I know all about aging furbabies. They are such companions and such a comfort.
When we were on the road and I was pregnant, I had to go to a different OB every month, so I definitely get it when you need to search out a new vet. Hugs!
Anything going on with eyes is very frightening. All love to Steve and you all with warmest best hopes for a good outcome. I love his spirit, with the pirate jokes an’ all…. (I did have a scary eye episode once, I lost most of my vision for a good couple of months due to a swollen optic nerve. I listened to a lot of talking books and made people wait on me hand and foot 🙂 but it was frightening.) I hope with all my hope that you guys get a REST from medical issues now! ENOUGH! xxxxx
Teresa,
Wow. Losing most of your vision for several weeks must have been incredibly scary. Thankful for shrinking optic nerves! (But glad you got waited on.)
And yes, when it comes to medical stuff, we’d love to take a break from it all!
What a trial. But thankful that the diagnosis is positive for Steve. Always sending love and prayers.
Deb
Deb,
Always thankful the love and prayers you send!
Oh my goodness, I hope that Steve is adjusting to his eye patch. These days it seems like we need some better days! I am almost recovered from my second case of Covid, can’t imagine where I picked it up as I always wear a KN95 mask and relentlessly smear hand sanitizer. At least this time I have recovered more quickly and my symptoms were not as bad. Praying for better days for all!
Cindy,
So sorry to hear about the second go-’round with Covid. So glad you are recovering well. I think Covid needs to give you a break!
I liked your line, “These days it seems like we need some better days.” True that!
Thoughts and prayers are with you always. It’s hard going through things that you don’t have answers to. I’ve been dealing with that myself. In the middle of finding out answers. I pray I do get some soon. Love and peace Catherine.
Catherine,
So true. Not knowing answers is really, really tough. I’m sorry that’s what you’ve been facing, too. Hugs.
Prayers for Steve’s eye to heal on it’s own. Prayers for peace and patience for you both. I have not had major eye problems. I had an occular migraine a couple of times and the first time was pretty scary until it was diagnosed, I thought I had a torn retina. My husband has had numerous health issues and ongoing medical problems and it is so good that God sends His peace so often.
Patti,
An ocular migraine sounds like a memorable experience, and for all the wrong reasons. So sorry you’ve had to deal with those troubles but thankful it was diagnosed and wasn’t a torn retina.
May peace continue to be with you and your hubby.
Sure alot of sad stuff surrounding you but–
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.
Ruth
Ruth,
Yes, that is the verse that keeps coming to mind. Thank you for writing it here.
I’m so very sorry. Many prayers and positive thoughts for you all from Virginia. Love and Peace.❤
EB,
Hello to NC’s next-door neighbor! 🙂
Thank you so much for the positive thoughts and prayers sent Manteo-way.
I’ve had issues with my eyes! I’ve had laser lattice surgery due to my retina thinning in both eyes. This was mainly caused by my severe nearsightedness where the eyeball becomes elongated and pulls my retina thinning the ends. I had no clue until my eye doctor took an eye X-ray and discovered it. So the old adage of stick a needle in my eye, well both eyes times 2 each, I’ve been thru when I had the fully awake laser surgery. Also, at my last eye exam, doc did another eye X-ray and discovered I have a freckle in my left eye that was not there before. A freckle can be a sign of melanoma. So we are keeping an “eye” 👀 on it and thankfully it has not grown when I went back for my 3 month check-up. Next checkup is one year out. So that’s my “eye” story!
Alisa,
Oh my. Eye surgery while fully awake? Poking needles? I couldn’t do it.
And now to know there is a freckle lurking. Not great. But I love how you’ve kept your sense of humor and used the “eye” emoji. That made me smile.
I was thinking last week that you guys have had an awful lot to contend with recently, and that was before I knew about Steve’s eye issues! Hope you keep finding peace.
I’ve never had any major eye problems, thankfully. I did have one weird and painful experience. While shifting positions at night, I once gave myself a minor corneal abrasion with the tag on my pillow. It hurt for several days and I had to wear a patch or keep that eye closed most of the time. I absolutely dreaded the inevitable “what happened?!” question from everyone I saw. Such a ridiculous explanation…
Kristina,
I love the mental video I get of you telling people you scratched your eye on a pillowcase tag. I know it was not at all funny at the time but I can imagine the expressions on the faces of the people you told. I think you may be the only person in the world to be injured that way. Glad it wasn’t permanent!
Author
Horatio G Spafford (1828-88)
When peace, like a river, attends all my way,
when sorrows like sea-billows roll,
whatever my path, you have taught me to say,
‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’
‘It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.’
Mrs. Pam,
Love, love, LOVE!