The kittyman is at a crossroads.........

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Message 997302 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 8:10:05 UTC
Last modified: 20 May 2010, 8:17:38 UTC

Friends......

I am not in a good mood right now, and I don't suspect it's gonna get better soon.

I have documented my eyesight problems in the Eyes of the kittyman thread here.

I went to the eye doctor this morning for a consultation.

Things are not pretty.

My right eye, along with the previously diagnosed ERM, has rapidly advancing cataracts......it is now totally useless......just a gray blur. And if anybody thinks this is just a minor inconvenience as long as I still have one serviceable eye......try taping one of your eyes shut and go about your business for just one day. You will soon realize that this is not just a minor problem.

The eye doc thinks that removing the cataract problem will help immensely. Without addressing the underlying ERM problem. I am sure it will help his pocketbook immensely, but I am not so sure about my sight. The charge to my insurance company would be almost $4000.00........and that's just getting started.

Here's the problem. My insurance, less whatever deductible, only covers a basic implant......which, as I understand it now, will correct distance vision, but not nearsightedness.

So, if I want to be able to see anything closer than a skunk's distance, I have to opt for a better grade of implant, which my insurance will not cover.

Can you read into this already??? We are talking about $2,200 per EYE......extra...out of pocket.

Oh...and I didn't mention yet....
My 'good' left eye seems to be headed down the same path as the right one, so of course, he recommends that I have both done.

Sooooooo...
That means about $5000.00 or so out of pocket if I want to be able to see my way out of a brown paper bag in daylight.

The other option, I guess...is to try to have both eyes done with basic implants and hope to hell that glasses will be able to pick up the close stuff when they are done.

I am scared and very depressed. Up until the age of 45, I had the eyes of an eagle.

I may have to shut down some crunching to try to save enough money to save my sight. And that makes my cry too.......what do I do? Give up the hobby/project/belief that has kept me so going for so many years?

Anybody have some input on cataract surgery?

The kittyman is very scared, sad, frightened, panicked right now.

I have never had any cutting done on me since I was a young lad and had his tonsils taken out.

And I don't think ice cream is gonna cover this bit.

And they are talking about my EYES.
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

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Message 997306 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 10:13:23 UTC - in response to Message 997302.  

Friends......

And they are talking about my EYES.


I'm not a doctor but I play an IT PM consultant in my daily life and get away with that so what the heck...!

You are definitely and unquestionably going the right direction with cataract surgery. You are right, it IS your eyes so only the best is worth it. You will completely be forever grateful for the extra money spent.

So ... whay so mr boat man?

Both parents and both grandmothers in their time have had it done to both eyes. (I see something of a pattern emerging perhaps in this so I may well be in the "dr heal thyself boat" when the time comes eh?).

My mother is the most recent and, as a former nurse in her day, she didn't shy away from the extra expense for the best she was offered.

Everything - and I mean everything has come out very very well. In Canada you will hear about how our medical system is socialized and you're covered. Well you are but not for the uber expenses and this was one that she too had to dig into the retirement funds to pay for. She is completely pleased with the results.

Clearly you want to know you are also in the best possible hands for this, but please don't for a minute skimp on your eyes. Sell the crunchers ... sell the kitties (well I know THAT's not gonna happen!) but my own option will be should/when the time comes will be without hesitation to go for the win. The extra expense for the special lenses worked out to all my mother's expectations (the reading glasses do however still come out so it's not a miracle of course).

Best of luck with it.

Regards,
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Message 997307 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 10:15:20 UTC - in response to Message 997302.  
Last modified: 20 May 2010, 10:23:50 UTC

Mark, I can 'feel' what you must be going through, had (catarract) surgery 20 years ago, twice, due to a "accident" , an attack on my life, also by mistake, 'they' were at the wrong adress!!!

They had to remove hundreds pieces of glass, from my right eye,
therefore this eye could NOT be safed!


Six weeks later, I had to undergo another catarract surgery,(they did predict, this would happen) and have, since then lived with one bad left eye. The other could not be safed/used, because of the damage the glass has caused. It ain't easy to 'see' with only one eye, had to quit driving, as a result, lost my job......

I can imagine your fear, it IS your VISION, but especially these days surgeants are very skilled to perform catarract surgery. In fact they have far better techniques then 20 years ago! [Laser]

It takes a few weeks to recover from such surgery, but you'll be surpriced, cause your vision will be fully restored.
Fred J. Verster.
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Message 997310 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 10:58:19 UTC

Mark, save your eyes. ET will wait.

Pluto will always be a planet to me.

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Message 997323 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 13:09:28 UTC
Last modified: 20 May 2010, 13:12:10 UTC

Well, i don't want to be blunt, but i will. I'm famous for it. If it comes down to saving money for surgery, and shutting down a few computers to save power, there must be bigger issues than just your eyes.

If my eyesight was going (i have industrial deafness, that's bad enough), i'd SELL my excess computers, not shut them down. If your eyesight is important to you, asking for advice here is a moot point. Sell your computers, get your eyes fixed.

Dude, i've had to fork out nearly $8000 dollars for solicitors fees just because my ex-wife wants to be a cow about my access rights to my youngest kids. Priorities and hobbies are 2 totally different things.

You can't get better advice than that.
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Message 997324 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 13:42:13 UTC
Last modified: 20 May 2010, 13:43:11 UTC

Mark, your eyesight is just about your most valuable possession so don't think twice about having the best job done.

In the UK, you would have no trouble in getting the job done by our superb National Health Service for free. This does not mean the job itself is cheap - far from it.

Usually they will do one eye and wait a few weeks before doing the better one. It is nearly always a simple in and out operation done in minutes and you get to go home the same day. In cases where the operation will actually be of benefit (excluding cases where there are other more serious underlying problems) the operation gives dramatic and lasting benefits.

Thus far I have not had any such problem. Diabetic retinopathy is far more likely in my case. One of my past jobs was making computerised notes from patients' records and the letters all seemed to say that the operation is quick, easy and tremendously effective.

OIvercome your trepidation and go ahead. Without your eyesight you will not be able to see ET anyway and since you are currently the finest shrubber in The Knights who say "Ni!" we need you to carry on with the best vision you can get.

Fear not - go for it!

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Message 997325 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 13:59:57 UTC

Right now is the time to ask many questions. One would be could you work with glasses for close work or would you rather be nearsighted and use glasses for distance. I have been nearsighted most of my life and like it that way because most of the time I don't need glasses. I don't think the doctors will do both eyes at the same time because if they have a problem with one they may not want to risk surgery on the other. This will buy you some additional time to collect the money. Will the doctor let you pay over time? Many doctors will as long as you talk to them in advance.

This may also be the time for you to quit smoking as well if you need money. I suspect smoking cost you far more money than your farm. You only need to run one machine a few hours a day to keep access to the forms. I only produce 400 credits a day and give 200 a day to SETI. No body here will object to you shutting down machines. Do what you need to do.

Don't try to save a few bucks on your eyes. I have minor problems with mine and only trust them to a skilled doctor. It's more important you trust the doctor to make the right decision for you.
Make a decision that will only involve one surgery per eye than make a decision that requires a corrective surgery latter.
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Message 997327 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 14:06:20 UTC - in response to Message 997324.  
Last modified: 20 May 2010, 14:55:39 UTC

Mark, your eyesight is just about your most valuable possession so don't think twice about having the best job done.

In the UK, you would have no trouble in getting the job done by our superb National Health Service for free. This does not mean the job itself is cheap - far from it.

Usually they will do one eye and wait a few weeks before doing the better one. It is nearly always a simple in and out operation done in minutes and you get to go home the same day. In cases where the operation will actually be of benefit (excluding cases where there are other more serious underlying problems) the operation gives dramatic and lasting benefits.

Thus far I have not had any such problem. Diabetic retinopathy is far more likely in my case. One of my past jobs was making computerised notes from patients' records and the letters all seemed to say that the operation is quick, easy and tremendously effective.

OIvercome your trepidation and go ahead. Without your eyesight you will not be able to see ET anyway and since you are currently the finest shrubber in The Knights who say "Ni!" we need you to carry on with the best vision you can get.

Fear not - go for it!

Thank you, fellow Ni-ster.

I shall follow the shrubs where they lead me.

You, by 'you', I mean all my Seti friends, are not me.
So, I guess you can't quite understand how this decision tears me up.
For almost 10 years now, it has been...
Kitties first, Seti second, me last.
I haven't even driven my precious '85 RX7 GSLSE much for the last few years due to the cost of insurance and the baby needs a set of tires. And I LOVE that car. I drive a '92 Olds with 94,000 miles on the odometer, and it has had ignition problems the last few weeks.

I guess it's time for the kittyman to look after himself.

I have set 4 of my rigs....the non-cuda ones... to no new tasks. It will take a couple of weeks for them to wind down. And then they shall go silent for awhile. One is my daily driver, so it will not shut down entirely. The other three shall go dark.

Fear not, my fellow Ni-sters. My RAC should still hold at about 80% of what it is now, as the Cuda rigs are doing most of the work. We shall see how it hangs when the smoke clears...I will NOT abandon my pledge to the KWSN.

Somehow, and I shall pray to God (my God, I don't care who yours is) to see me through this, I will find a way.

I just this morning got my last electric bill....$375.00.
If I can shave $100.00 a month off of that, it will almost pay for one eye...over 2 years.

The cigs are the next to go.

This is gonna be hard on me......giving up on one of life's perceived goals is not gonna come easy.
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

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Message 997334 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 14:26:38 UTC

Can't add much to the good comments already given.

It's very hard to add up just how much good eyesight adds to overall quality of life. I know for myself that I find wearing any sort of glasses very irksome for losing peripheral vision but especially irksome for perpetually having to clean the things!

So far, the only glasses I use are sun glasses, safety glasses, and glasses for drinking.


Sounds like there is going to be some sort of change forced upon you whatever you do.

For later on, are there any ways in which you can safeguard the health of your eyes?

Good luck, for however you decide.

Best wishes,
Martin

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Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)
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Message 997336 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 14:29:23 UTC - in response to Message 997327.  

This is gonna be hard on me......giving up on one of life's perceived goals is not gonna come easy.

My father lost an eye due to retinal detachment. My eldest brother has already had surgery on one eye for retinal detachment. So ... I understand a bit about where you are...

Though it seems you may have already made the decision... it looks to me like is the correct one... giving up the smokes buys two things, one, better immediate health and two better long term chances of not having health issues. As to the shutting down of some rigs to get room in the budget ... that does not mean you are giving up on the goal, just that it will take a little longer to get there ...

The larger point I would make is that you get what you pay for (usually) ... I bought a Mac Pro with 30" screen and have never regretted the expense ... rock stable for my day-to-day stuff (though slower for BOINC, who cares that is why I have windows boxes) ... the same would go for my eyes, or yours... go for the better implants ...
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Message 997347 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 14:54:45 UTC
Last modified: 20 May 2010, 14:56:27 UTC

All I can add is best wishes for you Mark, whichever route you choose. As another poster said, you can't find ET (or drive your cars) without some eyesight. This kind of choice reminds me of one of my favorite bumper stickers - "getting old isn't for sissies".

Whatever you choose, I hope you hang around the forums. You always keep things interesting. I suspect you will still keep things interesting, even if your RAC falls to the level of us mere mortals.

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Message 997350 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 15:06:41 UTC

Best wishes in your decisions Mark, and good luck for the operation (if that is the choice).

As others say, your vision is central to what you do, and it needs protecting.
It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues



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Message 997351 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 15:08:57 UTC - in response to Message 997347.  

All I can add is best wishes for you Mark, whichever route you choose. As another poster said, you can't find ET (or drive your cars) without some eyesight. This kind of choice reminds me of one of my favorite bumper stickers - "getting old isn't for sissies".

Whatever you choose, I hope you hang around the forums. You always keep things interesting. I suspect you will still keep things interesting, even if your RAC falls to the level of us mere mortals.

Oh, I shall always be here, in one way or another.
I have too much history here to go completely away.
Until the last dog is hung, as it were.

There is something special about having a few hundred thousand friends to bounce off of when you need them...LOL. Even though I have offended more than a few with my candor over the years.

And even if only a handful care enough to reply.

This is going to be hard on me......more than some will understand.

I will sort it as best I can.
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

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Message 997355 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 15:18:06 UTC
Last modified: 20 May 2010, 15:34:44 UTC

My power bill runs around $70 to $80 a month when the air conditioner is off. We do have a freezer and a small leather shop in addition to my computer which is on 16 to 24 hours a day. We use gas for heating, cooking, hot water and the dryer so adjust your numbers accordingly. I suspect your power bill could drop between $200 and $300 a month and you will be back to full out crunching sooner than you think.

PS Go around your house and check all the outlets for thing that don't need to be plugged in. I did that a year ago and found several things that we didn't need and shaved even more off our power bill.
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Message 997357 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 15:22:43 UTC

Get the process in motion to get your eye fixed...You will feel better knowing that you are on your way.

PROUD TO BE TFFE!
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Message 997364 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 15:53:34 UTC - in response to Message 997302.  


Here's the problem. My insurance, less whatever deductible, only covers a basic implant......which, as I understand it now, will correct distance vision, but not nearsightedness.

(snip)

The other option, I guess...is to try to have both eyes done with basic implants and hope to hell that glasses will be able to pick up the close stuff when they are done.



Mark,

As one who has had cataracts removed from both eyes..the first in '91 and the second in '93..I can tell you absolutely that the procedure is safe and quick, and the results are very impressive. When mine were done, there was no option for anything other than the "basic" implant, but since they were measured for each of my eyes, I was able, after recovery, to test 20/20 in both eyes, and pass the DMV vision test without glasses for the first time in my driving life. Yes, the lenses are "fixed" focus, but with a pair of trifocal glasses, I have zero problems reading computer screens, books, newspapers, etc. In certain cases, it's easier for me to read print without the glasses, than it is with.

Of course, you need to do what you believe is best for you, but thought I'd share my experience that the "basic" package isn't all that bad.

GK (Mike)
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Message 997366 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 16:10:17 UTC - in response to Message 997364.  


Here's the problem. My insurance, less whatever deductible, only covers a basic implant......which, as I understand it now, will correct distance vision, but not nearsightedness.

(snip)

The other option, I guess...is to try to have both eyes done with basic implants and hope to hell that glasses will be able to pick up the close stuff when they are done.



Mark,

As one who has had cataracts removed from both eyes..the first in '91 and the second in '93..I can tell you absolutely that the procedure is safe and quick, and the results are very impressive. When mine were done, there was no option for anything other than the "basic" implant, but since they were measured for each of my eyes, I was able, after recovery, to test 20/20 in both eyes, and pass the DMV vision test without glasses for the first time in my driving life. Yes, the lenses are "fixed" focus, but with a pair of trifocal glasses, I have zero problems reading computer screens, books, newspapers, etc. In certain cases, it's easier for me to read print without the glasses, than it is with.

Of course, you need to do what you believe is best for you, but thought I'd share my experience that the "basic" package isn't all that bad.

GK (Mike)

Thank you for the input.........
The whole thing I am dealing with is that the decisions I shall make now will be with me for the rest of my sorry life....and that is hard for me.

"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

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Message 997375 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 16:20:40 UTC

I agree with what's been said so far...

It's your eyesight!

I'd shut down all but your daily driver and get the procedures over and be done with it.

This is a hobby---it can wait.


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Message 997377 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 16:24:38 UTC - in response to Message 997375.  

I agree with what's been said so far...

It's your eyesight!

I'd shut down all but your daily driver and get the procedures over and be done with it.

This is a hobby---it can wait.

Blurf.......
I thank you for your comment.....and I wish your wife the best......
But......you must realize by now that this is more than just a hobby to me...LOL.

And
Meow meow meow.

Mark
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

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Message 997379 - Posted: 20 May 2010, 16:33:06 UTC

I have questions.........


Are there any guarantees?
Answer...no, doctors do not warranty their results.

Could the procedure be reversed later?
Dunno yet. Once the lens that God gave you is gone, it's gone.
As to whether the implant could be changed at a later date, I don't know.

Is there any change in peripheral vision.......
Not that this is a deciding factor, just wondered.

What about further treatment with my epi retinal membrane problem?
I suspect I am one of few who am fighting two problems at once.
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

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