The Occular Consequence

Walked my Alma Row, Dowlais walk again this morning, but with a twist - on coming down through Dowlais, turned up along a road you'd really think I knew the name of, it being my home town and all...For any Merthyrians, it's the big long road with a pub I think is called the Horse & Groom at the bottom of it, and the entry to Galon Uchaf at the other end. It's always seemed like quite a steep hill.

It is.

The reason for this demented diversion was that I was walking to Prince Charles Hospital. Last time I got my diabetic retinopathy screening, it picked up something that needed more investigation.

I wasn't worried - that's what they said the last time, and it turned out to be minor, and nothing to worry about.

Last time of course was a year or so ago. I've been out of blood control for almost a year since then.

That's altogether not a very smart thing to have been.

Apparently, there's been quite a lot of change at the back of my eye since my last screening. My left eye, apparently, is "coming close to needing laser treatment". On behalf of the You're Not Sticking That In My Eyeball Party, can I just give a quick "Waaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!" and move on.

I'm now on a three month review, after which time, if the doctor feels it's necessary, she'll laser my eyeball that freakin' day!
"You know, the best thing for this is good diabetic control," said the doctor. I hate that bitch...

Ironically, my referral to Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic arrived today too, for the ongoing deafness in my right ear. I'm now on the waiting list for an appointment.

I say ironically, because in three months' time, something which gives me no pain or discomfort might be treated with high-tech laser equipment, whereas something that's already been going on for nearly two months now, and which DOES give me both pain and discomfort, goes on a waiting list with no date as to when I'll even be seen for it.

Anyhow - that was one long-assed walk this morning. Came home, had a bowl of cereal at lunchtime, did only half an hour's biking - 300 caloriesworth - and met d for a meal out tonight - Salsa Chicken (butterfly chicken breast, some red goo, some cheese, melted) with some new potatoes. Am now staring at a couple of apples, willing them to turn into...y'know...desserts. Nothing apparently doing.

Oh yeah, and one other delightful detail of being back on the Disappearing wagon. Stomach spasms. Not, I think mainly, orange spasms, for which of course I'm grateful. But probably stretchy, exercise-related, water-drinking spasms that have so far been a big feature of the last two nights.

So - exhaustion, muscle aches and stomach cramps...ahhhh it's great getting healthy. No really, it is...wouldn't swap it for all the lardassery and desserts in Texas...