Eye'm Relieved.

A few years back in a very dramatic fashion, I found out that I had a condition known as optic nerve drusen. At the time, my current eye doctor, along with every other doctor in the practice (believe me, they were all standing there taking turns having a look - awkward) thought I might have a brain tumor and ordered me to the ER for further testing. This was all based on the way my pupils reacted to light and let me tell you what, it was scary.

Up until that point, I'd never had any medical issues whatsoever beyond a fractured finger thanks to the huge center that played for the St. Charles girls eighth grade basketball team. So to hear the words "brain tumor," well, let's just say it was not a pleasant experience. Eventually, I was told I did not have a tumor but this other condition of the eye. At the time, being a few years younger than present day, I said to myself, "Great, I'm going to live a little longer."

I've spent recent years convinced that I would eventually go blind, after reading plenty of internet research. My husband convinced me to see someone so that I could know the true facts and move on from there. A colleague recommended a new doctor to me and I met with her this weekend. First of all, she was absolutely fabulous and second of all, my mind is now at ease. I have to go for benchmark tests and carry a picture of my eyes in my wallet with my emergency information but aside from t hat, there is no reason that I should expect to have nothing less than my full vision for most of my life and I just have to monitor it. Sweet RELIEF.

I'm glad I learned two lessons at an earlier age - 1. Never do internet research on medical conditions, it's just bad news. 2. I need to just face the facts and keep tabs on myself - knowledge is power.

In case you're wondering, St. Ambrose, my grade school basketball team, did wipe the floor with St. Charles that night in spite of my little trip to the doctor to get a popsicle stick taped to my finger. And I won't tell you which finger was sticking straight up as a result...let's just say some would say it was inappropriate :)