Eyes for You and Wonky Legs

As only true romantics can do, Jeff and I had a hot date at the ophthalmologist’s office after work on Monday night.  It was the last of the exams Jeff needed to take care of – for now – and we wanted to make it fun.  The office staff cooperated by putting us both in the same exam room and we each had a turn in the chair before getting our dilating eye drops.  We were giddy with togetherness – and maybe hunger, too.

Then Dr. Hirsch saw each of us separately.  Jeff wanted to discuss his ocular migraines and a floater/insect thingy that seems to pulse with his heartbeat.  He learned what symptoms to watch for that would indicate a more serious issue or escalation of the problem.  Neither of these annoyances concerned Dr. Hirsch.

He did, however, ask Jeff, “Were you on steroids for a long time?”

Jeff said, “Oh, yeah!”

“Well, you have cataracts.”

Dr. Hirsch told me that I need distance glasses for driving (I hadn’t noticed) and asked me to return in 18 months.  He added that he’d need to see Jeff sooner, in six months.

I met Jeff at the checkout desk.  He had already paid my co-pay.  What a sweetheart! 

The romance continued the next day as we celebrated our 36^th wedding anniversary.  I got home from work to find our dining room table set with china and candles and roses and wine – and dinner nearly ready.  It was a lovely weeknight surprise! 

Leg cramps continue to plague Jeff.  On the worst nights he wakes up six or seven times.  Sometimes his muscles are sore the next day.  One night both legs and his buttocks cramped at the same time so that he had trouble standing upright when he leapt out of bed.  Recently, he began having cramps in the daytime, too - while driving!

In an effort to minimize cramping, Jeff takes calcium and magnesium supplements and occasionally uses a muscle relaxer at bedtime.  I think he needs to eat more bananas, too.  In September, his magnesium level was checked and Nurse Heather advised adding another magnesium pill to his regimen.  Our support group friends have suggested several remedies which Jeff has tried: wearing warm pajamas, drinking tonic water (for the quinine), tomato juice, and pickle juice.  Pickle juice! That’s how desperate he is to find a solution!

We’re regulars at a Thai/Chinese restaurant near the mall and on our recent visit we were given a good-luck calendar for 2016.  Along with our bill were two fortune cookies.  Jeff’s read, “Many people will do nice things for you.” 

Jeff said, “I hope that doesn’t mean I’m going to get sick again.”  He is doing well, feels well, looks great, jokes regularly.  Still, a niggling dread of relapse lurks nearby sometimes.