Today was very long - mostly good - but long.
I had an ophthalmologist appointment this morning. It was just a 6 month follow-up, so I figured maybe a couple of hours at the most, if he was running late (which, let's be honest, most specialists do). At the appointment I did, however, get some much welcomed good news. Not only has the Macular Degeneration not become worse since my last scans 6 months ago, but apparently there is a new treatment that is starting human trials this next year for Dry Macular Degeneration (the type that I have). This means that by the time my disease progresses to the point where I need treatment, there should be a treatment available!
My plan for the day was to go to my appointment, grab my prescriptions, go home, grab Decker and my packed bags, and head on down to Lethbridge for a couple days to visit some friends.
I drive myself and get to my appointment in good time. In theory, because it was a simple 6 month check-up, I did not anticipate that they would fully dilate my eyes. They did.
It's not as if it's incredibly painful or anything - the drops burn a little, it's a little uncomfortable, and it makes it almost impossible to see properly. The biggest complication is that when the pupils are fully dilated, you are not allowed to drive. I mean, I could barely see, and definitely couldn't read, so there's no way I would be capable of driving.
So, there I am, stuck indefinitely at the eye centre, pupils dilated.
I had a few choices. I could catch a cab back home, hang out until my pupils went down (which takes about 4-5 hours before driving and reading are allowed), then cab back to pick up my car. Well, that would be roughly $100, and not really making the best of the situation.
So instead, I called a girl friend of mine to see if she was busy this afternoon. She wasn't!! So she offered to pick me up, and we caught a matinee showing of the new Hunger Games movie at Chinook. This was perfect! Had a peppermint hot chocolate and a little snack, had great company, and passed the time nearby without having to travel or spend $100. She was nice enough to drop me back off at my car (by then my pupils had gone down enough to allow driving and reading). I then drove to the pharmacy (which felt like a lifetime since the roads weren't great and traffic was just about unbearable. By this time, due to the sitting in the movie theatre, the bright lighting (even with shades on), and the discomfort in my eyes, I was seeing the beginning of a migraine and my knee and hip joints felt like they had completely seized.
After a very long, very exhausting, and a little frustrating drive back home, I let Decker out, threw my fireplace on, and just sat in the warmth.
The movie was phenomenal. It was a great way to spend an unexpected extra day in Calgary. And it gave me the perfect reason to go see The Mockingjay: Part 2. So good!!
The unexpected turn of events WAS frustrating, of course. But, with a little help, I was able to make it into a great girls' day. I am sooooo ready for bed.