Oct.24/06 Dr's Visit

Well, we saw two Doctors today. The Infectious Disease Doctor 'R' is so great. We met him before when the fungus in Ed's eye was first diagnosed. Dr. R. explained what choices we have very clearly.
1. If the fungus reacts quickly to the anti-fungal drug which Ed is back on now for one week (Voriconazole), then that is a sign that the fungus can be eliminated completely after about 6 months of the drug.
2. If the fungus reacts slowly over the next month, then probably the better route would be to have more surgery to remove the fungus 'clutch' again as well as any artificial things in the eye on which the fungus can 'hide' from the drug (this would include the artificial lens implanted at the original cataract operation and the corneal graft).
We hope the second route won't be necessary as more Surgery on Ed's poor eye is not wished for!!
Dr. R. said it would be best to continue on the Voriconazole eye drops for a month, while the oral drug is building up in Ed's system.
Ed will have monthly blood tests to see how his liver is dealing with the drug. That's it, except that the eye pressure was fine and Ed's left eye has about 20/80 vision in it right now. And, Dr. R. said Ed could drive a few hours after taking the anti-fungal drug, when it's side effects have worn off.
Oh, The other doctor, the eye surgeon specialist, was encouraged that the fungus did not look worse. This is probably a sign that the drug is working. The eye specialist wants to see us again next week.
We are encouraged as this very expensive drug will be covered by the provincial pharmacare plan (we hope). We are grateful!

More on October 17th

I forgot to say that Ed first started on the Voriconazole tablets on July 17th. So, he was only on them for 4 weeks; until August 16. However, we all thought that was long enough. Guess not.
Also, the specialist took Ed OFF the Prednisolone drops and the Combigan drops. So, only one kind of drop to worry about; although, right now; it is every hour.
We go back to the specialist in one week and also to the same infectious disease specialist. Wonderful to have these medical specialists close by, relatively! It takes us about 2 hours to get there, including the ferry ride.
Not complaining; just reporting.
Ed's eye looks different now. Like a transparent flat bubble is floating over the iris area. That is the corneal graft. His eye is bigger than the other; that is for sure. Maybe it will always be?
That's all for now, folks.

October 17 - Good News and Bad News

October 17,2006. We saw the specialist today who took out all of the stitches from Ed's eye. Removing the stitches 'released' the warp of the cornea and Ed could see much better almost immediately. BUT, the bad news is that the specialist says that the dreaded fungus has returned!! We were warned that it might, but we didn't believe it! Ed's eye is reddened again, not calm like it was at the last appointment on September 12th.

(Photo of Ed's eye taken on Oct.24 after one week of Voriconazole oral 200 mg and hourly Voriconazole eye drops).

We thought that the redness was due to using the wrong kind of caulking (outdoor used indoors) that Ed used while working in his workshop. Guess not. Ed doesn't have pain; just an ache that comes and goes. He was saying that his eyesight seemed a bit worse than it was from that eye - so I guess that was an indicator. The specialist says that the fungus is growing under the 'flap' which we are guessing is the corneal graft? But could be the conjectival flap. We were too shocked to ask many questions.

So, Ed is now back on the oral Voriconazole anti fungal tabs; twice a day. He had finished taking them on August 15, almost two months ago. Then, after a month's worth of checkups, we thought that the fungus was dead!
But no, it was only waiting in the wings!! One little spore hiding and waiting to grow again!!

The oral Voriconazole blurs his vision for a few hours after taking them, and they make him really tired. He hates that, but no choice in this matter. Ed is also back on the Voriconazole eye drops every hour except between midnight and 6 am or when he is asleep. Luckily, we have some coverage for these very expensive drugs.

A Long Recovery

October 6, 2006. Looks like this will be a long recovery from this big surgery of removing the diseased parts of the eye and the corneal graft. Ed is not having pain and the fungus has not returned. He sees the specialist every month right now. Last visit was Sept. 12. Ed is sometimes 'down' about the loss of vision in the affected eye. His vision has improved a little, but he still cannot see 5 feet across the room. All is blurry. Funny thing, though, he can see clearly through the binoculars. We think that the corneal patch is blurring everything due to the uneveness of the patch and the pull of the stitches. That's what the specialist said was causing it. Ed has to wait until the eye is really healed before any more surgery is done to correct the vision. First, the stitches must come out; a few at a time.
Ed is driving, but only in the daytime for long drives. The bright lights at night are difficult. He's back curling, though, and we'll see what one eye sight will do to improve his game!