My Eye Ordeal

Short version
Trash can lid meets my eye/bridge of my nose. Trash can wins. I suffer terrible pain for 2 days but thanks to a great Home Teacher (who happens to be a Dr.) I escape having to go to the ER. After a check at the opthamologist's office and 3 days of rest at home, all is well.

Long version
Sunday afternoon as we were un-Halloweening our house, I had the boys put the rotten jack-o-lanterns into a garbage bag. It was too heavy for them to lift so I came out to help. Kyler and I hefted it up into the large garbage can as Trevin held open the lid for us. Unfortunately, as we came up with the bag, Trevin let go of the lid and it came crashing down on my eye/bridge of my nose. Instant, excruciating pain. I fell to the ground and immediately began crying. The kids were rightly freaked out and Trevin ran inside to wake Kelly (who was enjoying a rare Sunday nap on the couch) and sobbed, "I hurt Mommy!" I came inside and we put an icy cold wet washcloth on my eye/nose. I was able to open it enough to conclude that the trash can lid had cut below my eye and not in it but my whole eye swelled up and the pain was quite unbearable. I happen to have quite a high threshold for pain but after a couple of hours I told Kelly that I just didn't think I could do it anymore. The last thing I wanted was a trip to the ER (to sit for who knows how long with all the sickies) so we called our friend/home teacher who just so happens to be an ER doctor. He was at home so we sent the kids to bed (Trevin was already asleep) and headed up the mountain to see Dr. B. He gave me some prescriptions for pain and an antibiotic and we headed back down the mountain and all the way across town to a 24-hour pharmacy. Finally by 10:30 we were back home and I was able to fall asleep.

Monday morning it still hurt pretty bad but I was able to open my eye a little. Kelly got the kids up and ready and took them to school. I layed around all morning and the pain continued to get worse. I called Dr. B. again and asked about some more pain medicine. He was nice enough to come over and check it again and then he gave me some more pain medicine. I arranged for the kids to get a ride home from school and Kelly was able to pick up Kyler from his soccer game. That evening I took 1 pain pill but after 30-45 min. it wasn't even touching the pain. That's when I decided to take another one. (Dr. B. said to start with 1, but if that didn't work I could take another.) Bad decision. I guess me and drugs just don't mix. I started feeling very woozy, nauseous, etc. and actually I think I'm still feeling the effects of it 2 days later. Yuck! I won't be taking that again anytime soon.

Yesterday my eye was starting to look not as swollen and Kelly took me to see an opthamologist. Dr. B. wanted me to get it checked to make sure there was no damage behind my eye. After 2 hours (I have no idea why it took so long) the Dr. said that I had an abrasion on the top of my eye but the back of it looked fine. She dilated my eyes and gave me some different medicine.

Today I finally look normal (well, except for the big scab across my nose and the fact that I still haven't put on any makeup). My eye doesn't hurt; it just feels "tired." I was even able to drive to pick up the kids from school. I've even mastered putting eye drops in my own eyes (no small feat!).

This whole experience has reminded me that often we aren't able to truly appreciate what we have until it's taken away. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to not be able to see. There is so much I would miss. I am so thankful for a body that works and a loving, supportive husband who was willing and able to take over when necessary.