Life's Journey

That's right… pink eye… again! This is the third time in the past four months that I've dealt with this one. And, yup, you guessed it… both eyes. This time around it prevented me from getting chemo. I went in thinking I would be ok only to be sent home. I'm too contagious and can't be around the others also in chemo. I should've known better and not even gone in - and probably in the back of my head I did know better but I also know that I missed treatment last week and just wanted to get in. While getting a break from chemo is a blessing it also feels like a curse. I don't want the chance for the cancer to get an edge up, an advantage, a lead in this race. My doctors aren't too worried because my scans came back good and feel we are in an ok place - but this is two weeks without treatment. I must admit that it is good to feel more like a person than a patient this week… but, let's talk pink eye for a minute…

Ok, if you've never had it trust me you never want it. If you have kids and they get it avoid it like the plague. No joke, I want to scratch my eyeballs out! It's like the unreachable itch, the scratch you can't scratch, the "forbidden". I think the hardest part is that I can in fact reach it but I'm not allowed to touch it. Rubbing, scratching, poking, picking, or any form of touching of the eyes is bad. OMG it's torture. It's like I have this awful tick all of the sudden where I catch myself reaching up to scratch my eyes and forcibly stop… myself. I probably look like I’m possessed….

Speaking of looking possessed… no make-up! And by the way I had to throw out the make-up I had been using that touched my eyes and clean all my make-up brushes. For the guys out there I'll fill ya in: this is a very expensive venture, make-up isn't cheap!  Not only can I not wear make-up but my eyes are swollen, red, and generally crusty. Uck, it's gross just to admit that I have crusty eyes, let alone deal with the crusties. Ew! I for sure am looking possessed lately. I told Roy to watch out for my head spinning around and green foam spewing out of my mouth - lol. The best was the first day, it started in my left eye and not in my right, it looked like someone punched me in the eye. The next morning I woke up and couldn't even open my right eye… but at least they were even

Pink eye is treated with antibiotic drops. That’s it, just drops every four hours. I use hot water washcloths in the morning too, it helps with the swelling and the crusties. Generally people will kick it in a few days and keep taking drops for a total of 5-7 days. This time around it's taking me awhile longer, I'm on day 4 and still waking up with the crusties. Fingers crossed that I kick it soon…. Cuz the itchy is driving me out of my mind!

I went to the eye doctor to ensure that it's just pink eye and nothing more. He confirmed. I asked why I keep getting this, I mean I know that I am more prone to these things because of my immune system but three times in four months is just too much. His answer: "you have no eyelashes". The light bulb went off in my head. Der. I have no eyelashes so stuff just flies into my eyes. You have no idea how much work your eyelashes do until you don't have them anymore.    I've noticed that it feel like I have something in my eye quite often anymore. So naturally when that happens you pick, rub, scratch whatever until you get it out. That's all it takes. A quick finger in the eye with a little bacteria on it and - BOOM - pink eye!

If it's not one thing it's another… I'm honestly not complaining, I'm laughing. I mean this is pretty small fry compared to what I could be dealing with considering… this is easy, but frustrating.

Hugs & Smiles & itchy eyes,
Sarah