What an amazing group of inspiring people who have struggled with so much, and yet who are so willing to candidly share their most personal pain with the rest of us. I feel so honored to be trusted with such sharing of personal experiences. Allison, Amy, Maria, Valarie, dryad57, Kassia - each of you has truly touched me with your honesty and your courage. None of us knows what the others are struggling with until someone shares a personal challenge. It truly takes trust, and I'm happy that those who are part of this forum are so genuinely caring and worthy of the trust. There is such compassion - and also expertise that people like Dave47 and Pat and others offer; That has impressed me so much about the DG community - especially in this forum. So many kind and caring people who are so genuine........everyone who has posted on this thread is a good example......positive, encouraging, adding a touch of humor when it lightens the load.........just terrific. Good luck to you all who shared your life challenges with us. I wish I could lighten your load by caring.
desperately seeking encouragement...
How could I have missed this thread for so long! Thank you ALL for sharing your stories, your pain, your courage and your choices. I agree, there is something truly wonderful about this DG community.
I won't try to offer advice or compare stories, just to say this: My husband and I were talking today about if only this or that had gone this way or that way instead of the way it actually went. (You know, the "if only" game.) Then we realized, if anything had gone differently then we might not have been here today with each other.
I really like who I am today. I could have done without a lot of the trials and tribulations, but maybe without the trials and tribulations, I wouldn't be a Me I am happy with today. Does that make any sense? Best to all.
x, Carrie
Yes, it does make sense. I, too, feel that without some of the really dark valleys in my life, I wouldn't be loving the hilltop!
And go Pats. Louise, I was trying to write that while DH was cheering the Giants to victory - we happened to be on a jetBlue flight full of Bostonians the last game of the season with the Giants and the Patriots - and I believe sound of an entire planeload of people watching the game on their TV sets couldn't compete with the sound of DH watching the game next to me! Way not to concentrate! I'm glad I made sense to you. x, C
Very inspiring, Valarie. Good luck with everything.
hugs right back at you Louise!
hugs to everyone!
Just a bump to find out how you're doing Amy!
Thanks Carrie for the morning read about envy. That is apropos to this thread. Strength and comfort to all who bear trials and tribulations that are not of your average garden variety. You people give me courage and make me humble over my minor and silly complaints. Patti
ahh, Patti, you've identified one of the "DG secrets", I think a lot of us here love this place so much because it helps us realize we're not alone! And I do agree with everyone; Carrie, your insights were very good. I'm not sure I agree with the old maxim "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger" as I've seen some people go through some tough times; but as Carrie said, it's the journey that makes us who we are - and part of that journey brought us all to DG.
Thanks for that beautiful picture Patti!! Which one is that????
(Anyone heard from Amy?)
That is a Carrie favorite according to her article today and one of mine too, Antoinette. It starts out a pale yellow and goes through various colors. Mine started around May 11th last year. Patti
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/486/#discuss
Stunning - thank you! I've not been to the articles yet, headed there now!
Lovely shots, Patti! Amy - are you back from your trip yet? How are you??
Amy started a second thread - I don't know how to hyperlink - it's called "Encouragement for Trade or Postage".
oops!
i forgot about that part...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/807209/
back to the old thread briefly, since this is the vision thread...
i went to the eye doctor yesterday, and he said things are pretty good - i can quit the prescription eyedrops (yay! i break out worse than a teenager when i am on antibiotics), and when i told him that i'd cut back to once a day on the expensive cleanser because the skin around my eyes was beginning to sting when i touched it, he said i could use baby shampoo! (Valarie and Eleanor - i shoulda listed to you sooner!) i'm supposed to keep doing the warm compresses at least 2x a day, but i can wear my contacts when i want to now! (the only problem is my eyes don't seem to know that, but i think i have to work my way back up to all day - right now, 6 or 7 hours is about it).
The only bad news is, it seems i am a "steroid responder." The prescription was a combo antibiotic/steroid (which seemed funny to me - putting my eyes on steriods - look out MLB!). Steroids can increase the pressure in your eyes if you are a "responder" (about 5% of people), but it usually takes 5 or 6 weeks to see a change. A smaller % are "rapid responders" , and then your pressure can go up a lot rather quickly. Lucky me - i am a rapid responder (what else is new?! my mouth responds too quickly when it shouldn't!). So now, i'm back there in 2 weeks, i guess to make sure my eyes don't explode. (i keep picturing a tire blowing out, though i doubt that it is that dramatic.)
So, all in all, a pretty good result! Thank you to everyone who shared your stories, and i'll see you on the new thread if you need encouragement, to express frustration, or share your challenges....
amy
*
Amy...mild mannered stage techie by day... BUT WHEN EVIL CALLS SHE BECOMES....RAPID RESPONDER GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Rapid Responder Girl!!!
somehow, all my images of rapid response are not good ones...
seems like a rapid response is the version of the e-mail you (hopefully) delete w/o sending when someone irritates you...
My SIL had steroid drops for his eyes (maybe he still uses them?) along with the antibiotic after his cornea transplant last summer. I'm glad the eyes are improving and that you can wear your contacts now. It sure has been a long slow haul for you but it sounds like you're getting there. Eleanor
Rapid Response Girl has super, xray vision resulting from a chance reaction to eye steroids.
hahaha. i guess my baseball career is over, though.
Too bad because between your ability to really "see" the ball and the rapid response from your limbs, you were batting .947
Maybe you should be on Jeopardy, Amy. Rapid responders usually do well!
Raspid response not always so good for men.