Posted in How I'm Adapting, No category yet

I would make a brew for this one first…

Cartoon woman with a cup of Tea and an angry face

I would make a brew for this one…

It’s going to be an interesting week having 2 eye appointments.

I’m feeling reflective and I don’t want you to think it’s just me being negative, because it’s just today’s thoughts. I haven’t felt like this for a while.

This knocks your confidence.
Makes you want to not be bobbling around on your own, getting tested and having to speak about this when I want to forget. Frightened of making a show of yourself nearly flagging down something you see as a bus, being ages in a shop looking at change that is blurry. I won’t go up and speak to you if I think I see you in town. Just incase it isn’t you. But I have to get used to it and be thankful I can do that still because there Are worse things you can have. There ARE people who are further down the line than me.

It makes you feel lonely, my lovely friends say I can talk to them. But how can I. It is hard to explain. People on the facebook groups understand but I don’t know them. Can’t start on a rant with a stranger.

I have to see everything I want to see, Today it feels like a battle rather than a condition that I have coped with and hidden from all but close family and friends.

Until that last appointment when I thought, I now need to get this down and admit it to everyone and myself because it’s now tipped slightly and not in my favour.

Realistically, it’s becoming harder to hide it like I have for the past 4 and a half years. I would of hidden it longer if I could. The way I try to see things is becoming obvious and I think it makes me paranoid that if someone sees me looking closely or staring, they will think I’m odd rather than… and… this is hard for me to type and face up to… And I’m the sort of person who can face up to most things… partially sighted now in my right eye.

He told me that. The last appointment… Like a kick in the guts. After this short a time? I’ve gone from 20/20 to this… Already? …

There isn’t any point in worrying about stuff you can’t change but this is like a train with no driver. I’m in a hurry to see everything. So I remember them.

People’s faces are fading. It’s the little details of eyes that have gone mostly. I want to just stare at people’s faces so I remember them. But that will be weird. I looked at someones eyes and stared and stared to try get that sweetspot that sometimes but rarely happens when it’s a clear as day for a split second. Then I remember what I used to see and I’m happy. Can’t really be doing this through can I.. ‘can I just stare at your eyeballs a minute, really closely… by your face’

I think a bucket list is maybe a step too far.
Don’t know.
There aren’t any rules but I have a bucket list in my head.

This just gets you down sometimes and there really isn’t anyone that can understand unless you have been through it yourself.

To not know what you are going to be left with and when that will be.

It’s frightening sometimes. When I’m stressed or tired people’s eyes on the TV look like two black empty soulless holes, I can’t make out the stars sometimes and anyone who knows me knows I love all that. I just appreciate the times I can make out the constellations and when the stars look like chandelier drops its quite pretty in its own way but I’m scared because its happening. I step outside not knowing of I will see them normally, like a surprise.

Keep on keeping positive. That’s what I MUST do.

I just don’t want to know deep down I suppose, but have to keep going to appointments just in case there is something they can do.

Posted in How I'm Adapting

See food – Larger menu font

In a cafe or a restaurant. Why haven’t they got braille or at the very least, a few large font ones you can ask for?
I’m sure there are, but if there are, then there isn’t usually any awareness or mention of them.
I’m OK if I’ve got my readers on. But what about people who are far worse than me?
Now, if I’ve forgotten my glasses, it’s pot luck really, I usually have something I know is on there if I’ve been before.

But, you can always look at the menu online before you go. I’ve done this before if I know in advance where I’m going for a meal.

I’m one of those people you usually don’t give 2 choices to anyway or else I’m there for ages trying to pick, but then just have what I normally always have.
Let me give you an example…
When I go, I can’t even see what I want to eat, apart from the titles if I’m lucky. I won’t be able to what variations they have, so have to either think of what I want and ask if it’s on there, or have someone read bits out.
The best was, when someone knows you so well that they can order for you both and you trust them because you always like the same things.
It isn’t law in the UK for large print or Braille menus. Some do, but that’s because the owners, bosses thought to do it. Why? I’ve have an idea to that.
Never before, when I was walking around loving life with my 20/20 vision, did I think of any of this.
It’s flying under the radar. It never crossed my mind about how would other people coped with a standard menu.
Unless you have it, and whatever ‘it’ it is. You can’t explain or understand it, or notice all this stuff. Because you didn’t have to.