theboondork's RV blog

Why did I have to go through that stress and worry

6/10/2022

Clicking the pics is best done in your spare time.

Roses, just like hearts, can be broken.

The joy I'm feeling of the great news that I'm not facing a cataract operation this summer still hasn't worn off. I've been worried about that cataract diagnosis ever since my eye exam last year, and all that worry was caused by an eye doctor that didn't take the time to explain to me what finding a cataract in one of my eyes meant to my future, leading me to believe for all this time that I should've had a cataract operation last summer.

The doctor easily could have told me, "I can correct your vision with a new prescription right now, but if you start having problems seeing clearly, make an appointment, and I will look into your cataract situation." But the doctor didn't do that.

Come to find out, you only need a cataract operation if a cataract is affecting your vision, and a cataract, from what I understand, may or may not ever affect your vision enough to be a problem. But I wasn't told that.

Why wasn't I told that? Well, partially, it was my fault because when I was told last summer, I had a cataract and needed an operation, I was kind of in shock and didn't know what to say or what questions to ask, and when I heard the word "operation" I assumed that's what I needed.

I wonder, is there a chance that eye doctors get a "kickback" or a "referral fee" for sending folks to a doctor that does cataract operations? After all, I was referred to a cataract surgeon by that eye doctor. Or does the optometrist not want to take a chance on their diagnosis and sends you to a cataract specialist?... I don't know, but the optometrist I saw today had no problem telling me that I didn't need cataract surgery, at least for now.

But anyway, I feel great knowing my eyes can still be corrected enough to see my computer screen clearly and snap pictures of random things. So it looks like I can no longer blame my poor vision for how my photos look once I get my new specs.

Theboondork

My grandson playing with a stick. All the toys that boy gets, and he has to play with a stick.

When I was growing up I didn't have toys, toys were for rich kids, all I had to play with was a stick and a rock. And for Christmas I would get a new rock, and if I was lucky, a new stick.

My granddaughter, deep in pious prayer?

Naw... She's just looking at a cell phone

6 Comments

Judith

6/10/2022 08:19:57 pm

You had a bad eye doc. Glad you had a good one this time around. You might also get off your duff, not literally, to research things a little bit before or during some medical stuff. Like cheaper glasses. Or, "cataracts". Docs don't like it much when you do that, but my GP, or whatever they call them these days, has gotten used to it. You just need some common sense and search reputable sites. Just like for campers for your truck.

Tom

6/10/2022 09:39:26 pm

Actually I did do a lot of Internet research on cataracts, AFTER last summer's appointment with the eye doctor. But like I said, I wasn't prepared to hear about operations at that time, I just thought I was gonna get some new glasses, so I was caught not knowing what to say or do.

I've always had to pay attention to what doctors are up to because being self-employed for a lot of my life I've seldom had health insurance. When I have anything medical done I discuss the cost with the doctor, who usually hasn't the foggiest idea what anything costs, but at least he knows who to ask, and then I pay cash for whatever the cost is, at a substantial discount, which is still more than an insurance company or Medicare would pay the doctor.

That's basically what I did at the eye doctor. The office visit was fairly reasonable but the cost of the glasses was horrendous, so I told them I was self-pay and they gave me a discount for cash, which made the overall cost a bit easier to swallow.

I know that couldn't work for every situation, but I've been very fortunate in my life that the only time I've ever been in a hospital bed was when I was about five years old and had my tonsils out. I seldom get sick, I take no medicines other than an over-the-counter nose spray for my allergies, I keep a small bottle of aspirin so long their dates expire.... And it doesn't hurt to look like a homeless bum when there figuring out your discount.

Tom

OFM

6/10/2022 09:41:43 pm

Hi Tom. For the last couple of weeks I have been seeing a few truck campers and a few smaller Class C units (22ft) flitting around the public areas and trying to determine which style I might consider if i had to choose. If you run out of other blog stuff, I would really like to hear your current ideas on the good and bads on them for reasonably mobile rv life. Thanks, OFM

6/10/2022 10:19:24 pm

Thank you Barney, that's a good idea for something to blog about. And it just so happens that I do have opinions about those two types of RVs. Unless something comes up, I'll write about them tomorrow.

Tom

Linda Sand

6/11/2022 01:34:08 pm

After years of having 24' RVs (Class C and conversion vans) if I was buying another one I would buy one that fits in one parking spot because I got tired of always having to find two spots in front of one another at stores.

6/11/2022 02:17:06 pm

I solved 90% of my parking problems by only shopping at Walmart.

It looks like you were right all along Linda, a camper van really is the way to go. It will be too bad if you can't get back to Q one day and see all the van campers following in your tracks.

Tom

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Why did I have to go through that stress and worry

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