BrianK

Correct on all your statements. Thanks for the help with the various replacement lenses Armed Eye Doc. I don't know if I wrote this previously I apologize if I did. I looked into the UV adjustable lense but it requires an iris that opens to 8mm and mine only open to 6.1mm so I wasn't a candidate. It was incredibly expensive out of pocket and as it turned out might have given me only marginally better than what I wound up with with the Toric lense. BTW, no one mentioned it to me locally. You and I discussed it and I had to request it as a lense for me. It was far more reasonable at $400 out of pocket. The Dr. who did the surgery I had as my ophthalmologist at one time but he said something to indicate that he was woke. So I ditched him, I'd prefer a Dr who doesn't think males can breast feed. After all if they think that what sort of Dr can they be? So I went back to an optometrist I had 35ish years ago. When we made the decision to replace my lenses she apologized but told me that she had seen this Drs work and strongly suggested I let him do it. That was the right call. The results couldn't be better as far as my vision. But he also went in and opened up the drains (goneotomy?) with the goal of reducing the # of drops I take every day for glaucoma. Right now we're testing things and I've ditched the Dorzolomide/Timilol (SP?) and only take Latanoprost before bed and my pressures 3 weeks ago were both 12. He checks them again in January. Then he goes back to Philly. So from my perspective GOD had him come up to do my eyes and once done it's OK for him to go back home. Of course I jest, he also worked on lots of other eyes also. Floaters? None! That surprised the heck out of me. I have no idea how he worked that magic. I think a higher power was involved. This has been my year for body work and I couldn't be happier with the results. I already have one procedure scheduled for next year, but it's minor compared to this year. I also hope it's the only one next year. I have drooping eyelids that are interfering with my vision and they contact my eyelashes. At times it feels like something is in my eye. It's beyond annoying. Anyway, thanks for the help. I wanted you to know how it turned out. I couldn't be happier with my 20/20 vision corrected for distance in both eyes. But I had a few interesting experiences with my new eyes. It took me awhile to not remove my non-existent eye glasses when putting on or taking off a t-shirt and at other previous normal eyeglass removal times. I chuckled over that more than a few times and I'm still not totally over that. I've been wearing glasses since the 3rd grade and I'll probably have at least a little of that remaining until the day I die. I also have grown accustomed to seeing the frame in my vision so I forget to take off my computer glasses at times. One night early on after the surgery I was taking the dog out before I went to bed and the distortion from the readers made me miss the step on the deck. I hit pretty hard and remembered very little of what happened the next day when I woke up with lost skin on my knee and a gash in my eyebrow. But what little I did remember allowed me to piece it together. I remember thinking right before my head hit, that "I'll probably break these glasses.". From that I pieced together what happened. No more walking around with readers on. The glasses appear frail but are anything but. They are spring loaded and survived. One more thing and then that's it. This is long enough. At one point I had the right eye corrected for distance and the left eye still profoundly nearsighted. I thought that would drive me nuts. At that time I wasn't wearing any corrective lense at all for the left eye. My brain chose which eye to use for the job at hand and ignored the one that didn't work for the job. It was the best of all worlds. I had 20/20 distance vision and my normal phenomenal up close vision and neither got in the way of the other. I did consider asking to keep that. But in the end I just went with distance for both eyes. I figured that would make buying glasses easier and less costly. I haven't gotten rid of glasses and never will. I even wear glasses when I go into the forest now. I appreciate what I've been given and want to take care of them. It's just amazing what's medically possible today. Thanks again. Oh, and I can use iron sights again! BrianK

Thanks guys. That's my plan. I intend to ride this life out as long as possible. Been to the other side and it's beautiful place, but I like this life too. I was given a choice when I was there and came back for now. And yes you got my MOS correct. Change of subject. Sheesh, last time I tried to log on the software gave me a whole bunch of grief. I think I finally figured it out... the VPN. VPN turned off and I'm here. The artery surgeries update... Last week I had an app't for ultrasounds. No not pregnant but I did ask the Tech. It was to determine blood flow in the legs. Normally I would have gotten the results at a later date but I had an issue going on with the area of the left incision. I thought it was an infection and was told to walk in to Vascular after the ultrasound. I did, and the nurse I had talked to the day before came into the room all smiles. She asked me, "So Brian, how do you like your new legs?". Understand, I knew I had far more ability to walk and hadn't yet found any limits. But I also hadn't gotten onto a treadmill so that I could actually get a better quantify what they could do. In answer I gave her a big smile and a thumbs up. She replied, "I guess so! You have 100% blood flow in the left and 87% in the right!". More smiles by both of us. The suspected infection? Yes, but it was fungal and the Dr just suggested OTC medication for it and it's mostly disappeared but I'm playing when to stop applying it by ear. After I think I can stop I'll continue for another week to make sure it doesn't come back. The reason I got it? After the surgery they put a honkin' huge band-aid on it and the fungus grew under the adhesive. It must have been moist before application. So based on the blood flow tests I decided that I could take a walk in the woods with the KIDD. Formerly it was bought as a >12# bench rifle. In 2024 I bought a 16" ULW barrel for it. I had everything else needed to convert it to a (as it turned out) 6# 8oz hunting rifle. So after it got too cold for comfortable shooting from the bench I converted it over for small game. I thought the trigger, a 8/8 2 stage would be too light for cold fingers and field use, and this walk in the woods was to see if it would work. Red squirrels and any other inanimate targets of opportunity were the goal. Yup, too light for cold, old, fingers. So I ordered a 2 stage 16/16. That's much better. But KIDD makes a really nice trigger and while heavier it's just as sweet. The bench version can be seen in the 2nd post in this thread, cursor down a bunch from there to see the hunting version. As I hoped the legs worked fine and I didn't need to call for a rescue. One issue I did have... I've been wearing windscreens as an eye covering (aka Rx eye glasses) since the 3rd grade. 50+ years ago I had my eye Dr tell me that if I ever wanted to ditch the glasses and go with contacts I would have problems with stuff getting into my eyes because my eye lids had lost the ability to detect and close before whatever got in. At one point a small branch hit my eyeball directly. No cornea damage, and I learned. Not only do I need reading glasses in 2 strengths, but I also ordered a few sets of safety/shooting glasses. They're cheap enough insurance. I've always been quite fond of vision, even more so now. For this year no more body shop work. I've been through enough this year. I have minor surgery already scheduled for next year.

Sorry, I forgot that we can't edit...I had to leave for a time. OK, so what does it feel like after the surgeries? If they just suture the artery closed after removing the blockage the artery will have a smaller ID and restricting the blood flow was not the object of the surgery. To prevent that a piece of cow heart membrane is added as a patch and to keep the ID normal or bigger (ask the surgeon). The first time when I talked to the surgeon he told me that suturing the femoral artery to the cow membrane was like sewing paper to cardboard. That's what that cow membrane feels like in my groin, a piece of cardboard. It's where the torso and legs meet and bend. I hope at some point either the membrane softens or I get accustomed to it. I asked if I'd need to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of my life and was told, "No, it's been treated.". That's all I have. My body still hasn't rejected the cow part. If was going to I'd be dead by now.

Update... Did I mention that the astigmatism in my right eye is gone? If I didn't it is. The right femoral artery... a bit more to the story. I had the surgery on a Monday morning. By late morning I was walking around with the surgeons blessing. Tuesday, more walking around on my own and with the PT. She showed me how to get into and ride in an automobile (fully reclined). Everyone was telling me I was going home. Wednesday I woke up to new huge lump in my abdomen. I knew what it was and it wasn't normal. During the day the hematoma grew. The surgeon was informed and saw me that night. I NEVER ask for a heavy duty opiate, NEVER! I have no natural ability but in the military I learned to channel my pain elsewhere. I was a 12B2P and one doesn't get through jump school unless one can handle the pain or has natural ability. The majority of every class drop out. I asked for an opiate that day. The surgeon brought in a color doppler and we could see the femoral artery leaking with my heartbeat. I went in for emergency surgery. I saw the surgeon the next morning and I asked, "Did you have an interesting night last night?". To which he replied, "Yes, but not in a good way. I had to change my socks. You took 4 units of blood.". Not knowing how much that is I asked a nurse, close to a liter and a half. Instead of a 3 week healing I took 6 weeks. But I'm OK now and I do have increased blood flow in that leg. So it was a success. I had what I wanted ultimately. But if I don't get the other femoral artery done I've gained nothing. Because I still had reduced blood flow in the left leg I had no idea just what the right leg was capable of. So this past Wednesday I had the left leg done. The 1st surgeon is 90 miles south by interstate travel. But we're butting heads (if complications) with winter and I don't want to travel in a car driven by my wife in snow and ice. OK, she also won't do it. The 1st surgeon suggested someone he trained 20 miles away (from me) and told me he was good. To shorten this story I had the left leg done this past Wednesday. I was up and about in the afternoon but dizzy and needing nurse aid to get to the bathroom 15' away. By the evening I was walking on my own against Drs instructions but I hate being dependent. That's the military in me. Next day the new surgeon came to see me and other colleagues of his and the recommendation was that I could go home if I wished. I wished. I have a $375 copay if I stay beyond midnight. The food was good (No! Really! Good hospital food that you actually WANT to eat!) but the pot roast I had planned was not going to be worth $375. So here I am at home. I've been here for a few days and doing well. I have a 2 week follow up and many fewer restrictions. No complications. No second surgery. Life is good. I still don't know, and won't know what distance I can walk until my left femoral artery has a layer of epithelial cells making the artery "blood tight" (my words). So I have myself on my restrictions, looser but similar to the ones I had for the right leg. I really don't want complications. If I don't get enough ability back I have 2 more blockages in my right leg and one more in my left to address. I'll see what I get and what needs to be opened up. But for this year I'm done with planned surgeries. I hope for the best but we'll see. I know I'll never get my body from 50 years ago back but I'd like some of it back. It's amazing what modern medicine can do. The surgeon who did the first surgery? He took full blame, said it was like lightning striking, that rare. I figure when I'm perfect I can expect it from others. I don't see that happening any time soon. Stuff happens and I just happened to be under the feces storm that day. So I still live. He did tell me that that I was one tough SOB. He was looking for signs of my pain as an indicator and saw nothing. Yeah, suck it up and keep going. No doubt the opiate also helped. What shooting have I done? I had a USPSA match a few weekends ago and that was it for 2 years. Shooting is a perishable skill and I lost quite a lot. I'll get it back but it was disheartening to see how much I lost. I bought a case of SK Match Rifle .22 rimfire and haven't fired even one round of it so I have no idea if it's gold or garbage. But I don't plan on dropping dead anytime soon. If I was I wouldn't put myself through all of this crap. It'll still be there in the spring. I plan to buy a case of SK Long Range. My plan is to be around for awhile. But stuff happens and I know that.

Latest update. I haven't been ignoring anyone. I had femoral artery surgery and the surgeon gave strict instructions not to have an angle between my torso and legs at an angle sharper than 30 degrees for any length of time. He wanted air to get at the incision to keep the area dry. Moisture, heat, and flesh breeds infection. I prefer no infection and have none. So this will be brief. Replacement lense... Had that done yesterday in the right eye. As the day progressed the "something is in my eye feel got less and less. Woke up in the AM and I had my eye feel back. I ponied up for the toric lense and tested the astigmatism with a red dot. No comet tail. So my Dr placed it correctly. He also opened up my drainage holes to maybe allow mt to forego my drops. Time will tell on that. I have very close to 20/20 (20/30) and he was tickled about that,, said it should get better. I'M tickled about that. I'm still healing from the artery surgery but that was a success. Now the right leg can still go and the left leg hold me back. Looking forward to getting the left leg done. And the left eye. I haven't done any shooting this warm season but I hope it's all been worth it for next season. That's my gamble. Sorry for any typos I only have one good eye at computer screen distance.

Update: Went to see the ophthalmologist who isn't booking wayyyy out (he's new to the area and my optometrist says that he does beautiful work). My eyes changed again since the last exam a few months ago so made a new app't for another exam in a month. We want to get this right. But no matter, as long as the surgery goes well my eyes should be better than what I presently have. I have excellent up close vision, I call my vision profoundly near sighted. Not so good at distance or for fine detail and I miss that. I eagerly anticipate seeing what my new eyes will give me. But again, I'm waiting.

Thanks. It won't be as good as my natural lens when I was 20 (no part of me is 20 anymore but get the brain to understand that!), but I'm looking forward to getting this done. At the same time, and I have yet to see the other Dr again, we want to get drains installed (stints?) so that I can reduce or even eliminate the eye drops I take 2x in the day and before going to bed. Most people I know who have had it done like the result. Right now I have really great close up vision. It's like having a magnifying glass in front of each eye. When I have close up work I remove my glasses and just bring it close. That vision will be turned backwards. That'll be different. I'll never totally be able to get rid of my glasses but I never really had any expectation of that. One person I know didn't like the result. She has reading glasses stationed in every room. She wishes she never requested 20/20 vision. But I want to see what's far away and at this time I have issues with that. I'm an amateur astronomer and all I can see are extremely bright objects in the nighttime sky. Navigate the sky? No way. I can't see the stars. I really miss not seeing the nighttime sky. Hopefully I'll get the Milky Way and nebula and such back.

Update... I saw the eye Dr who can do the UV light adjusting replacement lens. 1 of 2 in the state. I'm not a candidate. The eye needs to dilate to at least 7.2mm. My eyes dilate to 6mm. But all isn't lost. My left eye will do fine with an ordinary replacement lens. The astigmatism in my right eye can be fixed with a Toric (was that the word used?) lens. And they'll cost quite a bit less.

The difficulty is precisely why I never tried it. Then after the block is made it's organic and needs to be used before it spoils. That's why I use 1 gallon milk jugs of water. And yes, I know it's not the same as B Gel. But B Gel isn't the same as flesh which it's supposed to sorta mimic (but doesn't). Too much effort for something that doesn't mimic what it's supposed to mimic. Water is lots easier to not mimic the intended medium. The other day I watched a video where the gent used parts of a dead cow. Now that was the right test medium IMO. I've also seen tests run on Boston Butt. Good luck with your testing.

FWIW, I HATE spellcheck and the computer filling in words for me! I needed to go back to proofread but forgot to. Not "maybe tears" it should be "many years". "Tols" in the above post might have been me since the s and d are right next to each other. Oh well.

S&W 9c with a spare extended mag 40ish rounds total. In a Maxpedition Fatboy slung pack. Unless I go to the gym. Then the fatboy stays home and I have a much smaller SIG 938 with one mag and the much less gear is in a fanny pack that I either wear slung cross chest or more frequently just carried by the belt. Lately, since biteme let in all the dirtbags I also take along, cased, a S&W 5" M&P with red dot and one ext' mag. It's my competition gun and with it I can reach out and touch. In all the years I've been carrying (since '82) I've used my EDC to dispatch maybe half a dozen very sick 4 legged mammals and one car struck deer. Storytime... Maybe tears ago on the way home a fox was in the road. This was during the day. Clearly the fox was very sick and was looking at my truck like it wanted to mate with it. I continued on home, maybe 2 more miles and I called the game warden. He was really pissed and asked why I didn't shoot it. A fox is a furbearer and the governor owns them. Not shooting it was safe for me. I was tols in no uncertain terms next time shoot the thing and let the wardens know where to pick it up. He was pissed that he was going to pound the puckerbrush looking for a rabid fox. If I'm going to be gone most of the day or far away I leave the M&P home and take the B&T GHM9 SBR with 6 29 round mags and can.

Today in the low 40s, with skies that looked like it was going to rain any second, but it didn't. But it IS coming. It'll start as snow then change to rain and snow mix for the weekend. Next week it's supposed to warm up . That'd be nice.

😁 I'd like to see Texas... someday. But for medical stuff I think it makes sense for me to stay close to home for follow ups and such.

yet another update.\: I saw the ophthalmologist who my optometrist says does great work. I asked about the light adjustable lenses that can get rid of my astigmatism. He doesn't do that, they don't have the computer to adjust the lense. But there's an eye center just a few miles away where they do it. At this point I don't even know what it costs. I have an app't a few months away. In the meantime the first gent did suggest that just filling my latest Rx might be helpful. They keep handing me new Rxs with the words, "But you really don't need to fill it. So I haven't. Now it appears it might be a good thing. So new glasses are on order.

Cloudy and rain low 40s during the day low 30s now @ 2100 with drizzle. More white stuff forecast for early next week. Typical spring in Maine.

Rinse and repeat yesterdays weather. Low 30s with rain. Tornadoes would scare the crap out of me! There are a few things I can say about Maine weather, but one of them is that after 99.9% of our storms everything remains standing. Statistically the state gets one F1 tornado a year. A devil wind came through my land decades ago and lifted 2x4s and such. That's as close as I want to get to a tornado.

Today low 30s and rain, sleet, maybe snow tonight. Miserable weather.

Typical Maine spring weather... mid 50s last week, today in the 20s with snow. I just moved the vehicles around 'cause there's no plowing what we're forecast to get (4-6") because the ground is soft and the plow would just destroy the lawn. So move the car out of the way and get the 4x4 better positioned. In being outdoors I heard what sounded like sleet hitting my jacket. But then I looked down and it was graupel. Sounds like sleet but looks nothing like sleet. Think spherical snow, that's closer. For a supposedly rare weather even we get it quite often. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graupel

Well, yes and no. By the time it got to us in Maine it had been neutered. We got a warmish 50* rain out of it. But that's not benign. The rivers are frozen and by melting the snowpack their water levels rise and there is the potential for ice jams. I haven't heard of any major ones and the videos I've seen show free flowing rivers with some chunks of ice. So we lucked out. But we still have an anal sphincter of a governor due to the woke southern Maine. Down there they think that a male can breastfeed an infant and TDS is rampant. So from bright blue sky and mid 50s yesterday to low 40s, rain and mist today. I was thinking of going to the range but as I age I get more and more wussified.

In the 50s today, and rain from the remnants of that devastating weather that claimed lives in the midwest(?) and down south. So lots of our snowpack melted. Our streams and rivers are swollen and that means ice jams since as winters river ice breaks up it doesn't head out to sea in an orderly manner. No snow in sight and that's good since the ground is thawing and soft (we call it mud season) and if we get any snow there's nothing I can do with it. I can't plow it out of the way w/o destroying stuff..

A case (5k rounds) of match grade .22 rimfire, SK Rifle Match. Fingers crossed that it's as good or better than the brick I tested.

Seriously bright sunny spring like day in the 50s today. All this coming week daytime temps will be in the 40s and 50s. But some rain is on the way. Typical weather for this time of year.

There are ways to label mags to prevent confusion. It can be as simple as camo tape, paint marker, or a purchased option. When shooting I never have both a 5.56 and the .300 BLK available at the same time. It's one or the other.

As it happens every year, the sun is getting higher in the sky and winter is fighting to stay in control of our weather and spring is fighting to wrest control from winters embrace. That means we can get anything, from blizzards* to spring like weather. So far nothing major in the way of snow. We've been getting an inch that melts in the first few hours of daylight. I can deal with that! Fingers crossed that we have an early spring like last year. I want to get shooting! *A few years ago we got 2 blizzards 3 days apart. That was "interesting". That was a first.

I agree. Lawyers fighting lawyers with OUR stolen tax dollars means nothing to these folks. But put 'em in cuffs and shackles and haul them away... that'll get their attention. My hatred for these people grows every day and I think many Americans feel the same way today. They only have themselves to blame for that. Last night the left clapping for the continuation of the war in Ukraine... pure evil. And that's just a part of their obvious disdain for humanity.