Kidd SuperGrade

[BrianK]

2 hours ago, Armed Eye Doc said:

I could get you an appointment quicker, but you'd have to come to Texas.

😁  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.

[BrianK]

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. 

[Armed Eye Doc]

9 minutes ago, BrianK said:

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. 

Toric is the correct term.  It just means that it corrects astigmatism.

Go in with a positive outlook for the better vision and you will adapt fine to your new vision after surgery.

[BrianK]

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. 

[BrianK]

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.

[BrianK]

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.

[Armed Eye Doc]

Glad to hear that all is going the right direction for you.

[98Z5V]

@BrianK, that is an awesome update, man...   

[shooterrex]

Get well soon. Glad you can see out of at least 1 eye properly. My cataract surgery was a night and day difference. 

[Cunuckgaucho]

Glad to hear things are headed in the right direction. Here's to a speedy recovery and back shooting.

[BrianK]

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.

[BrianK]

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.

[98Z5V]

I'm glad you got through that, man - I mean it - and that you're still here.  It's impressive, and keep the hard-headed attitude.  

1 hour ago, BrianK said:

I was a 12B2P

I can see this is why you're hard-headed...   

Sergeant, Combat Engineer, Paratrooper.  

I can still decipher that shiit.   Good on you.  Stay in the Fight.   

[Cunuckgaucho]

Glad to see your still with us and yes it's pretty amazing what modern medicine can do.

[shooterrex]

Glad your still kicking. 

[BrianK]

Thanks guys.

On 10/19/2025 at 10:55 PM, 98Z5V said:

I'm glad you got through that, man - I mean it - and that you're still here.  It's impressive, and keep the hard-headed attitude.  

I can see this is why you're hard-headed...   

Sergeant, Combat Engineer, Paratrooper.  

I can still decipher that shiit.   Good on you.  Stay in the Fight.   

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.

Edited November 26 by BrianK
clarity

[Armed Eye Doc]

I am glad all is going well with you.  Enjoy your regained mobility.  Many people do not get that back.  It sounds like you are fully aware of your new lease on this life as well as what awaits you after this one is through.

[BrianK]

On 11/26/2025 at 8:07 PM, Armed Eye Doc said:

I am glad all is going well with you.  Enjoy your regained mobility.  Many people do not get that back.  It sounds like you are fully aware of your new lease on this life as well as what awaits you after this one is through.

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

Edited November 28 by BrianK

[Armed Eye Doc]

I'm glad everything worked out well for you.  I was happy to help you with options.