I'm so glad that you're back, Shyguy! Can you tell us what's been going on with you after your eye surgery and everything?

And where the @#$& is Missing? I need you.

Love you both, man!

Thank You Mrs Merkin, thank you for the support it means alot to me!

December 26th will be exactly 6 months. Nov 1st is my next check-up with the great Iranian-American Dr. Neda Shamie at Dever's Eye Institute a part of Emmanual Legacy Hospital.

She is very very pleased and impressed with her work and said it looks great. The graft cornea came from a deceased child.

I cannot stress how important it is to sign up to be a organ donor. In my case something as simple as a cornea helped to make my life better.

I went into the surgery thinking that I was informed and educated on the procedure and what to expect but I had no idea whatsoever that I would regain good vision as fast as I did.

The day after the surgery when the sheild was removed for the first time I was shocked at how much vision I had already regained. The quality of the vision varies from day to day literally. Some days with piss poor vision and the next great vision its just funny that way. So far no signs of rejection but it will reject someday in the coming years and the procedure will have to be done again. It is just a fact of life. I am told that I can expect 2-3 more transplants possibly within my lifetime. Medical advances are being made everyday though. It is a much more simple procedure than I expected it to be. With little to no pain at all.

The sutures will not be removed until the 1 year mark and at that point I can go from wearing glasses now to back to wearing a contact lense in the left eye although this time it will be your standard soft lense rather than a prosthetic hard lense.

Usually it is the opposite in that people say they take things for granted in life like simple tasks and things. Although with my case it was such a slow slow deteration that I didn't notice the things that I took for granted. Now simple tasks like seeing fine details from afar are much easier to deal with. When a passenger in a car I can navigate signs and license plates again which I hadn't been able to do since the late 90's.

I stayed away from posting here not because i could not see but because it was just time for a break from this at times a crazy place.

I look forward to hopefully being able to make it to my first PDXradio get together soon. I have not ever nor do I currently drive so finding a ride from Keizer and back will be an issue.

Without going into too much detail about my work history I did have the oppurtunity to work my first job since 2005 this summer. I worked a temp job with Oregon Parks and Rec as part of the Oregon State Fair which was the most fun job I have ever had too bad the fair is only 11 days!

I have a multitude of health issues that hinder me from long term employment where I can be and stay healthy and pain free. I have been denied Disability and am appealing with the help of an attorney. The wait is currently aprox 18-36 months for a hearing with a judge. My parents are barely hanging on trying to support me. My worst fear is moving back in with my parents or homelessness if something doesn't happen soon with that.

All I can do is try and find part time employment but it doesn't help when there are major gaps in my work history and for the fact that I am honest to a fault and tell employers from the start in interviews that I am disabled and limited in the kinds of work that I can do.

I had to give up an interview 2 weeks ago because I was in too much pain and was using a walker to get to and from the bathroom within my own apartment. Pain has subsided a bit and did get another chance to interview for another job but didn't get it. I am pushing through the pain and currently using a cane to get around.

I am getting almost all the financial aid from the state that I can possibly get right now. Ie no co-pays and perscription costs with health insurance that my father pays for through his employer, Oregon Trail, LIEAP, Cherry Lift, and DMV handicap designation. My doctor has given me a very healthy (LOL) prescription of Percocet but I fear addiction and feel as though there are better avenues out there for pain management than Opiate. Big problem being though is that I am going to have to doctor shop for a OMMP card as Kaiser doesn't look highly upon OMMP. But I would still have to come up with the examination fee that would run around 200-300 and then pay for the card and grow set-up or find a very trust worthy caretaker for my grow needs. And while the Percocet relieves the pain you still build a tolerance fast to that stuff versus the MM which just numbs and blocks the pain and the tolerance problem is still there just in a slower process.

So Life sucks yet I have to stay positive and keep on keepin' on because there are people out there that are probally in worse situations than I am in.

I guess maybe TMFI but in many ways you guys are my soapbox and sounding board and somewhat of a support network for me. Bringing joy to an otherwise dull life. (Oh boy tears are streaming)

Again Mrs Merkin thank you for your phone calls and at least hearing that voice helps. Parents and a couple of friends are supportive, siblings don't care and resent the financial aide and attention I get from my parents but anywho.

/thanks for letting me vent

"I have been denied Disability and am appealing with the help of an attorney. The wait is currently aprox 18-36 months for a hearing with a judge."

That truly sucks. But hang in there because denying benefits always seems to be the first step in this process anyway. A judge can make a more practical decision after considering more evidence from your side of the issue. Good luck!

Shyguy, I really feel for you. I am also glad you felt comfortable enough with this snarky bunch to be so candid. I think perhaps we can convince ol' Herb to come to the apolitical radio love-in and he can give you a lift. C'mon Herb, it'll be fun!

I agree with Skep. Everyone that I know who is disabled has had their benefits refused on the first round. Whether they were born with the condition, were injured in adulthood, or are returning from a war, the system works the same way. Hang in there friend, we are all pulling -- and praying -- for you.

" I look forward to hopefully being able to make it to my first PDXradio get together soon. I have not ever nor do I currently drive so finding a ride from Keizer and back will be an issue. "

No it won't.

Thanks Chickenjuggler someone said that I might be able to count on someone here. Drop me a line.

And Littlesongs as much as I loathe (sometimes) and (always) disagree with Herb I would like to meet the infamous man. IE cue REM's Its the End of the World...



Afterall regardless of all the bickering we are a pretty tightknit community aren't we? What would the world be like without a little discourse? As much as I love John Lennon's Imagine if his lyrics were ever to actualize HELL has defiently frozen over and or the last days have indeed begun.

Sent you a note. My domain name can cause some of my emails to end up in a spam folder. Check it.

Anyone else in the Salem area need a ride?