Eye Bleed Challenge

It’s a bad one. I was relaxing in amongst the splendid tall gums of Bodalla state forest rest area, finished dinner, watching the news, dark, then about 6.10PM a black streak slunk across my vision, then more. Hard to discern in the dim light.

I knew instantly what it is. I closed each eye to determine which eye had the bleed.

I knew I had minutes before my eye might fog out, which it did. In that time I threw on shoes and hurried to get the van ready to travel.

Then I called the eye emergency number as many times I was instructed. Instead of it diverting to a registrar (Saturday night?) I got a prick. Some slightly nasty arsehole who didn’t care that I told him right now my eye is bleeding and I need to speak to a doctor as instructed. Several times, flatly ignoring everything I said, where I was, what’s happening, alone, he just said that "the advice always is to present to the emergency department".

He was even saying it as he reluctantly transferred the call, still arguing.

Danny answered if I recall his name correctly.

Anyway, nothing could be done until Monday but he went through some possibilities for then and told me not to drive.

I couldn’t bear a sleepless night in the middle of nowhere and the possibility everything could get a lot worse. I knew from before that at night the swirling black blood isn’t quite as distinctive at night, and adrenalin and fear might get me to Canberra hospital.

I lost sight before I got out of the rest area, so it was a tough drive. Right eye blurred too from the strain.

I’m in the hospital now, typing with my good right eye and seeing if the concentration and effort causes a problem. Trying to get used to the left eye impairment.

The goal I’ve decided is to go to Queanbeyan, shower, food, water, wash clothes maybe (for presentation to drs and nurses) and maybe sleep at Bungendore. Not ideal, but an option to stay.

Main thing is not to panic.

UPDATE SUNDAY 3.45PM

Left the hospital seeing how I could drive in the daytime. Bit iffy but I could do it.

First thing: get water. If I’m stranded I’d need water most of all. Did that at Queanbeyan. Then a shower at the aquatic centre which was divine, and helpful.

Then to wash clothes. The idea was to stay busy, mind occupied, time allocated. All full at Queanbeyan so I drove all the way back past the hospital to Mawson and loaded two machines there.

Then trips to Woolies filling in the time.

The eye is blinded with dark fog as it gets but didn’t bleed again, so decided to enjoy my time unhassled at Bungendore and work things out from there. Could have stayed again at the hospital but Monday tomorrow means I’m extremely limited, stuck in the van in the carpark, although safer.

So I took the risk, drove to my own space, and folded clothes and put on fresh sheets upon arrival.

Hopefully I can enjoy the night.

Tomorrow, who knows!