BajaNomad

A freak clothespin accident

BajaBlanca - 9-23-2011 at 07:39 PM

this has to be one of the most bizarre accidents:

one day, months ago, I was in one of the B & B rooms ready to make the bed. got out the bottom sheet. spread it out a little and then WHAM, flung it open just like you used to do as a kids with a towel .. remember when you wanted to smack someone for fun ?? (and boy did it hurt !!)...well, I flung the sheet with a snap.

out of the blue, I never saw a thing, I felt intense pain in my left eye.... the pain in my eye was wicked bad. I dropped to my knees. Now bear in mind, I wear glasses so I am wondering what is going on ???? how can something have gotten UNDER my glasses ???

the pain was so intense I could not call out - Les was not home anyways but sometimes yelling makes me feel better when I am in pain.

after about a good five minutes, get up off the floor, I go to the mirror, look at the eye and see absolutely nothing. feel no more pain. and well, I went back to making the bed albeit being VERY CAREFUL not to snap the stupid sheets again !!

that evening I am in bed reading and as I look down at my book, I see a dark spot in the bottom part of my vision. panic. absolute panic sets in. so the next mroning I call my optometrist in san diego and he tells me that all is OK, not to worry, he says that I "bruised" my eye and that it will go away. and that I only saw it at night because that is when my pupil dilated enough to make it visible ....

folks, it was scary. for a second I thought I had blinded myself in one eye. the whole accident was so bizarre. and now I am absurdly careful to make sure that every clothespin is accounted for as I take the laundry off the line !

think I qualify for a dryer ? I DO !!

:lol:

woody with a view - 9-23-2011 at 08:14 PM

so you're saying you never saw a clothespin on the bed, as it flew at you, after the fact? those things are big! i thought you were refering to a push pin.....

did you hear there is a big ol' piece of space junk falling from the heavens tonight?

you know i'm just funning ya, right?

El Comadante Loco - 9-23-2011 at 10:39 PM

Baja Blanca

Sure sounds like a case of "Mal de Ojo":lol::lol::lol:... glad all is well...

Hope to be in La Bocana on 10/2.... just counting the days..

ELC

Mulegena - 9-23-2011 at 11:31 PM

Ohh, dear Blanca!

Are you certain you're alright? You identified the instrument of injury as a clothespin-- a freeking, bl##ping, dastardly clothespin?

Accidents surely can't be completely avoided in life. We just have to do our best... and continue to play and let the joy out!

paranewbi - 9-24-2011 at 04:22 AM

Mulegena...please take some safety goggles along with you for BajaBlanca! Much lighter than a Dryer.

Glad all is well BajaBlanca!

BajaDove - 9-24-2011 at 06:34 AM

Blanca
Is this a set up using us to let Les know YOU NEED A DRYER?

oladulce - 9-24-2011 at 07:29 AM

I thought I was so cool and scored clothes pins from the .99 store on our last trip NOB so bought a huge supply. If you don't get your dryer soon Blanca, let me know and I'll pick up some for you. The dang things disintegrate after using them once which makes them pretty much harmless.

rob - 9-24-2011 at 08:14 AM

Hi Blanca - YOU make the beds? I thought that was Les' job . . . this is a little off-topic, but we have an unused heavy-duty Whirlpool dryer here. We bought it from Sears in San Diego when we came down, and never used it. It just sits there.

It is YOURS in exchange for a couple of fishing lessons from Les.

There is a catch - Sears substituted the identical electric model for the gas model I bought - by the time it arrived here, I could hardly exchange it. Still the price is right. If we come up by truck, I'll bring it up . .

Let us know.

EnsenadaDr - 9-24-2011 at 08:22 AM

Who's the friggin' optometrist?? I am no eye specialist, but what you had to me sounds like a detached retina..go get the eye checked anyways!!!

DENNIS - 9-24-2011 at 08:46 AM

Shouldn't she be seeking out an Opthamologist? Optometrists work at PIWI Optical and Costco.

My mind is still in crudo mode..

EnsenadaDr - 9-24-2011 at 08:57 AM

Yes Dennis you are right...I was typing so fast I didn't think...still recovering from a Bacchanal evening...haha

eye concerns

akshadow - 9-24-2011 at 09:28 AM

Sorry to but in,
Do you see swirling stars or bursts of light when you close you eye?
do you now have floaters in your eye?

Both additional signs of detached retina.

My detached retina showed up as a dark area in lower part of eye, noticed it in the morning of the day after event. It was two days before could see eye doctor, he immediately had me fly to anchorage for operation (happened while in Juneau ak for xmas)

I would suggest seeing eye doctor, especially if it is not fading.
Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Who's the friggin' optometrist?? I am no eye specialist, but what you had to me sounds like a detached retina..go get the eye checked anyways!!!

DianaT - 9-24-2011 at 09:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by akshadow
Sorry to but in,
Do you see swirling stars or bursts of light when you close you eye?
do you now have floaters in your eye?

Both additional signs of detached retina.

My detached retina showed up as a dark area in lower part of eye, noticed it in the morning of the day after event. It was two days before could see eye doctor, he immediately had me fly to anchorage for operation (happened while in Juneau ak for xmas)

I would suggest seeing eye doctor, especially if it is not fading.

Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Who's the friggin' optometrist?? I am no eye specialist, but what you had to me sounds like a detached retina..go get the eye checked anyways!!!


Blanca, that had to scare the daylights out of you---anything to do with the eyes is always bad! Cuidado!

Blanca mentioned that it happened months ago, so for those of you who are knowledgeable, would an exam still be recommended? I am sure no expert, but I thought something like a possible detached retina needed to be treated ASAP.

Important information ----good to know all the symptoms.

Was NOT a detached retina

Dave - 9-24-2011 at 10:15 AM

As those don't get better on their own. I had one about 5 years ago. A doctor in TJ saved my sight...barely in time.

EnsenadaDr - 9-24-2011 at 10:36 AM

ah no my memory isn't as bad as I thought, Baja Blanca did say optometrist to begin with...but you could call either one for advice, optometrist or opthalmologist...you got some very very bad advice and need to get the eye checked immediately.

BajaBlanca - 9-24-2011 at 12:24 PM

well, the truth is that after about 9 days, the "hole" or dark patch went away and my eye is now fine. He is my optometrist - eye glass doctor but now that I think about it, he may be an ophthamologist as well - he travels the world giving talks on different eye procedures..he is a top class doc in san diego and he did say to head for testing if the dark spot didn't go away or if I saw double or if any sign of blood appeared.

all I can tell ya is that it scared the heck out of me at the time - one does not want to go blind in one eye due to a clothespin !

ROB - are you serious ?? I would love the dryer .... Les will take you out on his boat for sure !!!

I make the beds myself indeed - I am one of those crazy women who think no other person cleans quite as well as I do .. altho I sometimes contract out for extra hands to help me do spring cleanings a couple times a year.

guys, because of you, now I know of detached retinas - gotta admit, I had never heard of them before ....

Oladulce - I bought walmart plastic chothespins and they are excellent. Much better than the wooden ones (my attacker).

PARANEWBIE - welcome to Baja Nomads ! stay away from baja clothespins

:O:O

Mulegena - borrowed a pair of goggles from Les - you are off the hook !

el comandante loco and woody :lol::lol::lol:

MAL DE OJO INDEED !!! dang those evil eyes ...

el comandante loco - can't wait to meet you - October is going to be crazy busy !!

BajaBlanca - 9-24-2011 at 12:31 PM

ensenadaDr :saint: - come live close by la bocana.

please

:tumble:

comitan - 9-24-2011 at 12:59 PM

Oladulce

Plastic in BCS.:rolleyes::lol::rolleyes::lol:

Bob and Susan - 9-24-2011 at 01:39 PM

how can you NOT have a dryer
it IS 2011

they take about 100 watts of power
and use a 35k tank every 3 months if you do a load a day

the conversion kit from natural gas to propane runs about 75 bucks
and susan did the conversion
its that easy

rob - 9-24-2011 at 02:54 PM

er . . . sorry Bob & Susan - I was just mustering up the courage to bring Blanca's attention to the fine print in my offer . . .

"Sears substituted the identical electric model for the gas model I bought"

This is no 100 watter . . . I am told CFE employees get free power - maybe you could team up with a local CFE friend. Still, like I said - the price is right!

rob

BajaKeela - 9-24-2011 at 03:11 PM

Yep!!! Detached retinas are nothing to fool around with.My daughter went to see her eye specialist after work and when he saw she had detached retinas in both eyes..she was sent straight to the hospital from his office and they operated as soon as an o/r was available.. one eye was done and a week later they did the other..Was a very scary time for her..Her Dr. told me that even he lost sleep over this one .. Two years later they had to remove the buckle because it would have come through her eye and popped it like a grape.
Needless to say she doesnt take her eyesight for granted.

BajaBlanca - 9-25-2011 at 11:08 AM

what causes a detached retina ?

CFE gets free power .... you gotta be kidding me !!

boys and girls - there is nothing like the smell of fresh laundry off the clothesline .... it is just amazing !!

but still and all, once in a while a dryer would be VERY welcome - so anyone who wants to bring one on over - please DO !!!

What causes a detached retina??

EnsenadaDr - 9-25-2011 at 02:23 PM

A traumatic blow to the eye as what happened to you, strong enough to detach the retina.
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
what causes a detached retina ?

CFE gets free power .... you gotta be kidding me !!

boys and girls - there is nothing like the smell of fresh laundry off the clothesline .... it is just amazing !!

but still and all, once in a while a dryer would be VERY welcome - so anyone who wants to bring one on over - please DO !!!

oladulce - 9-25-2011 at 04:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
what causes a detached retina ?



Your retina is a thin membrane (like a grape skin, I guess you could say) only this "skin" is is attached to the very back of your eyeball on the inside. The retina is also attached to a nerve that goes to your brain. Light enters your eye and hits the retina and the retina sends info to your brain and your brain interprets what you see.

If a retina starts to pull away from the back of the eyeball, the light coming in to the eye is distorted when it hits the retina and the brain can't figure out what the message is.

A projectile to the eye like a clothes pin would not typically be the cause of a retinal detachment. It could happen if the fluid in the back chamber of your eye was somehow effected, but that wouldn't be my first guess. The flying clothes pin did not strike your retina- that structure is inside your eyeball.

Retinal detachment can happen after trauma but it's usually a result of a quick, violent jarring of your head (bungie jumping is often used as an example) that causes the retina to tear away from the eye.

Most of the time detached retinas occur because of a existing medical condition such as diabetes, and possibly prolonged steroid use (like prednisone for Rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, MS etc), a previous history of a detached retina, or just from aging. Detached retinas can happen after cataract surgery sometimes.

I'm glad your floaters subsided Blanca.

Probability vs. Possibility

EnsenadaDr - 9-25-2011 at 05:03 PM

The key is the pain and the visual disturbances, I still wouldn't make a diagnosis without an exam and convince her that an eye exam wasn't necessary...
Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
what causes a detached retina ?



Your retina is a thin membrane (like a grape skin, I guess you could say) only this "skin" is is attached to the very back of your eyeball on the inside. The retina is also attached to a nerve that goes to your brain. Light enters your eye and hits the retina and the retina sends info to your brain and your brain interprets what you see.

If a retina starts to pull away from the back of the eyeball, the light coming in to the eye is distorted when it hits the retina and the brain can't figure out what the message is.

A projectile to the eye like a clothes pin would not typically be the cause of a retinal detachment. It could happen if the fluid in the back chamber of your eye was somehow effected, but that wouldn't be my first guess. The flying clothes pin did not strike your retina- that structure is inside your eyeball.

Retinal detachment can happen after trauma but it's usually a result of a quick, violent jarring of your head (bungie jumping is often used as an example) that causes the retina to tear away from the eye.

Most of the time detached retinas occur because of a existing medical condition such as diabetes, and possibly prolonged steroid use (like prednisone for Rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, MS etc), a previous history of a detached retina, or just from aging. Detached retinas can happen after cataract surgery sometimes.

I'm glad your floaters subsided Blanca.

oladulce - 9-25-2011 at 06:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
The key is the pain and the visual disturbances, I still wouldn't make a diagnosis without an exam and convince her that an eye exam wasn't necessary...


Absolutely !

A few weeks ago a visitor to the area had a bungee cord snap back and hit him directly on his eyeball. There is usually no doctor in town and when a car comes screeching up to our gate, it usually means somebody's been hurt or is sick- Uh,ooh. Some people asked if we'd take a look at the guy and my husband followed the parade of cars and said he'd come and get me because there's was already alot of hoopla.

The man was guarding his eye, complained of pain. His pupil was blown and distorted and there was obvious bulging of his eyeball when viewed from the side. He didn't bother to come and get me, and just told the crowd the man needed to go to La Paz or Back to the Us ASAP.

By then there were "lots of cooks in the kitchen" with opinions and the friends of the man were not in town and he had no transportation and there was a lot of himmming and hawing. My husband repeated a few times that he needs to go to La Paz or the US and eventually bowed out and came home. But after we talked about it and both agreed the poor guy needs to be looked at, he returned in case the large group continued to be wishy washy.

One of the people got in touch with an ER doctor she worked with in the US and tried to describe the condition of the man's eye. Based on that description this doctor made a diagnosis over the phone and told her the man should just rest and he should be ok. The group of people and the injured man seemed happy to go along with this.
We were flabbergasted that this physician did not encourage the man to have his eye looked at immediately!

A friend told us that about a week later he was going to La Paz and gave this man a ride so he could see a doctor because there had been no improvement in his eye.

Beware of Bungee Cords!

[Edited on 9-27-2011 by oladulce]

BajaBlanca - 9-25-2011 at 09:30 PM

wow...bungie cords ...yup, I can just envision it happening.

thanks so much for the explanations you two. to think I have lived 55 years and never knew about detached retinas ....

I had absolutely no side effect to my eye and after a week, the dark spot disappeared. thank goodness !

durrelllrobert - 9-26-2011 at 09:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rob
er . . . sorry Bob & Susan - I was just mustering up the courage to bring Blanca's attention to the fine print in my offer . . .

"Sears substituted the identical electric model for the gas model I bought"

This is no 100 watter . . . I am told CFE employees get free power - maybe you could team up with a local CFE friend. Still, like I said - the price is right!

rob
My "laundry room" (closet) is plumbed for gas and wired for 220V but I could not find a gas dryer small enough to fit in it with room for ducting on back. I ended up buying a small electric model made in Italy and it cost close to $5/ load to run so I pu up a pulley style clothesline and even though my wife has to use those evil clothespins it is free.