patching again

We returned to the eye doctor to discuss Calvin's MRI results (which were clear as we already had heard) and to complete the eye exam. Instead of doing the eye exam the dr took the opportunity to tell me how important patching is,  how Calvin's eye is getting worse and how if we don't patch we will move into the realm of surgical treatment soon.

Patching is terrible!  We had about 5 years of patching in our past and I thought we were done when about a year ago Dr. OHalloran told us we could stop patching.

Here's a blast from the past about patching:

http://www.goodnewsdenise.blogspot.com/2008/05/doctors-orders.html

When Calvin wears his patch over his good eye his vision will be very poor. I had him cover his eye a couple of days ago and even standing about 3 feet from our 42in TV he could not read the words on the TV and it was blurry for him. He will be very uncomfortable with a patch on.

We are working really hard to Calvin's behavior right now and adding a patch will make him more irritable and uncomfortable and getting him to wear the patch will be struggle if at all possible.

I am thankful to have Lauren our behavior therapist in my court. I talked to her about this dilemma and she helped us set up a plan for patching. She recommended that we start with a very small amount of time wearing the patch. For the first week Calvin will wear the patch 15 minutes day and then we will move up to 30 minutes/day and over a course of time we will eventually work up to 3-4 hours a day which would be wonderful.

I let Calvin order some patches and a few patching charts from ortopod.com and we will start as soon as they arrive.  We are moving at a slow pace but hopefully not rushing or forcing will help us to be successful in the long run without so much contention and fighting.

It is neat to work with Lauren and see how a careful plan is so important. I have always attacked things with energy, gusto and force but I see that if I direct some of that energy to planning and organizing and BEING PATIENT I can be more successful.  I wish I could have known what I know about 10 years ago. I feel like my learning curve is behind my kids' needs! I guess that's part of how life's experience is. It wouldn't be called learning by experience if you could learn it without the experience!