Well it's been 2 weeks since my Avastin injection.  I've noticed a lot of improvement in my vision.  Today at work I was able to disable Windows Magnifier.  Yay! 

I've been doing A LOT of research on POHS.  I keep reading that stress is a major factor in bleeding onset.  I know that this is controversial amongst doctors, but the patients can vouch for this.  I got to thinking... I went a year with my right eye and nothing in my left.  Then as soon as I started a second job, my left started bleeding.  I can see that the added work/stress very well could have been a factor. 

Since then I've been working REALLY HARD at keeping stress out of my life.  With 2 jobs and a family, some times this is a hard task.  I'm going to do a series soon on living stress free & relaxation.  I think this is beneficial to anyone, but especially beneficial t POHS sufferers. 

Other posts about my POHS:

Initial Diagnosis

2 days after Avastin #1

1 week after Avastin #1

2 weeks after Avastin #1

Dealing with POHS

avastin update [5.20.13]

Tomorrow will a full week since my first shot of Avastin.  I have noticed a mild improvement in my vision already.  I was able to decrease the font size on my kindle a little, and I can see my text messages easie.  YAYYYY!  Yesterday completed my round of anti-biotic drops in my eye, I seem to have successfully kept from getting an injection.  All in all I'd say that it was a successful injection!  I go back to my RS [retinal specialist] mid-june.  Hopefully, I'll walk out of there with a success of no bleeding!  *Fingers crossed*

Do you have POHS?  Please share your story below, I love reading and learning about other's experiences. 

Read more posts about my POHS:


Initial Diagnosis

2 days after Avastin #1

1 week after Avastin #1

2 weeks after Avastin #1

Dealing with POHS

avastin shot update [pohs]

Well it's been 2 days since my first Avastin injection for my POHS.  The injection wasn't as scary as I had expected it to be.  The rest of the day I felt pretty sleepyyy and mildly uncomfortable in my eye.  Yesterday I discovered little floaters that looked like things swimming around in my eye.  After some research and asking people with POHS, I found this is normal with Avastin injections.  Today I feel much better.  I still have some discomfort, && I'm tired, but all in all I'm starting to feel more normal.

I just wanted to pop in and provide an update.  I try not to sit at the computer any longer than I have to right now.  I'm still sensitive to the light.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Read more about my experience with Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis:

Initial Diagnosis

2 days after Avastin #1

1 week after Avastin #1

2 weeks after Avastin #1

Dealing with POHS

book review [Safe Haven]

I'm not a huge Nicholas Sparks fan.  At all.  He's really not that great of a writer.  Every book has the same formula, with details changed.  However, they're good books when you want a quick read or are in the mood for something sappyyy.  Which is how I was feeling the day I picked up Safe Haven...

BOOK

I actually surprised myself with this book!  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I thought it was suspenseful, graphic, heart wrenching, && just the right amount of sap.  The ending was a shock to me, I totally didn't see that coming.  All in all, I have to admit I really liked this book.  Which leads me to the corner with my tail between myyy legs for all the years of dissing Sparks.

MOVIE

I was soooo excited to watch this movie after I read the book.  There was so much potential for this to be an amazing movie.  I've been a long time soap watcher since I was a child (my parents watched AMC && OLTL).  When I saw that Josh Duhamel was in the movie, I got even more excited.  This movie was AWFUL!  From the very beginning I found myself saying, "that didn't happen".  I know movies tend to leave stuff out from the book, but this movie added things and changed things to where it was almost unrecognizable.  I think I could've handled all that and still enjoyed the movie if the movie was actually good.  It wasn't.  The acting was terrible.  Absolutely atrocious.  I do NOT recommend this movie whether you've read the book or not.

30 and falling apart? [health update]

Have you ever heard of Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis?  Yeah me either... Within the last 3 months I've developed vision problems in my eyes.  Blurriness, unable to read without magnifying x100, lines are squiggly, and complete loss of central vision in my right eye.  Fun. 

To make an awfully long and painful visit to the Retinal Specialist, I was diagnosed with Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome [POHS].  This has made working very difficult for me.  I have to utilize Windows Magnifier just to get around on the computer.  Since I blog and work in I.T. at my out of the home job, things have been difficult.  Blogging had to take a backseat. 

I have my first appointment tomorrow for my treatment.  There is no cure for POHS unfortunately, and since the scarring is already so bad in my right eye, I won't regain vision in it.  The left eye is the eye that will be receiving treatment.  The treatment I'm undergoing is a series of injections into my eye with the medicine Avastin.  The insurance company is fighting covering the treatment, which hasn't been fun. 

I'm anxious and unsure if I'm ready for this appointment tomorrow, yet I'm keeping positive thoughts.  I'll update you in a few days after the treatment. 

To read about my updates after this post click links below:

Initial Diagnosis

2 days after Avastin #1

1 week after Avastin #1

2 weeks after Avastin #1

Dealing with POHS

.Vox box review

Hello!  Sorry I'm just now getting my Sugar & Spice VoxBox review.  I've had quite the health issue sneak up on me (I'll tell you about it in another post).  The positive thing is I've definitely had time to fully use and experience the products.  Let's get started:

Colgate Opti-White

• Product Claim: The collection of Colgate® Optic White® products whitens more than 3 shades* and results start in one week. With Colgate® Optic White®, the only accessory you need to look fabulous is your smile. *based on twice daily use for 4 weeks 
• What I loved:  I honestly LOVE these products!  I've even purchased several more toothbrushes for the family.  Now we're all using it!  The toothpaste I feel does a wonderful job at whitening (as much as an over the counter toothpaste can).  It's got a great minty taste that sticks with you for awhile for long lasting freshness. 
• What I didn't love:  I'm not a huge fan of the mouthwash.   I do use it, and love the way it works.  However, my issue lays with the "foaming action".  It foams so much it gags me.  It's not a pleasant experience for me, so I probably won't repurchase the mouthwash for myself.  I don't believe in waste though, so I will definitely finish the bottle.

Nectresse Natural Sweetener

• Product claim: NECTRESSE™ Sweetener has a rich sugar-like taste and is naturally zero calories per serving. How? We started with the deliciously sweet extract of monk fruit and combined it with the perfect blend of other natural sweeteners. It's 100% natural with nothing artificial. You're going to love the way it tastes. In our search to create the perfect sweetener, we turned to the place that does sweetness best: nature. We found our inspiration in the monk fruit. Hand-picked in remote mountain regions, monk fruit has been cultivated for hundreds of years and only recently re-discovered as a source of natural sweetness.
• What I loved:  I don't use many artificial sweeteners.  I pretty much stick to Truvia, and I don't even use it that often.  I have made myself become a black coffee and unsweetened tea drinker.  However, I do lightly sweeten my oatmeal with artifical sweetener.  While I did enjoy the sweetener, I didn't feel overly impressed or underwhelmed by it.  Nothing speical stuck out. 
• What I didn't love:  Again... I neither loved nor hated this product.  I know it seems odd to be completely apathetic about an articial sweetener, but I am. 

Belvita Breakfast Biscuits

• Product claim: belVita Breakfast Biscuits are made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release nutritious sustained energy, all morning long. They are a good source of Fiber and B-vitamins, contain no high fructose corn syrup, have 18-20 grams of whole grain per 50 gram serving and taste great, which makes belVita Breakfast Biscuits perfect for when you are on the go. Facts:• Nutritious sustained energy all morning• 18-20 grams of whole grains per 50 gram serving• A good source of both energy-releasing B-vitamins + fiber• No high fructose corn syrup• No artificial flavors or sweeteners. 
• What I loved:  Ack, here's another product I don't have a whole lot to say on.  It is not Gluten Free, so I was unable to test it myself.  I let my teenager test it.  He ate it all in about 2.5 seconds, and said it was good, then walked away to find more to eat ;) 
• What I didn't love: That it wasn't gluten free.

Dickinson's Oil Controlling Towelettes

• Product claim: New from Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel, Oil Controlling Towelettes. The first ever individually wrapped towelette with Original Witch Hazel to gently remove dirt, oil & impurities while eliminating shine – even on the go. Perfect for even the most sensitive skin, each towelette is touched with aloe to help restore essential moisture. The result is a clean, refreshed, and blemish free complexion anytime, anywhere. Oil Controlling Towelettes are conveniently wrapped for active lifestyles and perfectly sized for travel, complying with strict TSA requirements. Benefits of Oil Controlling Towelettes-Gentle spun lace cloth helps extract trapped dirt & oils, tones and protects skin-Original witch hazel is perfect for sensitive skin-Non-drying like many other oil removing products-Simple efficacious ingredients-The small size is convenient to travel with and bring anywhere – the home, office, beach, sporting events and gym-Cleans and conditions on the go .
• What I loved:  Ladies & Gents, I've been using Dickinson's witch hazel for years and years.  As an oily & acne prone person, witch hazel is a must for me.  I loved the convenience of the travel towelettes.  I've even used it to remove makeup in a pinch.  These are wonderful & I will definitely repurchase.
• What I didn't love:  N/A, loved everything about them!

Vaseline Spray & Go

• Product claim: • A convenient 360° continuous spray lotion that moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds (less than 10)• Skin feels instantly soft – not sticky or greasy• Contains multi-layer moisture complex and infuses moisture across all layers of skin* – at the top, the core and deep down• Fast to apply, quick to absorb, so women can put their clothes right on after moisturizing• Targeted spray (width of woman’s wrist) dispenses lotion quickly and evenly• To apply simply spray up one side of your body, switch hands, spray down the other side, and then rub in with a few quick rubs (“Up, Switch, Down, Rub”)• All over body coverage• Also comes in Total Moisture®, which contains pure oat extract and leaves skin feeling healthy and soft, Aloe Fresh which contains pure aloe and leaves skin feeling healthy and fresh and Cocoa Radiant™ which contains pure cocoa butter and leaves skin feeling healthy and glowing **Stratum corneum (multi-layer surface skin)
• What I loved: This product was interesting... I found that it was very easy to use and soaked right into the skin with minimal hand/lotion contact.  I use it out of the shower after shaving.  I hope out, dry off, spray it on, and by the time I'm ready to get dressed it has soaked into the skin.
• What I didn't love:  I wasn't crazy about the scent of the one that was sent to me.  However, I have seen more of these in the store with different scents.  So there's more options for you to try out.

All in all I'd say it was a very successful VoxBox!  Here are my product ratings:

• Colgate Optic-White~ A+
• Nutresse~ B
• Belvita~ A
• Dickinson's Towelettes~ A+
• Vaseline Spray & Go~ A