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alt=a sad woman sits on a bench holding her bandaged wrist, looking at trekking poles.

A Wake Up Call

Sharon Moore's avatar image

By Sharon Moore

2 min read

I like to think I have a clear understanding of my dry macular degeneration and its impact on my life. I have intermediate stage in my right eye and early stage in the left. Coupled with my chronic dry eyes, I have significant blurring.

Still managing with smaller things

I still manage to care for my home with little difficulty, or so I tell myself. On bright sunshiny days, the light hits just right and I realize I haven’t noticed cobwebs or dust accumulating in out-of-the-way places.

I have to ask my husband to make sure I am not wearing black slacks with my navy jacket. Not long ago I went to church wearing two different earrings. They were similar in shape and color but a friend noticed right away.

My first wake up call

I am still legal to drive in my state. I have self-limited myself to only driving at night in areas I am familiar with and stopped city driving. I recently got a late-night call from a friend with stage 4 cancer. Her only words were, “I need you." My husband offered to go with me but I assured him I could find my way. I struggled, slowly driving as I looked for the road she lived on. I finally thought I recognized it and turned up the dirt road.

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It wasn’t long until I realized I had turned onto a logging road. It narrowed with pine trees pressing close to the road. I drove on as I couldn’t back down a narrow mountain road and couldn’t turn around. Crying now, I called my husband telling him I was lost. He kept me calm and after a couple of miles, I was able to turn around and return to the highway. As I frantically searched for the road without success, I was forced to call my friends’ husband to come to find me and take me to her.

Lesson learned the hard way, I won’t attempt driving alone at night in unfamiliar areas again regardless of the circumstances.

Second wake up call

As my macular degeneration progressed, I noticed a lack of depth perception. I love to walk outdoors and began using trekking poles after a fall on the gravel road. The use of the poles provided me with stability and I was no longer fearful of falling.

After months of using the poles, I got lax and occasionally walked without them. On a walk with my husband, I decided to make one more lap after he returned to the house. Almost back home, I stubbed my toe and took a hard fall. I was unable to get up.  I wear an Apple Watch with fall detection. I didn’t think I needed 911 services. Using my Apple Watch, I called my husband. He was able to help me get to my feet. I had cuts, bruises, and a badly sprained wrist.

Keep safety in mind

Another hard lesson was learned that day. No matter how short the walk, if outdoors, I use the trekking poles. Most days now I walk indoors on the treadmill.

Following these incidents, I am now facing my limitations. I swallow my pride and ask for help when I need someone to drive me. When walking in or outdoors I keep safety in mind.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The MacularDegeneration.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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