Back in the retinologist’s office. How delightful. I seem to have done pretty well on all of the tests except one. I am back here for a re-take. Hope they grade on a curve!
Not sure what happened. I really thought I was doing great. OK, so I often think I am doing great, but all the signals I got were positive. I was even told I was most likely in. Now I am not so sure.
I had no idea this was all so involved! I was here for nearly four hours the last time I was here. I had all sorts of eye tests and even a few physical ones such as a blood test and a blood pressure test. It was rather grueling, especially since we worked through lunch.
This time I am supposed to be here for less than an hour. Just the same, I brought a drink. I am not used to going for four hours without any fluid intake.
I am supposed to come back in a week. I guess that I am coming back in a week. I guess that depends upon whether or not I pass this test today.
Anyway, the next time is supposed to be something like four hours. Think I will pack a lunch.
The next time I am supposed to be “randomized”. Basically that means I will be sorted and assigned to an experimental group. Sort of like sorting at Hogwarts, for you Harry Potter fans. Just minus the talking hat. Gee, maybe I will get into Gryffindor!
They are running two experimental groups and a control group. The one group is monthly injections of the medicine. The control group is their pretending to give the shot and the second experimental condition involves altering the shot with medicine and the “pretend” shot. That mean I have a 66% chance of getting the medicine at least every other month.
Not that I believe I could influence the growth of my lesions just by believing I am getting medicine, but I will not be told which group I am in for just that reason. What people believe can influence the dangedest things, including physical things. It is called the placebo effect.
Three days later…
Well, I am still not sure if I am in, but I do know what happened to the one test. It was technical difficulty, a machine glitch. Nice to know it was not me.
I am supposed to get word by the end of the week. That would be nice. However, I am not holding my breath.
If I have learned anything in these last few weeks, it is to expect the process to be more complicated than it initially seems like it should be. There are secondary, dependent variables being assessed, for example. There is also a big, huge bureaucracy behind the scenes calling the shots.
Anyway, should be interesting. Now all I have to do is get in…and stay in for three, long years.
Written April 23rd,2019