PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

Back in February 2017, I had eye muscle surgery to straighten my eyes. This was largely for aesthetic/cosmetic reasons, but the procedure was still covered by my insurance. I was unable to drive and work for almost two weeks, but I did not have to cover my eye at all.

My eyes look better, but I still can’t see very well without my glasses, and I still have double vision. An eye doctor told me and my parents back in 2002 that I would be able to pass a DMV eye test and get a driver’s license. My right eye is weaker than my left eye, but both are brought to 20/20 with the use of glasses.

 

Yup, my grandpa called me an idiot for doing and laughed.

 

Going back to the hypothetical situation where I’d choose to have both eyes operated on and be blind for a day or two instead of having two different procedures, here’s something else...

My vision is good and I’ve been living with the double vision for at least 20 years. I ignore it for the most part. It does not effect my ability to safely drive or work.

However, let’s say there was some sort of procedure that could make my eyes 100% straight and get rid of my double vision; The one drawback is that both eyes must be operated on at the same time, and my eyes would have to be completely covered for up to two weeks or perhaps even a month...

Two weeks to a month of being blind in my early thirties, and then having normal vision for the rest of my life (presuming I live to my 80s or 90s). Hell yes I would do it!

Also, I read this article about a woman in her twenties who wore a blindfold for a week, walked with a cane, and learned braille. That is actually something I would do just to see what it’s like.

 

A few decades ago, procedures similar to the one I had in 2017 would require the person to wear a patch or bandages on their eye(s) for several days. I remember reading an article about a kid who underwent some sort of “squint correction” surgery in the 1960s and had to have his eyes covered for a staggering ten days (and stay in the hospital the whole time).

I had to spend the night at the hospital when I was like four due to having a really bad cough (they put me in an oxygen tent too), but I have never stayed in a hospital for days and every operation I’ve ever had (all noninvasive procedures) was outpatient.

 

@Taco critter

Having read my posts about choosing to be blind for a day or two following an eye procedure instead of having two separate surgeries, what do you think?

 

My Grandpa (Pop-pop) was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005. He underwent chemotherapy for a while and it seemed like it was going into remission, but in 2007 doctors discovered that it had spread to his liver, and the mutual decision was made to end treatment. Pop-pop died in November 2007 just two months after his 71st birthday. He smoked most of his life but quit cold turkey in the 1980s. My step-Grandma (Nana J) continued to smoke until about a year or so (maybe a little less after he died). Why did she finally quit?

She had a heart attack in 2008, and spent a day or so with a breathing tube in her mouth and throat as an added precaution. Being uncomfortable and unable to talk for the better part of a day as a result of the intubation, combined with the inevitable doctor’s orders to quit smoking, finally got her to give up the habit.

I have never been intubated or put on a ventilator, and I hope I never have to be. I come from very healthy lineage, specifically a number of relatives who lived well into their nineties and died peacefully in their sleep of old age rather than a specific health problem.

I am obese and have high blood pressure at times, but I am working to lose weight and I hope to see at least age 90!

 

Unfortunately, like I said, I don’t think doctors will allow a patient to do that unless it is obviously detrimental to their health if they don’t cover both eyes.

 

My buddy had one eye done and kept waiting to get the other one done but he had a stroke so its probably gonna be awile before he gets it done.

 

Would you opt to do one eye at a time and still be able to see, or have both done and be blind for a day?

 

It depends on whatever else I had going on at the time.

 

I actually had cataract surgery on both eyes on the same day, about 18 months ago. No eye patches. I could see right away after the morning surgery but everything was very fuzzy for a few hours. I could see okay to walk around and stuff, but couldn't read or drive the day of the surgery. It was much clearer day 2 and by day 3 it was back to normal, but minus the glasses and contact lenses I had worn my whole life.

 

Things have changed since 2003!

 

However, if I had any kind of surgery that required patching the eyes and I could choose between having them done separately or at the same time, I'd still opt for the same time. It would mean I wouldn't have to schedule two surgeries, I'd get to get to see what it's like to be blind, and I'd have my parents waiting on my hand and foot.

Before we moved, I had this really cool blindfold/sleep mask called a Mindfold. It was the best blindfold ever, made of hard plastic with foam padding. When I was bored, I would attempt to walk around the house with it on.

CLICK HERE for the Mindfold website. I'm sure my original one is around somewhere, but I have not seen it since at least 2016 and I'm getting sick of looking for it, so I will probably end up buying a new one.

 

Agree 100%. Even if eye patches had been involved, I would still have preferred to have both eyes done at the same time. Do it quick and get it over with.

 

Some of you may know that I was forced to get my truck fixed at the dealership last week because my parents were in California for five days, I needed my truck, and I had no other options. The truck was squeaking like crazy when the brakes were applied (again), and it turned out that the rear axle seal had blown sometime between the truck getting inspected in early September, and Halloween. This destroyed my rear brakes and pretty much everything had to be replaced.

A week later, and my truck is still squeaking from the rear when the brakes are applied. I have a feeling that blown axle seal was just a coincidence and that the dealer didn't fix whatever was causing the squeak. What's weird is that the brakes only squeak when applied at speeds well above 30 MPH, and they only do it a couple times before going silent. When applying the brakes at lower speeds, they make no noise at all.

My uncle, who was a mechanic for many years, suggested the squeaking was caused by residual brake cleaner left behind when they cleaned the grease off of any reused parts and would probably go away; It hasn't. By the way, the dealer replaced the actual brake drums, not just the shoes and linings.

My trusted mechanic (who was swamped the weekend I needed the truck fixed and unable to fit me in) will be looking at my rear brakes this Monday; He will be my second opinion.

I would also like to point out that the dealer only replaced the LEFT axle seal (I was under the impression both had blown and would thus be replaced). If turns out that the right axle seal blew and damaged my brand new brakes, it will take a lot of self control to keep me from metaphorically blowing a seal when I bring it back to the dealer.

And for those of you don't know, Pennsylvania has a strict annual safety inspection; My inspection is due in October. In October 2017, with less than 78K on the clock, I was told that my drum brakes passed inspection but would probably have to be replaced in a year. In June 2018, my truck went to the body shop for some minor work, and my body guy is also a mechanic so replaced the rear brakes at 84K. My rear brakes had only 22K on them when they were destroyed by the sudden axle seal explosion.

 

Milo Avatar?!!! Sweet

 

Brake dust likely causing your issues. I would pull the drums, clean the brake parts with brake cleaner then replace with new ceramic brake shoes.

 

The brake shoes are a week old. I will definitely clean them though!

 

Where the drums resurfaced? If they did not then that is likely the issue. Or if they resurfaced them and did not scuff the surface to properly seat the shoes.

 

The actual drums were replaced!