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June 30, 2007
Weeping Blood
I look like I'm being taken over by an alien entity. Half of my right eye is bright red.
I got done writing in my journal yesterday morning, wandered into the bathroom and discovered that the sclera was bleeding. Well, part of it, anyway. I went screaming downstairs to show Dave. Since it didn't hurt, we both figured I'd burst a blood vessel and that there probably wasn't anything to worry about. (Except providing a very distressing visual.)
Then, of course, me being me, I went to WebMD just to check that it wasn't signs of my own personal apocalypse. It wasn't. Here's what they had to say:
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
The conjunctiva contains nerves and many small blood vessels. These blood vessels
are fragile and may rupture or burst easily, resulting in a subconjunctival hemorrhage
(bleeding under the conjunctiva). A subconjunctival hemorrhage appears as a bright red
or dark red patch on the sclera.
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Causes
Usually, there is no obvious cause for this bleeding underneath the conjunctiva.
Often, a person may discover a subconjunctival hemorrhage on awakening.
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Symptoms
Most of the time, no symptoms are associated with a subconjunctival hemorrhage
other than seeing blood over the white part of the eye.
If you would like to read all of the interesting symptoms/causes/reasons to be worried, go here. If you're a bit woojy about blood and/or disorders of the eye, I highly recommend you don't scroll down to the photograph at the bottom of the page.
Just like I recommend you don't look at the photographs of my eye that are available after the cut.
It was nice to have my assumptions validated. And to know that there was no point in seeing a doctor. I mean, what are they going to do? Give me teeny weeny stitches? And I was glad to not hear, as I IM'ed Dave after reading the WebMD entry SEE YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!!! THIS IS A SIGN OF IMPENDING DOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
On the other hand, I have to go out in public looking like this (yay), and (double-yay) a subconjunctival hemmorhage takes one to two weeks to clear up and most likely will turn yellow in the process. Just like a bruise. I am so not looking forward to people recoiling in horror. Because I don't exactly live to be hideous. And I can't wear my contact lenses right now, so I can't put on sunglasses to spare unsuspecting bystanders either. I have to wear my glasses until this stupid thing goes away. GAAAAH.
It also doesn't help that I recently rediscovered a disturbing little thriller of a book called The Portrait of Mrs. Charabuque by Jeffrey Ford, in which the villain kills women with a concoction called the Tears of Venus. The first sign of affliction is blood pouring from the eyes, giving the appearance that the woman is weeping blood. That was a nice little image to take to bed with me last night.
And for those of you who are looking for nice little images, the pretty pictures:
Half and Half
Zombie Eye
I do have to say, I have a really great camera. Despite the subject matter, those are lovely photographs.
Posted by sally at June 30, 2007 09:02 AM
Comments
If now isn't a time to bust out a pirate eyepatch, I don't know when there is a time for one.
Do it Sally, become the pirate wench of Moscow, ID.
Posted by: fire4hairlady ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.sallyacious.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 1, 2007 10:24 AM
Yaaaargh! Here be I. Ironpants Mary, Zombie Pirate of the Palouse.
Posted by: Sallyacious at July 1, 2007 11:50 AM
Motherfucker. I was going to comment and say that I couldn't even read the damn post past line one because eyes? And blood? NO NO NO NO NO but then YOU POSTED DAMN PHOTOS OF IT and I AM GOING TO DIE NOW.
Posted by: Eris at July 6, 2007 01:31 PM
Eris -- Sorry. It's looking much better now. You know, there was a warning halfway through the post to not scroll down the page.
Posted by: Sallyacious at July 6, 2007 04:10 PM
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