My brother posted about losing hearing for a period of time on his blog. About 12 years ago I went to the dentist and had multiple X-rays– something like 8 of them. After that they took me to have an X-ray around my whole head- 360 degrees. I had to stand in a little alcove in the wall while biting down on a little stick and holding my head very still. They said it would take about 2 minutes. After about a minute and a half, I closed my eyes from boredom and when I reopened them, I saw little black dots straight ahead of me. I blinked a few times, thinking that it was odd. As I did, the black dots filled with yellow circles, and got bigger. Then some more blinking, and yellow circles filled with new black dots ala bumblebee style target. I closed my eyes hard and reopened. Blackness. Then the dental assistant said “OK you can return to your chair.”
I can still imagine the look on her face as I said “What if I can’t see?”
Stammering: “What do you mean you can’t see?”
“I can’t see. I have no sight.”
“OK…. Come this way” taking my hand and starting to lead me back.
Me: stumble and fall– sense of balance on the fritz.
She helped me up. I managed to make it back to the chair.
The dentist came in and I explained the situation. I’m sure he thought I was messing with him. He put a cold towel on my head and told me he would return in a few minutes. I would bet that none of his dental references had anything related to X-ray blindness. Sitting there alone in darkness, I began to wonder how I would manage to ride my bike back to my apartment. It was several minutes before I began to wonder what the rest of my life would be like. I think the reason I began to wonder is because I noticed I was losing my sense of hearing.
No sight. No balance. No hearing. Biking home would be very, very difficult.
Fortunately I never completely lost my hearing, and several minutes after he returned, my sight slowly started to come back, like coming out of a very thick black fog.
The total duration of my blindness was probably no more than 15 minutes. Until I close my eyes for the last time, I hope it never happens again. In the meantime, I really do try to appreciate everything I see.
Tags: blind