Home Blog  
Education / Training Special report

Special report

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

This report covers:

  • Health report on B.B.

Health report on B.B.

A word about my health. Saturday the retina in my right eye separated as I was driving home from Arkansas. By the time I was 70 miles from Dallas, I had lost 90 percent of the vision in the eye. I drove directly to an emergency room in Ft. Worth and they called in a retina specialist who saw me in his office that afternoon. He scheduled an operation for the next day and said he thought it went well when it was over.

The doctor examined my eye yesterday and was pleased. He said there is a good chance for a complete recovery. But I now have a gas bubble in my eyeball to keep pressure against the repaired retina, and I have to only look down to keep the bubble in place. I cannot move around a lot, exercise or do normal things like drive.

There is no new blog today and probably tomorrow, and I am renting a special chair that will allow me to type on the computer while looking straight down. Obviously I can’t do any shooting tests this month, but once I can type again, I will get the blog up and running.

Please don’t ask me any questions, as I can barely read the screen as it is. I hope that will get better as time passes.

author avatar
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)
Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

49 thoughts on “Special report”

  1. Don’t push yourself too much. Follow your doctor’s order and give your body time to heal. Let the veterans of the blog answer the questions that get here.

    We’ll be praying for your complete recovery.

  2. Tom,

    I’m going to echo what the others have said: Our prayers are with you. Please follow the doctors instructions. Don’t worry about the blog.

    Jim

  3. Hey BB.

    No worries on this blog. You have earned a vacation. You are going to be so tired of looking downward by the time this is over…

    Looking forward to you having a better day.
    Rob

  4. Follow the DRs orders and get well soon. my surgery was detached retina on left eye and loose retina on right eye.
    They patched me up fine and I recovered in a 33 FT motorhome down in Arizona , I was not shooting then. but sure did want to ride the ATV in the desert which was a NO NO.
    Prayers are with you BB
    Harvey

  5. Tom, do NOT worry about us!! This blog is a treasure trove of airgun information. I search for stuff here all the time. Take care of yourself! We’ll be here for you when you come back. Don’t push it. I literally check in at the blog multiple times per day, and whenever I get interested in an airgun, I search here for information first.

  6. BB
    Eyesight is our most valuable sense in my opinion and not to be taken lightly so just do as the doc says and we will be here when you get back to your normal self.

    Prayers be with you.

    BD

  7. TOM –

    PRAYING FOR YOUR COMPLETE RECOVERY ASAP.

    FYI, MY BEST FRIEND HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS WITH BOTH EYES A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. COMPLETE RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. HE COMES TO MY IN-HOME RANGE TO SHOOT EVERY TUESDAY, AND ENJOYS THE TRIGGER TIME AS MUCH AS HE EVER HAS. HANG IN THERE!

    – JIM

  8. TOM ARE YOU USING THE COMPUTERS ZOOM TOOL TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE PRINT ? THE BLOG DISPLAYS IT WELL AT 400 %

    STARTING TO GET FLOATERS THAT LOOK LIKE SEE THROUGH FISH SCALES MYSELF. ALONG WITH THE STANDARD LIGHT FLASHES.

    SAID A PRAYER FOR YOU.

    BOB M.

  9. BB, PRAYERS OFFERED FOR YOUR COMPLETE RECOVERY. I HAVE ENJOYED LEARNING FROM YOU AND OTHERS ON THIS BLOG MORE THAN I EVER THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE. SEMPER FIDELIS !!! MIKE

  10. Tom,

    My mother recently had a detached retina and surgery to correct it, so I know more than a little about what you are going through. A key, from what I remember, is to take it very easy and obey your doctor’s instructions regarding any physical exertion. The inner eye is so delicate.

    My thoughts and prayers are going out to you.

    Get well soon,

    Michael

  11. Had an odd thing happen to my right eye recently, Age 68. Had an irritation on the right side of my eye accompanied by a build up of a thick clear jelly like film in that corner for weeks.

    Woke up one day to find fully half of that eye’s white was filled with bright red blood. Cleared up on it’s own in a few weeks along with the irritation and jell build up.

    You really stop taking your health for granted as you get older …and the days with no new problems become more precious.

  12. O Lord, my friend Tom is so special,
    He means so much to me.
    We’ve walked together for so long,
    No closer could we be.

    O Lord, please give him healing,
    Restore him day by day.
    Renew his hope and dry his tears,
    Please answer him when he prays.

    O Lord, you are our Saviour,
    Our strength when we are weak.
    Your light is hope within our hearts,
    When the day is bleak.

    O Lord, I put my faith in you,
    I trust you’ll heal my friend.
    May he know our love and care,
    On us he can depend

    kevin

  13. BB,

    AN 8 OR 10 INCH TOUCH SCREEN TABLET WILL HELP WITH READING AND TYPING – – – SINCE YOU CAN STRETCH THE SCREEN TO THE LIMITS. OF THE TABLET AND IT STAYS VERY READABLE – – – ALTHOUGH SCROLLING SIDEWAYS CAN BE ANNOYING.

    AND YOU DON’T HAVE THE TILT-A-SCREEN PROBLEM OF MOST LAPTOPS WHICH DON’T OPEN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLAT-OPEN POSITION.

    AND A TABLET FITS LAPS PRETTY WELL AND IS LIGHTER THAN MOST LAPTOPS – – – CONVENIENT FOR SOMEONE PRETTY MUCH LOCKED INTO THE HEAD DOWN POSITION FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

    AND SOME INEXPENSIVE DRUG STORE READING GLASSES AT THE HIGHEST POWER AVAILABLE WILL MAKE READING THE SCREEN EVEN EASIER.

    THEN ALL YOU NEED IS ONE OF THOSE FUNNY LOOKING HEAD REST THINGS SO YOU DON’T GET A CRICK IN YOUR NECK FROM ALL THAT DOWNWARD LOOKING.

    JUST SOME THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

    AS GILDA RADNER USED TO SAY, “IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING.”

    JH

  14. Hi BB, please take care of yourself! Be praying for your recovery as everyone else is on this blog….what a tremendous show of support! Take it easy my friend!

    Regards,
    Peter

  15. Same thing happened to my late mother about 10 years ago. She had the ocular strap, had to keep head down to keep laser treated retina in place. A pain ,but eventually most if not all of the vision should come back since it was promptly treated. If any one ever starts seeing large floaters ,a curtain effect or flashing lights ,get to a retinal specialist pronto

  16. if it helps you to read comments in caps, then here we are: WISHING YOU A SPEEDY AND COMPLETE RECOVERY. WISH I LIVED CLOSER TO YOU SO I COULD HELP WITH DAILY CHORES YOU HAVE TO SET ASIDE FOR THE TIME BEING. I’LL SAY A “MI SHEBERAKH” FOR YOU (HEALING PRAYER IN HEBREW). YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH HELP IN THESE MATTERS.

    Fred DPRoNJ

  17. THE CAPS LOCK VERY GOOD IDEA ! WHILE YOU ARE CONVALESCING BE CAREFUL NOT TO KNEEL DOWN TO FEED THE CATS. HOPEFULLY THE KITTIES WILL GIVE YOU SOME COMFORT WHILE YOU ARE DOWN. MY WIFE JUST HAD SERIOUS SURGERY AND THEY TOLD HER TO STILL HOLD HER CAT AS IT WAS PART OF HER COMFORT ZONE. BOTH CAT AND WIFE ARE DOING WELL, THANK YOU .
    AGAIN BEST WISHES
    HARVEY

  18. Wow! That’s crazy! So sorry B.B! BEST wishes buddy! Hope you hit 100% in as little time as possible! Remember your body is replacing and repairing nerve tissue throughout your healing process and use a diet specifically designed to enable the repairs. Hope the rest of ya’s good to go! See ya again soon! Take care!

  19. MY APOLOGIES FOR THE EXTENDED ABSENCE TO ALL MY FANS, I’LL BE SPENDING A LOT MORE TIME HERE FROM HERE ON AND MAY EVEN HAVE ANOTHER RECRUIT FOR US ALL!

  20. Is this what it takes to make you take a day off? 🙂 For heaven’s sake don’t worry about us. Glad you are doing so well with the surgery. I know the feeling. I was just diagnosed with a couple holes in my retina. They’re so small that they can be fixed with a laser. Maybe it will be a good idea in future to get regular exams. The doctor only found these by checking extra carefully. Looking forward to hearing about a steady recovery. Just don’t push it too hard.

    Matt61

  21. I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE LIVING THROUGH THE RAPID FIRE MISFORTUNES YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED AND DEALT-WITH IN YOUR LIFE RECENTLY, B.B.. PLEASE ACCEPT MY MOST HEARTFELT CONCERN AND BEST WISHES!

    -CAL

Leave a Comment

Buy With Confidence

  • Free Shipping

    Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

    Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

    View Shipping Info

  • Shipping Time Frame

    We work hard to get all orders placed by 12 pm EST out the door within 24 hours on weekdays because we know how excited you are to receive your order. Weekends and holiday shipping times will vary.

    During busy holidays, we step our efforts to ship all orders as fast as possible, but you may experience an additional 1-2 day delay before your order ships. This may also happen if you change your order during processing.

    View Shipping Times

  • Shipping Restrictions

    It's important to know that due to state and local laws, there are certain restrictions for various products. It's up to you to research and comply with the laws in your state, county, and city. If you live in a state or city where air guns are treated as firearms you may be able to take advantage of our FFL special program.

    U.S. federal law requires that all airsoft guns are sold with a 1/4-inch blaze orange muzzle or an orange flash hider to avoid the guns being mistaken for firearms.

    View Shipping Restrictions

  • Expert Service and Repair

    Get the most out of your equipment when you work with the expert technicians at Pyramyd AIR. With over 25 years of combined experience, we offer a range of comprehensive in-house services tailored to kickstart your next adventure.

    If you're picking up a new air gun, our team can test and tune the equipment before it leaves the warehouse. We can even set up an optic or other equipment so you can get out shooting without the hassle. For bowhunters, our certified master bow technicians provide services such as assembly, optics zeroing, and full equipment setup, which can maximize the potential of your purchase.

    By leveraging our expertise and precision, we ensure that your equipment is finely tuned to meet your specific needs and get you ready for your outdoor pursuits. So look out for our services when shopping for something new, and let our experts help you get the most from your outdoor adventures.

    View Service Info

  • Warranty Info

    Shop and purchase with confidence knowing that all of our air guns (except airsoft) are protected by a minimum 1-year manufacturer's warranty from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted on the product page.

    A warranty is provided by each manufacturer to ensure that your product is free of defect in both materials and workmanship.

    View Warranty Details

  • Exchanges / Refunds

    Didn't get what you wanted or have a problem? We understand that sometimes things aren't right and our team is serious about resolving these issues quickly. We can often help you fix small to medium issues over the phone or email.

    If you need to return an item please read our return policy.

    Learn About Returns

Get FREE shipping on qualifying orders! Any order $150+ with a shipping address in the contiguous US will receive the option for free ground shipping on items sold & shipped by Pyramyd AIR during checkout. Certain restrictions apply.

Free shipping may not be combined with a coupon unless stated otherwise.

View Shipping Info

Text JOIN to 91256 and get $10 OFF Your Next $50+ Order!

* By providing your number above, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs (e.g. cart reminders) to the mobile number used at opt-in from Pyramyd AIR on 91256. Reply with birthday MM/DD/YYYY to verify legal age of 21+ in order to receive texts. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg frequency may vary. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. See Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.