This is the final catch up post.
I was able to have a month's holiday leave over Christmas. It was fantastic not having to stare into a bright screen for four weeks.
The hiccup with the stitches has meant that I believe I am behind in my recovery. However, each day I am feeling much better.
I don't think my vision in the grafted eye has improved all that much. Let's just say it is probably about the same as my eye without a gas permeable contact lense.
I have quite a lot of headaches from eyestrain.
I am still finding sitting at a computer for long periods a problem.
But I have growing optimism each week. Keep you posted.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Back on Track (2) continued
When I got home after my post surgical check up my husband was shocked by my blackened eye.
The local had come at a cost. After the needle in the hand to send my off to dreamland a needle was placed near my eye to deaden the area.
Apart from the odd stares the recovery was so much easier.
Wherever I went I felt I needed to explain to people that I had eye surgery.
With friends I made light of it.
"If you think I look bad, you should see my husband," I joked one day. Immediately, I thought that was in pretty bad taste for anyone who was a battered wife.
I commented to a friend how awful it must be trying to go about your business if you were a battered wife.
"If you were a battered wife you would probably stay home," she offered.
After a few weeks the bruise disappeared.
I continued on the drops.
The vision at that point, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, wasn't that great but the comfort levels so much better. Also I had become used to managing with the compromised vision.
My specialist said I was legally able to drive but I did not feel comfortable doing that.
It meant we walked a bit more which did not hurt anyone. I also meant I was able to get helpful friends to ferry the kids to their various activities.
Just before Christmas I started doing short little trips in my neighborhood. I wondered how people would manage if they actually had to drive distances to work and for their work.
I am lucky that I live very close to my workplace and much of my activity is deliberately centred around my suburb.
Not long after the second surgery my specialist commented that I had a loose stitch. I was causing some irritation and while he wanted to keep it in place for as long as possible he needed to make sure it was not annoying me.
Finally, on a visit just before Christmas he told me he would flick out the stitch.
I had to put my chin on the support and stare towards the ceiling, scared stiff that I might blink. I was super nervous.
He used some surgical tools to cut it out.
At a follow up visit I commented to him that sitting there as he cut it out was one of the most nerve wracking experiences of my life. He said the rest of the stitches, when the time came, would be removed in that same manner. Ouch.
The local had come at a cost. After the needle in the hand to send my off to dreamland a needle was placed near my eye to deaden the area.
Apart from the odd stares the recovery was so much easier.
Wherever I went I felt I needed to explain to people that I had eye surgery.
With friends I made light of it.
"If you think I look bad, you should see my husband," I joked one day. Immediately, I thought that was in pretty bad taste for anyone who was a battered wife.
I commented to a friend how awful it must be trying to go about your business if you were a battered wife.
"If you were a battered wife you would probably stay home," she offered.
After a few weeks the bruise disappeared.
I continued on the drops.
The vision at that point, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, wasn't that great but the comfort levels so much better. Also I had become used to managing with the compromised vision.
My specialist said I was legally able to drive but I did not feel comfortable doing that.
It meant we walked a bit more which did not hurt anyone. I also meant I was able to get helpful friends to ferry the kids to their various activities.
Just before Christmas I started doing short little trips in my neighborhood. I wondered how people would manage if they actually had to drive distances to work and for their work.
I am lucky that I live very close to my workplace and much of my activity is deliberately centred around my suburb.
Not long after the second surgery my specialist commented that I had a loose stitch. I was causing some irritation and while he wanted to keep it in place for as long as possible he needed to make sure it was not annoying me.
Finally, on a visit just before Christmas he told me he would flick out the stitch.
I had to put my chin on the support and stare towards the ceiling, scared stiff that I might blink. I was super nervous.
He used some surgical tools to cut it out.
At a follow up visit I commented to him that sitting there as he cut it out was one of the most nerve wracking experiences of my life. He said the rest of the stitches, when the time came, would be removed in that same manner. Ouch.
Back on Track (2)
Well, it is now more than four months since my last post.
Sounds like a confession.
Why? you might ask>
Lots of reasons.
There was a level of despondency and a sense that if I couldn't say something positive I best not say anything at all.
Things went a bit pear-shaped and as they started to improve the Holiday/Christmas season swung into action.
There also were technical difficulties. My PC died and working on a netbook, with sight compromised, was tricky.
Excuses over.
After my last post I fumbled along in a haze of trying to do the usual home/kids/work life balance in between administering regular doses of Prednefrin Forte drops, Chlorisig drops and ointment and various other lubricants.
Keeping the drops schedule is fine when you are home and can get to the fridge but once back leaving the drops at work or at home became a problem. Given they have a shelf life of 28 days and cost $20 for 10ml I didn't want two bottles on the go at once.
The eye remained uncomfortable and in November my specialist decided to do a bit of repair work.
I was due into surgery at around 1pm, having fasted from the previous night. I could have killed for a cup of tea.
I was less anxious this time.
I said my goodbyes to my husband, knowing this would be a quicker procedure. Once in surgery the familiar anaethetist arrived. "How about if we have a local instead of a general this time?" he suggested.
Caught on the spot, I said OK.
It was surreal to be semi-awake during the surgery. I could hear the familiar voice of my surgeon, instructing the nurse to pass the surgical equipment.
I awoke feeling far fresher than I had from the general.
I happily devoured the offered sandwiches, questioning the nurse as to whether I would have had them after my last procedure. She said they were always offered. I had no recollection.
The next day I was dropped at my surgeons for a post-op check up.
He removed the eye pad. "You have a bit of a bruise," he warned.
I then headed home, It was not too far from home and my eye immediately felt so much more comfortable.
I had 17 stitches. He had undone some of the stitches, tightening the graft. I now had 20 stitches.
That sunny last Spring day I felt I had a bit of a spring in my step.
Sounds like a confession.
Why? you might ask>
Lots of reasons.
There was a level of despondency and a sense that if I couldn't say something positive I best not say anything at all.
Things went a bit pear-shaped and as they started to improve the Holiday/Christmas season swung into action.
There also were technical difficulties. My PC died and working on a netbook, with sight compromised, was tricky.
Excuses over.
After my last post I fumbled along in a haze of trying to do the usual home/kids/work life balance in between administering regular doses of Prednefrin Forte drops, Chlorisig drops and ointment and various other lubricants.
Keeping the drops schedule is fine when you are home and can get to the fridge but once back leaving the drops at work or at home became a problem. Given they have a shelf life of 28 days and cost $20 for 10ml I didn't want two bottles on the go at once.
The eye remained uncomfortable and in November my specialist decided to do a bit of repair work.
I was due into surgery at around 1pm, having fasted from the previous night. I could have killed for a cup of tea.
I was less anxious this time.
I said my goodbyes to my husband, knowing this would be a quicker procedure. Once in surgery the familiar anaethetist arrived. "How about if we have a local instead of a general this time?" he suggested.
Caught on the spot, I said OK.
It was surreal to be semi-awake during the surgery. I could hear the familiar voice of my surgeon, instructing the nurse to pass the surgical equipment.
I awoke feeling far fresher than I had from the general.
I happily devoured the offered sandwiches, questioning the nurse as to whether I would have had them after my last procedure. She said they were always offered. I had no recollection.
The next day I was dropped at my surgeons for a post-op check up.
He removed the eye pad. "You have a bit of a bruise," he warned.
I then headed home, It was not too far from home and my eye immediately felt so much more comfortable.
I had 17 stitches. He had undone some of the stitches, tightening the graft. I now had 20 stitches.
That sunny last Spring day I felt I had a bit of a spring in my step.
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