[xMenace]

Surgeon called today and I'm off to Halifax tomorrow for a three day cruise with Dr. Dan. He'll take a peek tomorra and make a decision. I'll push for the pics. He'll do whatever Thur. and follow up Fri. I'll try to post the dets when I get home.

Wish me luck!

[KickStart101]

Hmmm...you Lucky Duck. A cruise sounds Great right about now.
I am wondering how you snuck to the head of the line though.
I certainly wish you the Very best of Luck and my prayers go with
you. Much Success and Safe trip xMenace.

[xMenace]

Can't chat much as I'm on the outlaws' dialup where I'm staying.

Got to eye surgery at the hospital at 615:am this morning. Pre-op was no fun. Chart I saw said 'vitrectomy/membrane/peel.' I was pretty tense and there were a half dozen patients in the room. Every discussion made me want to faint. After they took some blood I laid the chair back and felt better in about five minutes. The nurses had a serious lack of ha-ha, which only made me try harder. The poor things were some glad to see me go

Wheeled me into surgery at 7:50 and I hopped into bed. I told them to put some extra stitches for my halloween costume. Can't wait to freak out the neighbourhood kids with stitches in my eyeball!

They covered my face with a plastic face shield and plugged in the IV. I went pretty mellow right away. I did ask if I'd be able to see anything in my eye as they were torturing me. They said they've only ever had a couple of people tell them they could see anything at all. I was diskapointed because I wanted to watch. They tucked me in tight and said 'we're going into your eye with some delicate instruments. We do not want any movement from you.' I froze solid, but was very relaxed!

The needle went in. It gives you a 30 second ice cream type of headache then the pain goes away. The needle itself was nuthin. I couldn't see it coming and it only felt like a little prick.

The the butcher's knife came! Absolutely no sensation A machine started up in the background and my vision started to look like the inside of my smokey woodstove, really churning. Then I saw it! A huge straight line. The weapon! I later learned it was called a vacumm cutter, or something like that. I could see the clouds being sucked into an eye at the end of it. Then it cleared to where I could see some grey, almost white, retina with black vessels. The weapon was still going. I heard a machine in the background count out minutes -- 'cutter one minute, cutter two minutes, etc.' -- I can't remember the exact words, I was having too much fun watching.

Then I heard the word 'laser' and a nurse say 'it's all ready, 200?' Doc said '300'. zappa-zappa-zappa I lost count at 65. They were green flashes; I could not really pinpoint a light. Then they started to hurt and I tightened. Do then said 'these will sting a bit.' It lasted too long for me, but I can't say exactly how long. I'd guess a minute or two. Then Mr. weapon returned and started vacuuming again. It was a bit clearer this time and I could see little tiny floaters being sucked in.

The came the stitches. I could feel pressure, and I knew by the rythm what he was doing. Felt like 8-12 or so to me.

Peeled the stuf off me and said 'let me help you up.' I was some glad to get that **** pulse thingy off my finger! I sat up, waited a few seconds, and stepped over to the wheelchair.

Doc said in post-op that operating was definately the best thing to do 'you're eye was a mess with a lot of clotting!' He said things went perfectly and he expexts the eye to be in great condition going forward! I hope I said thanks

Anyways, the procedure was nothing to be afeared of. Now comes the rehab. Cya'all on the weekend when I gets home

[Cinnabon]

Originally Posted by xMenace

Can't wait to freak out the neighbourhood kids with stitches in my eyeball!
They covered my face with a plastic face shield and plugged in the IV. I went pretty mellow right away. I did ask if I'd be able to see anything in my eye as they were torturing me. They said they've only ever had a couple of people tell them they could see anything at all. I was diskapointed because I wanted to watch. They tucked me in tight and said 'we're going into your eye with some delicate instruments. We do not want any movement from you.' I froze solid, but was very relaxed!
The needle went in. It gives you a 30 second ice cream type of headache then the pain goes away. The needle itself was nuthin. I couldn't see it coming and it only felt like a little prick.

The the butcher's knife came! Absolutely no sensation A machine started up in the background and my vision started to look like the inside of my smokey woodstove, really churning. Then I saw it! A huge straight line. The weapon! I later learned it was called a vacumm cutter, or something like that. I could see the clouds being sucked into an eye at the end of it. Then it cleared to where I could see some grey, almost white, retina with black vessels. The weapon was still going. I heard a machine in the background count out minutes -- 'cutter one minute, cutter two minutes, etc.' -- I can't remember the exact words, I was having too much fun watching.

Glad its over!!!
I was one of the few that did get to see it all.

Let us know when U can!!

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by KickStart101

Hmmm...you Lucky Duck. A cruise sounds Great right about now.
I am wondering how you snuck to the head of the line though.
I certainly wish you the Very best of Luck and my prayers go with
you. Much Success and Safe trip xMenace.

We were discussing at dinner tonight how lucky I was to get in early because teh Nova Scotia non-medical health care workers are threatening to strike. I suspect Doc moved his critical patients up. Everyone today seemed to have something major happenning. Maybe that's typical¿

This day 1 of recovery is no picnic! like someone poked me in the eye with a stick and the tearing won't subside. I squezzed the bridge of my nose when the wife put the first drops in. I swear the eye squirted out tears when I did that. Sleeping in my back with at least three pillows is not my idea of rest. Lets hope the next few days see great improvements

[BriOnH]

Gald it is over for your too!!! You and Mars are both troopers!!

[Mich]

Hi X,

Glad you're home and it's all over. By now, you've probably discovered the value of a bag of crushed ice wrapped in a washcloth. Got me through any discomfort. Since I had a gas bubble, I had to keep my nose down for a week.

I'm offically (today) at the three week mark. Up and about but still using drops. Eye looks fairly normal (except someone cut my eyelashes off with scissors just before they started) and feels fairly normal. Vision is clearing well, it was foggy at first.

See what you have to look forward to? Yay for modern medicine & my best to you. PS Hooray for your wife too, I know how much my husband helped me in that first few days. Mich

[liz32]

glad it all went well. I didn't realize there was someone else here from Nova Scotia. It's such a small world.
Liz

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by liz32

glad it all went well. I didn't realize there was someone else here from Nova Scotia. It's such a small world.
Liz

New Brunswick. Dr. Dan does all of us Maritimers.

Day 2 has been much better. Foggy sight but swelling is way down. I credit those 600mg ibuphrophen they gave me. Biggest irritation are the stitches. Feels like a hair stuck in my eye I can't get out. Follow-up was routine. Said if I get through the first year I should have another 15-20 good ones. *sigh*

Slept fairly well. They said three pillows. Slept in the car about half the 5 hr drive home.

Sugars have been pretty high. Took tons of extra bolus and struggled getting them under 12(metric, multiply by 20?). Was 12 at BF today, took six units adjustment, ate 35 carbs, and bolused 14. I finally got down to 9.5 mid morn. My normal am ratio is 3.3u/10gms

Here's a question: I want to see the stitches in the side of my eye but I can't. I can show others but I can't see them myself. What configuration of mirrors do I need?

It's 8:30 pm now. Having a little glass of wine to celebrate (Doc said I could) and have both eyes open. The brat has a hockey game tomorrow, but my wife won't let me go. Says if I burst a vessel, I'll have to get down there myself to get it cleaned out again. Grrrr. She's prolly right *sigh*

I thanked Dr. Dan today and shook his hand. Never thanked a Dr. before.

Rock on people!

[xMenace]

BTW, it was the 31st anniversary of my leaving the hospital the first time.

[KickStart101]

Hi xMence:

Welcome back. Thank you for the detailed report of your
Vitrectomy/membrane/peel. I don't know how you can say "the
procedure was nothing to be afeared of". Believe me, "I'd be
afeared". I'd probably take the cruise but I'd go visit Liz instead.

I'm Happy to hear that you are getting your sugars down. As
you know, that's important in healing properly and sooner.

That was Good of Dr. Dan to put the critical Patients ahead in line
due to the possible strike. Good for you.

Did you figure out the mirror puzzle? If I understand you properly,
all you have to do is: place a smaller mirror on the side of face with
the eye with the stitches and slowly angle it towards the bigger mirror
on the wall 'til you can see the stitches.

Happy 31th Anniversary of celebrating Life with Diabetes. ongrats.
Love your sense of humour also.

Oh, your Wifey is Right. Be nice to your eyes. Hopefully you'll feel better
and will be able to see alot more soon.

[xMenace]

TYVM

It's easy to do the right things with people like you around.:****mate:

I never asked him if he did move me because of that. I won't put him on the spot like that. At least one other was bumped up too tho. I'm just happy he did.

I won't say I wasn't scared. I was actually very terrified and nauseous in pre-op. But the procedure itself was really a breeze. Of course it's the drugs they pump into you. I've never felt so relaxed.

I found holding the mirror in my right hand and adjusting my view to the wall mirror works best. But my vision is too blurry to see them clearly. OMG ... I could get someone to take a picture!

Unfortunately for all of you I am going to be on here daily menacing everyone

[xMenace]

Just found out a friend of mine got the same thing done with the same doctor 2 days before me. We passed each other on the highway. Small world.

[KickStart101]

Originally Posted by xMenace

TYVM
It's easy to do the right things with people like you around.:****mate:
I won't say I wasn't scared. I was actually very terrified and nauseous in pre-op. But the procedure itself was really a breeze. Of course it's the drugs they pump into you.

[quote=xMenace;156006]OMG ... I could get someone to take a picture!
QUOTE]

Hey xMenace:

Yes, you could get someone to take it. Now why didn't you think
of that.

Well, TY, TYVM. Yes, there are loads of Very Nice People here
and you happen to be one of them. Hum....don't forget...your
name is "xMenace".

I'm certainly glad that your Dr. bumped you up for whatever
reason.

Egads! What did they do to you pre-op? I must have missed that one.

A small world for sure. Did your Friend's procedure go okay?

[xMenace]

I don't know. I haven't contacted her yet. I really should, shouldn't I.

Saw my local optho today for my first follow up. He said my vision is remarkably good, the best he's seen this soon after. He said the insides look great too and said it looks like a permanent fix for at least 20 years.

He said I also have to stay quiet for the full six weeks which means no work. I told him the surgeon said I could go back after 2, but he said I should stay off. The risks from bleeding and scar tissue are too high. I didn't even want to go there, and I had no argument anyway. grrrrr!

I was very pleased, but I am grumpy that I'm still stuck at home. I think I'll find someone I can go menace