(no subject)
The more I learn, the more I realize these upcoming strabismus surgeries are going to be a breeze. After having bone removed from my skull 3 times in one year, I'm SO not worried about pain that is managed with ibuprofen eye drops.
I'm a little freaked out by the tweaking-the-sutures process, and feel my eyeball being tugged upon through the muscles, but again... compared to sinus debridement... so I'll sit and do choo-choo breathing for a few minutes, while hopped up on some ativan. Not a problem.
5 months, at most, until single vision.
The first surgery will correct up-down and right-left. The second will correct torque (rotation). So I won't have single vision after the first surgery, however my eyes will *look* aligned and centered.
Apparently, the eyelid droop will likely get even worse. *That* surgery will be early next spring, or maybe as early as February. I hear tell the recovery on that one is actually kinda painful but again - I can't imagine it's worse than bilateral orbital decompression. I needed 3 days of a morphine drip. They can do the eyelid surgery under light anesthesia although because I freak out and am a great big baby, I'm getting general... although I'd probably need general no matter what because (as usual) I have complications.
It's really comforting to know that my surgeon usually operates on children. She used to much more delicate spaces on much more precious patients. She's the most sought after strabismus surgeon in the state, and I get her because I'm an interesting teaching case, presenting with the most severe of potential symptoms of Grave's Eye Disease.
She said she'll be placing permanent sutures, too, to help keep everything in place if I should flare badly. I wonder if I'll feel them, or if they'll take any getting used to.
Mostly, I hope the second surgery is a success. The first is almost assuredly going to work because they have all sorts of ways to measure and tweak for up-down and right-left. The rotation, though, is more difficult to assess and perfect, and that's the one that might take a redo if I don't have single vision afterwards.
It's all very exciting. Finally some good news. And a surgery that's scheduled and not on some emergency basis. And every reason to let myself get the rest my body is insisting upon. And a near future with acceptable vision.
I am so grateful.
I'm a little freaked out by the tweaking-the-sutures process, and feel my eyeball being tugged upon through the muscles, but again... compared to sinus debridement... so I'll sit and do choo-choo breathing for a few minutes, while hopped up on some ativan. Not a problem.
5 months, at most, until single vision.
The first surgery will correct up-down and right-left. The second will correct torque (rotation). So I won't have single vision after the first surgery, however my eyes will *look* aligned and centered.
Apparently, the eyelid droop will likely get even worse. *That* surgery will be early next spring, or maybe as early as February. I hear tell the recovery on that one is actually kinda painful but again - I can't imagine it's worse than bilateral orbital decompression. I needed 3 days of a morphine drip. They can do the eyelid surgery under light anesthesia although because I freak out and am a great big baby, I'm getting general... although I'd probably need general no matter what because (as usual) I have complications.
It's really comforting to know that my surgeon usually operates on children. She used to much more delicate spaces on much more precious patients. She's the most sought after strabismus surgeon in the state, and I get her because I'm an interesting teaching case, presenting with the most severe of potential symptoms of Grave's Eye Disease.
She said she'll be placing permanent sutures, too, to help keep everything in place if I should flare badly. I wonder if I'll feel them, or if they'll take any getting used to.
Mostly, I hope the second surgery is a success. The first is almost assuredly going to work because they have all sorts of ways to measure and tweak for up-down and right-left. The rotation, though, is more difficult to assess and perfect, and that's the one that might take a redo if I don't have single vision afterwards.
It's all very exciting. Finally some good news. And a surgery that's scheduled and not on some emergency basis. And every reason to let myself get the rest my body is insisting upon. And a near future with acceptable vision.
I am so grateful.