FormerDoormat....good luck on Wednesday!
Wipe your paws elsewhere!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,672
Thanks everyone. I had an appointment with my cardiologist today. Had to get the "all clear" to make sure it's safe for me to have anesthesia. Then I had to get my pre-op bloodwork drawn at the hospital. So I spent my holiday running around in the car (a 110 mile commute). I decided to take the opportunity to stop by my favorite store--Pottery Barn and do a little shopping before heading home.
Even though I've been given the all-clear, I'm still a bit anxious about the procedure. But I won't let fear keep me from living the life I want to live. I spent way too many years doing that.
Thank you so much for the well wishes.
Even though I've been given the all-clear, I'm still a bit anxious about the procedure. But I won't let fear keep me from living the life I want to live. I spent way too many years doing that.
Thank you so much for the well wishes.
CindeRella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Spreading my wings
Posts: 7,163
Everything will be fine 
How could it not be with so many prayers and loving thoughts being sent your way from your other FAMILY!
Prayers and Love FD!
How could it not be with so many prayers and loving thoughts being sent your way from your other FAMILY!
Prayers and Love FD!
Wipe your paws elsewhere!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,672
Well, I'm all fixed and back home already. I just wanted to say thank you again for all your well wishes and share a lesson that I learned today.
I had been dreading having this procedure done for weeks because it required me to be awake so that the surgeon could reposition my eyelids and make sure they were even with those on my healthy eye. Needless to say, having someone working on my eye with a scapel in hand while I was awake scared me to no end and my pre-surgical anxiety level was through the roof.
There was some discomfort during the awake phase of the procedure, but other than a few moments of intense pain here and there, what I mostly felt was intense pressure, to the point of discomfort, but it was not unbearable. A nice nurse stayed by my side and held my hand during the entire surgery.
So today's lesson is that, as usual, I found that my fear of the unknown was out of proportion to reality.
Tonight I have no visible incision or stitches (they're under my eyelids and will dissolve on their own) and very little pain, just a seriously swollen and badly bruised eye, and a bit of blurry vision.
My surgeon did find that my tear duct had been destroyed by the infection and she was unable to correct it. She referred me to John Hopkins University where I will be given an artificial tear duct in the form of a glass tube that will be inserted in the corner of my eye through my nose--leaving me again with no scarring. And this surgery will be done while I'm asleep. So, I have no fears about that--at least for now.
And should I become anxious as the next surgery date looms closer, I'll just reflect back on my experience today and remind myself that my fears of the uknown are generally way out of proportion with reality.
I had been dreading having this procedure done for weeks because it required me to be awake so that the surgeon could reposition my eyelids and make sure they were even with those on my healthy eye. Needless to say, having someone working on my eye with a scapel in hand while I was awake scared me to no end and my pre-surgical anxiety level was through the roof.
There was some discomfort during the awake phase of the procedure, but other than a few moments of intense pain here and there, what I mostly felt was intense pressure, to the point of discomfort, but it was not unbearable. A nice nurse stayed by my side and held my hand during the entire surgery.
So today's lesson is that, as usual, I found that my fear of the unknown was out of proportion to reality.
Tonight I have no visible incision or stitches (they're under my eyelids and will dissolve on their own) and very little pain, just a seriously swollen and badly bruised eye, and a bit of blurry vision.
My surgeon did find that my tear duct had been destroyed by the infection and she was unable to correct it. She referred me to John Hopkins University where I will be given an artificial tear duct in the form of a glass tube that will be inserted in the corner of my eye through my nose--leaving me again with no scarring. And this surgery will be done while I'm asleep. So, I have no fears about that--at least for now.
And should I become anxious as the next surgery date looms closer, I'll just reflect back on my experience today and remind myself that my fears of the uknown are generally way out of proportion with reality.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,358
I'm glad to hear that you are back home, and the level of discomfort was manageable. I'm also glad you will be asleep for the next procedure. I too would have trouble being awake with someone working around my eyes. How did you keep from blinking? I would have blinked just because they told me not to...that's just me being me though, LOL!
Hope you have a good night's rest tonight!
Hope you have a good night's rest tonight!
Wipe your paws elsewhere!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,672
I found that opening my eye on command and blinking took a lot of effort. Whether that was due to swelling, the local pain injections, or some apparatus used during the surgery I actually don't know. I avoided looking in the overhead mirror because I was afraid of seeing something nasty.
I'm so relieved that it's over. I can't tell you how comforting it was to know that everyone on SR was sending me good wishes.
I'm so relieved that it's over. I can't tell you how comforting it was to know that everyone on SR was sending me good wishes.
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