Cataract Surgery #2

Three weeks after the first, getting the second one done.
Since there was a lot of srcatchiness and wateriness in the eye after the first surgery, I decided to try a "block" in the second eye.  In this approach, they inject a local anesthetic that deadens the area all around the eye, preventing the eye muscles from moving the eyeball.  Then I would go home with a patch on the eye and wear it until the next day.  This "should" make the initial 24 hours more comfortable.
The surgerystarted early inthe day and went about the same as the other, but I was a lot more relaxed since I had less feeling than the last time.  At my request, he explained each step as he went through the process.  Due to the mild dose of Versed in my drip, I have spotty recollection of the whole process.
Immediately afterwards, I was a lot more comfortable since my eye was still numb and I had the patch on.  However, after a few hours, the numbness wore of gradually and the patch proved to be somewhat of a nuisance.  My eye was opening and moving under the patch.  It wasn't painful at all, just aggravating.   But I stuck it out until the next day.
The checkup on the next morning went well - so far it was looking good!

Shoulder Surgery #2 - Starting PT

Today I started physical therapy.  It wasn't much, mostly an interview, some range of motion tests, and a few simple passive motions.  But its a start!

Unfortunately, my PT will be on hiatus for the next 5 days due to Cataract surgery #2.  After the surgery, there is no strenuous activity for 5 days.

Shoulder surgery #2 - 3 weeks

I went for a 3-week checkup today.  All the doc could do was to twist and tug my arm a little to test my range of motion and ask how I felt.  He said that my range of motion was beter than most others at this point in the healing period and he cleared me to begin physical therapy.

For the initial therapy, it will be simply passive range of motion and assisted active range of motion.  This is described in a post for a few years ago: Post from Shoulder Surgery 1

I will do this for three weeks, then return for another checkup and assessment for the next steps.

Cataract Surgery - Appreciating clearer vision

For the last few days, I have been comparing sight between my left (corrected) and right (cataract) eyes.   Its all still pretty amazing to me.
Looking through the left, whites seem whiter and colors seem more vivid and crisp.  Its like the comparison between analog and HD TV - better picture.  The interesting part is, you don't really realize it until you have the first eye done. 
When I look through the right (cataract) eye, everything looks filtered and takes on a faint yellowish hue - kind of like a bad TV picture.  On top of that, the right eye is blurry again due to the constantly progressing cataract.
A few nights ago, I was watching a TV show with doctors and noticed that the color of their white jackets changed as I brought my hand up to scratch my nose.  When I brought my hand up on the right side, my left eye took dominance and the jackets looked pure white.  When my hand was on the left side, the right eye took dominance and the jackets looked yellowish.  When I removed my hand from line of sight, the jackets looked only slightly yellowish, the overlaying of the 2 images within the brain.  It was pretty amazing how my brain blended the 2 different views into a single image.

So, these remaining few days, I am appreciating the difference that the new lenses make, since after Wednesday I will no longer be able to make the comparison.  And whites will be truly white!

Cataract Surgery 1 - 2 weeks

Had a checkup today - both a post-op and a pre-op.  The post op was to check the progress of the healing of the first lens replacement.  The pre-op was to use the results of the post-op to determine how to proceed with the second surgery. 
In a quick refraction test, my distance vision in the left (corrected eye) is 20-20 and my reading vision is the equivalent of 20-40 (not clear on that since I thought the 20-20 was a distance measurement).  But, this mans that the calculations made for the left eye were pretty spot on.  He did warn that, over time, this could (and might) change.  For the near vision, it could take many months for my eye/brain to learn to make use of the accommodating lens for near vision.
His current thinking is that, for the right eye, we shold go with a little less strength in the distance correction in order to give a little more preference to mid/near vision.  Its not a whole lot of difference, but it would allow the right eye a little better accommodation to mid vision while the left would better serve my for distance.  And the brain would work it all out.  Fascinating!
We also discussed the possibility of using a nerve block on my eye for the second surgery.  This would essentially numb my entire eye and all the muscles around my eye , using lidocaine and something else.  I would have to wear a patch for the day and it would eliminate all the discomfort that I felt the entire first day.  The downside - I would not get the instant gratification of seeing out of that eye until later in the day.  Still thinking about whether I want to do that.

Cataract Surgery - a video

Here is a video of how the procedure is performed.

You Tube video of Cataract Surgery

Its only appropriate (for me) that he uses a peanut M&M analogy!

Cataract Surgery - 10 days

I seem to be adapting to the lens better everyday.  My distance vision seems pretty good, better than the other eye.  But I still need glasses for reading small print, as expected for this soon after surgery. 
Patience!
Most of the optical distortions are gradually subsiding - not sure whether I am adapting to them or they are going away.  However, I still see one strange thing when I am in stores with overhead flourescent lighting -  I see really annoyingoptical distortions in the periphery of my field of vision.  Its like a thin band of flickering light.  I am hoping this will also go away soon.

Shoulder Surgery 2 - 2 weeks

Made it to the 2-week mark with very little pain or hardship.  Yesterday, I was starting to feel some achiness in my shoulder and at the base of my neck, but I suspect that is from hunching to protect my shoulder/arm when not wearing the sling.  I am thinking about getting a chair massage to work on that area for a little relief.
Otherwise, its going well.  Still just got to be patient for another week - my 3- week checkup.

Shoulder Surgery 2 - 10 Days

Another day in the sling and with limited use of my arm...  blah, blah, blah..... its going to be a long few weeks until rehab begins.
I am beginning to feel assorted dull pains in the muscles asounr the shoulder above the point of the surgery.  I am assuming this is partly due to mucsle atrophy, partly due to trying to protect the shoulder by keeping my upper arm locked into my side when using my lower arm.  Regardless, this brings back memories of when I went through this with my right shoulder.
So it seems that I am on track toward recovery.
Nonetheless, its silll going to be a LONG summer of recovery.  But I will make up for that this fall!

Cataract Surgery - 1 week

A very good day, indeed!  
Went for a second post-op checkup and the Dr said that things were looking really good.  The lens placement looked good, the swelling was subsiding well, and overall things were looking good.  My vision was testing well also.  He seemed to be visibly enthusiastic about the progress. 
I mentioned that I am seeing some optical distortion in the periphery of my vision, and he pointed out that my eyes were still a little dialated, which could cause that since I might be catching some images outside of the lens itself.
He suggested that this weekend I start trying to read without reading glasses (up until now I was reading ONLY with glasses so that my eyes did not try to adjust using hte muscles).  This should start "exercising" the eye muscles that work to focus our natural lens, and now my artificial lens.

At home, I have been doing left/right eye-to-eye comparisons using some simple tests and, so far, the new lens is already providing better vision than the unrepaired eye.  I can see distance better and colors seem more vivid with the new lens.

This evening, I did another night vision test using a street lamp a few doors down.  Right after the surgery, I was seeing strange-shaped rings and halos and starbursts.  But tonight, the strang rings were gone, and the halos were significantly reduced, even less than in the right eye (still with cataract).  And the starbursts were almost gone.  It appears that the healing is making great progress.

Its all looking really promising.  Looking forward to reading this weekend to see how that goes....

Cataract Surgery - Day 5

Its been 5 days now and the healing process has been slower than I expected.  Every day, the optical distortions around the peripherl seem a little less, but its really difficult to tell.  In general, I can see well through the eye, but my combined vision through both eyes still seems strange and not balanced.  Its difficult to describe.
My near vision is pretty poor and is really a strain on my eyes.  I have to wear reading glasses for both reading and computer work.  I have tried several strengths, from 1.0 to 1.25 to 2.0, and nothing seems quite right. There always seems to be some kind of distortion, and not only in the repaired eye.
But I try to continue to be patient, since the Dr said it will take time to heal.

Shoulder Surgery 2 - 1 week

Its been one week and all seems to be going well.  I have not experienced any pain except for a little bit upon waking one morning.  Other than that, its been a pretty smooth post-surgical recovery.  I am only wearing the sling when I leave the house and when I sleep.
I have not exercised in over a week and I am now getting kind of twitchy to burn off some energy.  But, due to the cataract surgery, I must avoid strenuous activity for 5 days after the procedure.
So I will wait until sometime next week to start - even then, all I can really do it a recumbent cycle at the gym.  But at least that is something!

Cataract Surgery Day 2

I awoke to a little less pain, but still the same optical distortion, although its a little less obvious during daylight.
I went to the opthalmologist for a post op checkup.   He said that the lens appeared to be seated well, but I was still showing signs of inflamation and edema (swelling due to trapped fluid).  He said the eye pressure was a little higher than normal, but thats to be expected due to the trauma of the surgery.
He also said that the optical distortions (ghosting, halos) were common, due to the inflammation and edema.  These should subside after several days.
I am putting 3 types of drops into my eyes four times a day:  1) a steriod, 2) a NSAID, and 3) an antibiotic.  I will continue these for another 2 days to aid in the healing process.
In the meantime, I must be patient and follow the healing instructions - no strenuous activities for 5 days and no bending my head below my heart for 2 days.
The pain is pretty much gone, so not I just need to take it easy and wait.
Patience!
I am still a little concerned, but trying to be optimistic - cautiously optimistic!
The power of positive thinking!

My Bionic Eye - Cataract Surgery 1

Today was the day for the BIG LEAP - lens replacement surgery to replace a cataract lens in my left eye.  This is by far the scariest surgery I have experienced, since my eyesight is at stake!
I arrived at the surgery center at 8 and was informed that the doctor was ahead of schedule and was waiting for me.  Imagine that, a doctor waiting for a patient.  There was no waiting for me - I was expedited through the paperwork while a nurse put drops into my eyes and then whisked into pre-op.  The doctor met me there for a brief final discussion on which lens I would choose.  He recapped what we discussed previously about Crystalens and I confirmed that I would stay with my original decision for Crystalens.  After donning the surgical garb and getting poked and prodded a bit, I was wheeled into the the operating room.
For anesthesia, I was given lidocaine in the eye and a mild drip of versed, not enough to knock me out, but just to calm me down.  I really could not tell whether it was working, but I guess it did.

The surgery began by them taping over my eye to keep it still, then I was instructed to stare at the overhead light.  Once he started working on my eye, my sight and memory became a bit blurry.  I recall the sensation of pressure and motion on and around my eye and I kept staring at the lights, which had turned into to marshmallow-looking shapes on a black background that kept moving around - all sort of abstract.  Then he said something about inserting the lens and the shapes changed.  I could see something moving across my field vision - it looked sort of clear, but fuzzy.  Then it was all over.

In recovery, my left eye was feeling scratchy and watering a lot.  When I opened it, everything was pretty blurry, but colors seemed much brighter and vibrant that what I could see with my right eye.

I was on my way home by 10am.  On the way home, we stopped at the opthalmologist's office to get a contact lens for my right eye, so that my vision would be balanced when I drove back to the office tomorrow for my post-op visit.

The rest of the day I spent at home, resting.  My eye felt scratchy most of the afternoon and watered a lot, even through the evening.  The vision quality in the left eye is still quite blurry.  I can see well for distance vision, but there is a double image or ghosting effect that makes everything blurry.  This is one of the many possible side effects to the surgery that "should" go away over time.  I certainly hope so, because it is very annoying.

When I went outside at night, I noticed that the halos around streetlights and headlamps are different now.  Instead of a consistent halo/starburst circle around lights, I am now seeing irregular shapes (like a badly drawn circle) around the lights - I am guessing this is another manifestation of ghosting.

Its very disconcerting now, but I am trying to stay positive that this will all go away after a good nights rest to help me recover from the trauma of the surgery.

Shoulder surgery 2, day 5

Another good night of sleep - on the recliner!   So far, it has been a suprisingly painless recovery process.  Granted, I am taking some pain meds, but last night I only took 1 hydrocodone and 2 Motrin PM.
I do feel a little stiff and achy when I wake up, but there is not any pain when my arm is in a rested position in the sling.
However, I do feel the stiffness and some minor pain when I do my one shoulder exercise, the pendulum.  But I expect that.

Shoulder surgery 2, day 4

Last night was yet another night of great sleep.  This time I dialed down the meds - only 1 hydrocodone and 2 Motrin PM.  I was back to work today, from home, so that would require me to use a computer. Also, my angels are now gone, so I will have to do things for myself.
It was a slow day at work, which was good.
But by the end of the day, my shoulder was noticeably sore - the most sore its been since the surgery.
No doubt, due to the increased activity level and using my arm more, albeit very careful not to use the shoulder muscles.

Shoulder Surgery 2 - Post-Op Checkup

I went to the orthopedist for a checkup today, 3 days after the surgery.  He removed the stitches and explained what he had done during the surgery, showing me pictures taken during the process.
He told me it was OK to be moving my elbow to keep it from getting stiff and recommended that I start doing a simple shoulder exercise, called the "pendulum" exercise. 

Codman ("Pendulum") Exercises
These exercises are specifically designed to allow for motion of the shoulder but without any active muscle stimulation by the patient, Pendulum exercises are typically performed with the torso bent slightly forward, allowing the arm to hang away from the body. Movement of the upper body causes the arm to gently swing, much the same as a clock pendulum. The motions are usually circular, beginning with very small diameter rotations and gradually enlarging them.
Pendulum exercises help maintain joint lubrication and to lessen the risks for post-operative adhesion formation
http://www.livestrong.com/article/215329-pendulum-swing-exercises-for-rotator-cuffs/


Pictures taken during surgery

Shoulder surgery 2, day 3

Last night was another great night of sleep, though again aided by drugs - 2 hydrocodone, 2 Motrin PM and 1 flexeril (muscle relaxer).  I took the muscle relaxer because I noticed during the evening that my muscles were starting to get twitchy from lack of my usual physical activity. 
Another day of cooking, napping, and a couple of fun diversions.  And still no real pain in the shoulder.
I am certain that it helped a lot that I had 2 people helping me with anything that required 2 hands and flexibility.

Shoulder Surgery 2, day 2

I slept soundly last night, but then again, I had help from 2 hydrocodone and 2 motrin PM.
I felt pretty good that morning, actually, all day.  I never really felt any pain all day, just a little discomfort.

My Angels!

After the surgery, I was fortunate enough to have 2 good climbing friends come over to take care of me for the weekend.  Brigitte and Alx showed up after work on Friday and stayed with me for the better part of the weekend, taking occasional breaks to work out or run errands.  They cooked and filled my frig with food to last me over a week.  They drove me around, took me to a festival to see Brave Combo play, and even took me to get my first pedicure as a surprise.
It was great weekend (despite the surgery) and actually a lot of fun.  And there wasn't any rock climbing involved!
I could not ask for better friends.

Shoulder Surgery - Again!

Today was round 2 of shoulder surgery.  This time the left shoulder.
It was pretty much the same routine as last time.
Checked in to Baylor Hospital at Uptown at 8 am, in surgery by 10, out around noon.
This time I had a longer chat with the anesthesiologist about the anesthesia.  At first, he said he was not going to do a "block" on my arm, but I requested that it be done.  The "block" is basically the equivalent of an epidural for the arm.  They probe the shoulder to find the nerve using an electrode on a needle - when the hand twitches, they found the nerve.  Then they inject it with lidocaine.
After the surgery, my arm was almost completely numb except for some sensations in the fingers.  It lasted for around 15 hours.  I was still slightly numb when I went to sleep that night.

What a pane!

I am trying to get ready for surgery tomorrow, and I come home to this:

Luckily, its just the outer pane, but still needs to be addressed.

Beneficial Nematodes (Flea Eaters)

As one approach to addressing the flea problem, I have bought a container of "beneficial nematodes" from a local garden center.  I will apply these to the lawn in the hopes that they will help kill some of the flea larvae that are in the lawn.