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!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, May 7, 2012
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.
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
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
Sunday, May 6, 2012
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.
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.
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