I saw the ophthalmologist today.

[ShazzieB]

I got my dates mixed up the other day; thought my appointment was scheduled for Tuesday, but it was today.

Just to review, I had cataract surgery on my left eye on January 10 and had been frustrated that my vision is taking a while to clear up. He said everything looks good, and I can see steady improvement myself. He said in another week, things should be dramatically different.

Evidently there was some difficulty during the surgery because I was unable to stay completely still. I have only minimal recollection, because I was under sedation at the time, but apparently I was actually KICKING people, including him! He could not have been nicer about the whole thing, but I am SO embarrassed! Of course, I had NO idea I was doing it and no conscious control of my actions, but it's still embarrassing.

In spite of my, err, extraneous movements, the surgery was a complete success, and he managed to get the new lens placed perfectly. But I think there was a little more trauma than usual, which is why my vision is taking a while to clear up. Meanwhile, the surgery on my right eye was originally scheduled for 1/31, but it's on hold for now, which is fine with me.

My biggest concern now, other than getting clear vision in my left eye, is being able to stay completely still and not being aware of anything whenever I have the right eye done. Personally, I think the sedation was too light this time. I've had other procedures done under sedation in the past (including oral surgery and two colonoscopies) with absolutely NO problems, and in all of those other instances, I didn't remember a thing afterwards. That is how I want things to be when I have my second cataract surgery!

[MerryHolidays]

1. If sedation was too light, that's not your fault. The doctors and their staff are trained for this.

I would carefully see how things go in the near future. Hopefully, things will be perfect soon, but today is January 18, 8 days after your surgery.

I've had tons of family and friends having cataract surgery, and AFAIK, they were at the stated lens vision within a few days.

Good luck and best wishes!

[ShazzieB]

4. I plan on having a very serious talk with the anesthesiologist before I have another procedure.

If he doesn't have a plan in place to make sure this doesn't happen again, I won't go through with the second surgery.

[elleng]

2. GLAD the procedure was a succcess!

I'm in Baltimore tonight, awaiting beginning of 'brain surgery,' which I don't like to call it, but have hydrocephalus, that is, 'water on the brain,' so need a stent/shunt to help it drain so I can walk properly. Starts with an MRI @ 10 a.m.

[ShazzieB]

5. Oh, good luck, Ellen!

I hope everything goes perfectly!

[SheltieLover]

6. Healing vibes on the way! 💓💓💓

[rsdsharp]

3. Not the same type of anesthesia, but when my father broke his hip

they thought he was under, and made the initial incision. They found out he wasn’t when he reached out and grabbed the scrub nurse by the ass.

Three years later he coughed all the way through his appendectomy. The surgeon was not pleased, and he gave up his three pack-a-day habit cold turkey.

[SheltieLover]

7. Did you ask the doc about a different type of anesthesia?

I know it's the !nesthesiologost's job, but I'd bet you're not the first person under sedation to kick the doc attacking their eye with a cutting instrument.

Seriously, I cannot force myself to stay still for that blue light glaucoma test. Involuntary.

I'm glad your eye is ok, ShazzieB!

[ShazzieB]

10. I plan on talking to the anesthesiologist about it eventually.

Since he's the expert on that part of it. Will talk to the ophthalmologist about it some more, too, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Right now, I don't even know when the other surgery is going to happen yet.

Those glaucoma tests suck, don't they? They keep doing the one on me where they numb your eye with drops and use an instrument that they put right on the cornea. I've gotten pretty used to it by now!

[Rebl2]

8. When I

had glaucoma surgery and cataract surgery two years ago, I was only momentarily put under so they could numb my eyes. I was awake the rest of the time during the surgery. I remember the whole thing. I was nervous about getting the surgery, but did fine throughout the surgery. With the other eye I wasn’t nervous at all. I had to get them done two weeks apart. Only thing was, with second eye, I got home then developed a bad headache, nausea and pain in my eye. I knew what to do-get back to the doctor right away and they checked the pressure and it was to high so they drained fluid from my eye and I had immediate relief from nausea and eye pain. They had warned me both times before I left the surgery center, if I had any of those symptoms call them and they would get me in right away.