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Eyes Trabeculectomy operations update

Thank you for all the replies. This is a one-day visit as the left eye operation is tomorrow May 30th, reason being pressure rising beyond the safe limit and cannot be delayed any more if so could create more problems than needed.
Briefly this is what has happened. The first operation right eye was not a success as I healed too fast causing scar tissue under the surface of the eye. With the combination of tablets (nasty side effects) and more eye drops the second operation could not be delayed any longer and was operated on late April. Because the operation involved doing repair work as well as redoing the operation the healing process was slowed down deliberately.
The right eye is now about 80% back as it should be with a safe level of pressure behind the eye. At the last check up I was informed because of the long use of eye drops (25+ years) it has caused a cataract problem and will have to be dealt with after both eyes have fully settled down possibly next year.
The left eye operation should not be as troublesome reason being they know what precautions to take and no repair work to be done. All being well minium four weeks recovery.

A few other facts.
Since the first operation I have had over 10 different type of eye drops, ranging from every two hrs 8am – 10 pm to once a day night only, there is also one that I can use as often as required.
Two types of tablets both having side effects.
Seem to be living on pain killers just stopped taking them now start all over again tomorrow.
Not allowed to wash hair for the first three weeks even now I have to put on my swimming goggles to stop any water/soap getting into the eyes.
For convenience I have had my hair cut (what there is of it) shorter than usual.
Wearing an eye patch every night five weeks, developed an allergic reaction to tape holding patch on.
Distance travelled since first operation just under 1000 klm.
Taxis not permitted to drive days of operations $240
Too far to return home operation day over night accommodation and meals $300+
Lunch/coffee on way home of Dr visits $300+

After all that I can honestly say I am very lucky to be in a country where this type of treatment can be done. Always remembering there are many far worse than my eye problems.
If all goes well as it should this time as the Dr knows all the problems and will take all the necessary precautions to stop the scaring, I hope to be back to FishProfiles by the end of June.
All my gym work has been put on hold until then this also has caused a few problems old bones aching and putting on weight.

Regards Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I hope that things go well for you this time. At least your doctor has a precedent, and knows what to do. Good luck with your surgery, Keith. We will miss you.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

:Hums "We Are the Champions":

Good luck Keith! I won't be here when you get back, but I'll probably see you on sometime in August

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Keith,

There is not much else I can do then to wish you good luck and that this operation is going as planned.

You are a trooper and I admire your stamina

And hey, there is nothing wrong with short hair (for what is left), mine is about 3mm long .

Hang in there my fish friend,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hope the recovery has been going good so far !

Your list reminds me of the master card commercials that are broadcasting here in the states. They list a bunch of costs then the reason behind them all ends up being "priceless".

I want in on those $300 coffee trips! Ask adam, I'd order a pot of coffee (decaf) everywhere we went it was lovely to find out that IHOP had a never ending coffee pot deal .

I suppose a good thing about all this is, you can honestly say you grabbed the wrong packet when asked why you're eating tim tams instead of wheat crackers .

^_^

Hello to all

The operation was a success and no problems as the Dr knew what to expect this time.

My right eye will be blurry until I have the Cataract/s done in about six months time. The Cataract/s were caused by using all the eye drops for the last 25+ years.

If all goes well I hope to be back within two weeks about 19th June

My Betta tank is going along fantastic the replacement male Betta has changed colour from a washed out white/red/blue to the same colours as the Cardinal Tetras exactly what I was looking for.

Photos when I can see to use the camera clearly.

Regards Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Glad to see you're alright. Hope all goes well with the cataracts.
-Newb

_______________________________________________
You can call me Newb too, since I'm not nere new any more.

That's really great, Keith. Hoping for a very fast recovery and healing process. Looking forward to your pictures of the new betta.

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

That's awesome Keith! Glad everything worked out this time!!

Cheers to a speedy recovery!! /:'

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"it's the neck, it creaks under the weight of too much heavy thinking."

Having recently had kidney stone woes, I know what it's like to live off painkillers - NOT funny.

Take plenty of rest Keith, and don't try and jump into 'normal' routines too quickly. Eye surgery is the one thing that makes me shudder - most other medical procedures don't have this effect for some strange reason, I can even watch when a doctor is performing an endoscopy on me (with the glaring exception of the bladder cam I had recently - an experience even a hardcore masochist wouldn't want to touch with a 40 foot barge pole, believe me!) but anything to do with eyes ... urk, shudder.

I looked up this procedure on the web. I won't post the link because the photos are gruesome.

Put it this way Keith, I seriously wish someone could come up with a less invasive means of dealing with this. Just hearing that you've endured this makes me squirm, let alone discovering the joys involved with the actual surgery.

Fingers crossed also that my own family history doesn't mean I'm going to be next in the queue behind you ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Aside point cal, can't they zap your kidney stones with ultrasound?

Goods news for a full recovery Keith , good luck!

If the stone is already disintegrating of its own accord, the doctors prefer to let it.

Trouble was, mine decided to shed jagged bits that looked like tree branches, and one got stuck halfway down my ureter. Made quite a pretty X-ray picture that did. Have fun imagining what it felt like

Keith, do you have to use accessibility aids to make web pages readable without eyestrain for the duration? Only I should imagine the doctors are keen for you not to push your eyes too hard at the moment ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002