UPDATE...Vitrectomy
YES, I will have to have a Vitrectomy in my right eye. No choice. The Retinal Specialist is a very nice man, I truly like him and trust his expertise. Surgery is being scheduled and I will go to my Primary Doctor very soon to have blood work and EKG prior. Laser Surgery in my left eye in two weeks as well.
I have educated myself on the Vitrectomy and I am fine with having it done. I would lose vision and possibly blindness in that eye if I do not have the surgery....SO, that is a no brainer :)
I am overwhelmed with gratitude......I would not have the strength I do now if it wasn't for ALL of YOU, my friends whom I just love and treasure, admire. Saying "Thank You" doesn't seem to be enough. All of you mean more to me than I could ever express.
I look forward to being able to see without this "Web" of blood that I have had for the last 13 months.
The Doctor told me that this isn't my fault......"You were dealt a hand, called "Diabetes".
Grateful for this Technology. and most of all my friends and loved ones. Thank You.
Robyn xo
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Josh F on -
I know I have not been through this and ADMIRE the strength you both are showing. I know I would be a mess. But that said, I know you both will be back to normal given enough time. It is never fast enough but your body went through a huge trauma. Allow yourself a break emotionally and know this is something that has been done countless times with excellent results.
My thoughts to you both.
-
Permalink Reply by Cinderfella on -
Patience is the biggest component to vitrectomy recovery. I can't stress it enough. Sixteen days out is way to soon to expect to see any kind of positive changes. At six months out, my doctor said there was still healing going on in my eye, even though my vision had pretty well cleared out. Pryde and Robyn, you guys are going to recover, each in your own time. It's going to be about a month before you even begin to see any shred of improvement. Even at that, it's going to be probably another month or two before your eye is completely free of floaters, etc. If your op. went like mine, your eye has been filled with saline to replace the natural vitreous gel. It's going to take about six weeks for that saline to be absorbed by your body and for your own natural vitreous gel to refill the center of your eye. My doctor said that he was not able to get all the blood out of my eye during the operation and that I would probably still see blood in there for a time until it was all reabsorbed. He was right. I looked through a red haze for several weeks. Gradually, and I stress gradually, it started to get a little clearer every couple of days. If you have been having small eye bleeds prior to your vitrectomy, then you know that it takes 2 seconds for your eye to bleed but two months for that one drop of blood to clear out. It's the same process here. It's going to take time for the process to be complete and for clean vitreous gel to once again fill your eye. Hang in there. It's going to happen. I think the thing that is sometimes too bad is that the medical professionals don't give thorough enough information on what recovery is going to be like. Your situations are most likely progressing completely normally, but you don't have a clear idea of what to expect so it's frustrating you. Again, my brother went through this process about four years ago. I was on the phone with him every couple of days in the weeks leading up to the operation and then the weeks after. He talked me through every step of it. You are going to get there. I am living proof of it.
-
Permalink Reply by PatientX on -
Robin I am still sending positive thoughts your way and hoping for a fast recovery. Take care.
-
Permalink Reply by pryde on
-
Thanks for the response cinderfella and support from others.
I am certainly aware that I am in for a long recovery with this. I got a little discouraged at my 1 week follow up as my Dr said he noticed some macular edema which I never had before. He "thinks" it is because of the surgery. As I could only read the big E on the chart (although fuzzy/blurry) he commented that I should be seeing better than that. Obviously that kind of thew me as I know it had only been a week after the vitrectomy.
Also, I don't have any red haze, just very blurry/waxy vision (like Robyn) with a distorted field. Funny when I look through a pinhole the vision is a little clearer but I see all kinds of little dark "cracks" sort of like dry desert ground in my visual field. Maybe it is some blood on the surface of the retina?
Anyway, I look forward to following Robyn's recovery and thanks again for everyone's support and comments
-
Permalink Reply by Robyn on -
Thank you Cinderfella...and everyone. I realize I am in for a log haul....now. I will stay strong. The replies sure help and I wish you the best Pryde. I am keeping busy and just tell myself it will heal and get better. Thank you all very much. xo
-
Permalink Reply by Brunetta on -
Love you Robyn. Cinderfella's comments were so inspiring.. It is so hard to have patience. But I am sure you will recover and see better slowly but surely in the next weeks and months.
God Bless, dearie
-
Permalink Reply by Cinderfella on
-
to Pryde: I have also had treatment for macular edema. It wasn't a big deal, for me at least. It was a laser session and I'm told the situation has been successfully treated. Also, about your distorted vision. It may be due to the fact that the vitrectomy procedure changes the shape of your eye. This is usually temporary and will resolve itself in time. The shape of my eye changed due to the procedure so I went and got new eye glasses. Then my retina specialist said I shouldn't have done that, that I could have waited and saved myself the money, that my eye will eventually return to it's normal shape. Oh well, I needed the glasses at the time. I had to return to work and couldn't really read or see close up, etc. I need a lens upgrade for my good eye anyway. I could be totally wrong about the reason for your distorted vision, but I'm trying to put as much information out there to people as possible.
-
-
Thanks for the information. It makes sense as my vision is even more blurred with glasses on as my script is definetly different now. I actually put some satin tape on the right lense to further occlude the vision as it seems to help with the double vision and general ability to function. I shared ths tip wth Robyn as well.
I have been on acular and predisone drops for 2 weeks and have a follow up monday.
thanks again for all of your insight!
-
Permalink Reply by Robyn on
-
Cinderfella...You are just wonderful!! Thank you for all the information, advice and support. Very much appreciated. xo
-
-
Hello Everyone,
Had my 3 week follow up today. Dr says pretty significant cystoid macular edema (CME) persists in the eye. I have been taking acular and predisone for 2 weeks so far with no results. I could not read the big E today. He wants to start avastin injections in 2 weeks if there is no improvement.
I find this all very confusing as he says I should be seeing great by now (at 3 weeks post-op) if it wasn't for the CME; however, all the vitrectomy accounts i have read report that vision recovery takes months? He says that my vit was very simple with only minimal scar tissue removal. He seems to be stumped as to why I have this much CME. Did any others experience this after their vitrectomy?
Advertisement
REsources
Groups
From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...
How do you measure the work of volunteers?
329,040 minutes, 329,040 moments so dear. 329,040 minutes — How do you measure, measure volunteers? In smileys, in tears shed, in counsel, in cups of coffee. In units, in carb counts, in laughter, in strife. In 329,040 minutes – how …Continue Reading
DHF Expands Board of Advisors
Diabetes Hands Foundation has always relied on partners and advisors to increase its understanding of the diabetes space, in order to better serve people touched by diabetes. Today this is as true as ever, as we proudly announce the expansion …Continue Reading
TuDiabetes Team
DHF STAFF
 Manny Hernandez(Co-Founder, Editor, has LADA)
|
DHF VOLUNTEERS
Lead Administrator
 Bradford (has type 1) |
Administrators
 Lorraine (mother of type 1) |
 Marie B (has type 1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIKE us on Facebook
Spread the word
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
© 2013 A community of people touched by diabetes, run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
