Recovery from Vitrectomy

[Mels30]

Hi guys
I'm currently recovering from a Vitrectomy in my right eye and I'm feeling pretty down as I have to posture for 40 mins of every hour. Has anyone got any tips for keeping your spirits up? I'm in quite a bit of pain and not used to lying about as I'm a full time working v mum. Help. X

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[himtoo]

hey @Mels30
welcome to the froum
big hugs from me[[[hugs]]] -- your op won't have been much fun

have had injections but not a vitrectomy !!
from you lovely avatar pic looks like you have a supportive partner

i hate to say this but sometimes we have to just accept that rest is needed to get back to full steam ahead !!!!!!!!!!

there are a few people that have had this op and they could be along soon.

tagging @Dark Horse , @Emilyprice , @noblehead

 

[Mels30]

Hi, thanks for replying. I had the pleasure of a Lucentis injection prior to the op - unfortunately the nurse scratched my eyeball during the procedure which is adding to the healing time. It wasn't pleasant so you have my sympathy.

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[himtoo]

bloody he!l @Mels30 -- you have mine double and treble -- brave young lady you are

was this a so called "trained nurse " to help assist the backlog in opthamology depts ????
that were giving the injection grrrrrrr !!!!

 

[Mels30]

Himtoo - apparently it is usual for trained senior nurses to give these injections. In Newcastle anyway. My surgeon, who was amazing and couldn't fault at all, told me that I was just unlucky. Just my luck really. Lol
PS. It's been a long time since I've been called a young lady.

 

[Mels30]

Thanks for that Galja, I'll give it a go tomorrow. X

 

[himtoo]

Himtoo - apparently it is usual for trained senior nurses to give these injections. In Newcastle anyway. My surgeon, who was amazing and couldn't fault at all, told me that I was just unlucky. Just my luck really. Lol
PS. It's been a long time since I've been called a young lady.

Hi @Mels30
it is just that I have an ongoing complaint with my local hospital ( been attending there for opthal appts for 26 years) and they have never got to grips with seeing patients timely to clinician recommendations

i met with senior managers approx 6 weeks ago and 1 of their so called "planned improvements" to increase capacity was the training of nurses to give dry and wet AMD injections.
having had a few injections ( for maculopathy) myself I am just not sure of their planned "improvements".

LOL -- you are young ( younger than me )

edited to add -- my consultant ( who did the injections ) informed me the risk was 1 in 1500 of potential blindness from the injection -- I add the brave to you again !!!!!!!

 

[Mels30]

I think that the story is the same in every Eye Clinic in every hospital. I have come to expect that every appointment I have will take anything from 2-4 hours. Occasionally I am pleasantly surprised when it only takes an hour. There just seems to be too many people given appointment's at the same time and not enough consultants to see them all.
I wasn't really told about the risk of blindness from my surgeon. I'm maybe naïve in that I like and trust him so until I have a reason to think otherwise, I trust that he will treat me in the best way to save my sight. You sound like you've had a bad time with your consultants.

 

[himtoo]

I think that the story is the same in every Eye Clinic in every hospital. I have come to expect that every appointment I have will take anything from 2-4 hours. Occasionally I am pleasantly surprised when it only takes an hour. There just seems to be too many people given appointment's at the same time and not enough consultants to see them all.
I wasn't really told about the risk of blindness from my surgeon. I'm maybe naïve in that I like and trust him so until I have a reason to think otherwise, I trust that he will treat me in the best way to save my sight. You sound like you've had a bad time with your consultants.

no -- nothing could be further from that as regards the actual patient care from all the staff in the clinic. all the nurses and consultants are wonderful.
I am usually there for about 2 hours per appointment

my issue is with the clinician saying he wishes to see me again in 3 , 4 or 6 months and the appointment never shows up so have to chase and chase and sometimes have ended up waiting 11 months for a 6 monthly appointment.

 

[Mels30]

Ah I see. Sorry, I misunderstood your reply. I have to make my next appointment before I leave the clinic so there's no confusion or waiting for letters in the post. ☺

 

[noblehead]

Has anyone got any tips for keeping your spirits up? I'm in quite a bit of pain and not used to lying about as I'm a full time working v mum. Help. X

That was the worst part @Mels30, I had to posture for 50mins every hour but they said I could save some of the non-posture time up and use it to take a bath/shower/ or a walk.

To keep spirits up just think about the long-term benefits of having the procedure done, I caught up with some box sets whilst laid-up for the 10 days and also read a few books which put the time in. Good luck and best wishes.

 

[Mels30]

Hi @noblehead. I am currently watching a lot of Jeremy Kyle so I think I need to find something else. I'm used to being very active. I have seen most box sets that are available and I've been resisting the urge to watch the latest Game of Thrones until tonight (my partner would kill me if I watched it without him).
How is your vision now? Did it improve? I can see the edge of the gas bubble now but that's all I can see.

 

[noblehead]

Hi @noblehead. I am currently watching a lot of Jeremy Kyle so I think I need to find something else. I'm used to being very active. I have seen most box sets that are available and I've been resisting the urge to watch the latest Game of Thrones until tonight (my partner would kill me if I watched it without him).
How is your vision now? Did it improve? I can see the edge of the gas bubble now but that's all I can see.

Jeremy Kyle

My kids keep saying to my wife and I to watch Game of Thrones, not sure if I'd enjoy it but will give it a go one day

My vision is good, lost a little in my peripheral vision but it isn't enough to restrict my driving licence in any way as I get issued with a 3 year one, the last time my licence was up for renewal they didn't even ask for a field vision test to be done so hoping it will be the same next time it's up for renewal.

The bubble shrinks and disappears, probably this time next week you'll not see it (well hopefully).

 

[Mels30]

You should definitely start watching game of thrones. I came into it after series 3 but watched the first three series in two weeks. Once you start watching it's addictive.
I have noticed today that the bubble has moved down. Is this because the bubble is shrinking or could it be because I am not posturing correctly or for long enough?

 

[noblehead]

Thanks @Mels30 for the recommendation

Not sure of the answer to your question (sorry it's 13 years since I had my op) but found the following which explains what happens to the gas bubble post-surgery:

The gas is inserted to help the retinal detachment heal in the correct place. The bubble floats upwards because the gas is lighter than the fluid which normally fills the back of the eye. The gas acts like a splint, keeping the retina in place while the hole or tear in the retina seals. This sealing of the hole occurs in response to either freezing or laser treatment, which is done as part of the operation. The gas bubble absorbs itself – this takes either ten to 12 days or six to eight weeks after the operation, depending on the type of gas used. The gas bubble slowly gets smaller so that eventually it is no longer in the eye. As this happens the space that was taken up by the gas is filled with aqueous fluid – the natural fluid made by the eye. With the gas in place, the vision in your eye will be very poor, a bit like having your eye open under water. When the gas has been absorbed, your vision should improve.

http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/eye/vitrectomy.pdf

 

[Mels30]

Thanks. My op was only five days ago so that's why I'm concerned that the bubble is either shrinking or moving. I haven't been posturing as much as I should have. I think I'll call the eye clinic tomorrow to be in the safe side. Thanks for your help @noblehead

 

[noblehead]

That's sensible thing to do @Mels30 and hopefully it will put your mind at rest, my Ophthalmologist always said to contact the clinic if I had any concerns.