Yep I'm down to 9 days and counting til surgery (Dec. 19th)

Anyway here's the deal....I've HAD this surgery before. (Muscle realignment) and I came down with a MASSIVE infection....makes for good horror pictures but that's about it ;) LOL I did everything they told me last time....didn't get water in the eyes, hair, changed the pillow case nightly, didn't rub the eyes etc and I still got that blasted infection.

I do NOT want that this time....it was hell! took two weeks just to get the infection cleared up!

So is there any suggestions ya'll might have (off the top of your head or what your doctor might have told you if you've had surgery) that could help prevent an infection?

I honestly can't wait for this surgery....I've actually had strangers come up to me and ask if I could see out of my left eye *Drifts upwards so it's not like a 'normal' lazy eye*.....it's just AFTER the surgery I'm not looking forward to LOL

Thanks ya'll....

Becky

Okay - this may sound silly, but what do you think about wearing those goggles that swimmers wear? Not totally sure if this would completely protect you, though. Also, infections can occur during the actual surgery, so I don't know how one would go about preventing this. Hmmm..... Good luck!

What if you use anti-biotic drops prior to and after the surgery? Would taking an oral anti-biotic before and after the surgery help? (since they're playing with eye muscle, I'm not sure if you need a drop or an oral medication) Also, how often do you get checkups after the surgery? Try to do it as frequently as possible just so the doctor can look out for any signs of infection that might be brewing.

Well the docs office is shut down after the surgery....so my post op isn't til January 5th (when they reopen)....but I have all the 'contact' numbers incase an infection sets in....my doc will open the office if he needs to.

Jen I actually thought about that....But after surgery I forgo showers and resort to baths *ick* so I'm really not getting water in my eyes at that time. Though I guess I could pull out the ol' goggles for when I wash my hair just in case I get splashed LOL

Suprisingly unless their policy's have changed they don't give you ANY medicine (except during surgery and at the hospital of course).....anti-biotics or pain meds....*Shocking isn't it?*....your just told to take advil for the pain. and if that can't control it call the doc and they'll see what they can do....though this time around I'm gonna request a perscription....as I already know advil doesn't control that pain. :p

*Scratches head* Man! Now that i look at it....my eye doc is top in his field in the state and top 10 in the country....but talking about it like this it sure doesn't sound like it does it? LOL

Oh I take that back last time he DID give me an ointment to use IF an infection set in (it's pretty dang obvious when it does) so we could start using it asap if it like started at night and we couldn't get in til morning or something.

Dakota,

I would suggest that you stop wearing any and all cosmetics on your face NOW. Research concerning post-op infection for strabismus repair is kind of all over the map with most studies reaching no solid conclusions as to cause; however, I have read a couple that have linked use of cosmetics prior to surgery with increased risk of infection. Also, I would suggest that you discard ALL of your eye cosmetics and start fresh post-op when your eye is healed.

As someone who has been there, I'm wondering if it was just an infection last time or maybe an infection/suture reaction thing? I wonder only because suture reaction is much more common than infection post strabismus repair. I had a horribly painful nasty yuck looking suture reaction after my first surgery. I was so worried that it was an infection, but my PO reassured me it wasn't. For the second surgery I was put on Tobradex immediately post-op which is an antibiotic/steroid combo. I also requested and was given, a much more comprehensive cocktail of pain meds during surgery. Not sure if it was the Tobradex or the Toradol (strong NSAID I was given before surgery) but the second surgery involved so much less swelling and pain.

Talk to your surgeon and make sure he is clear on what you expect as to pain control. Good luck, I hope your surgery is as pain free as possible and your alignment turns out perfect.

Well I definately won't be wearing any cosmetics afterwards....had no idea that stuff prior could contribute.....guess it makes sense if say I don't get all the mascara off the night before etc.....so I'll try that!

I don't know if it was suture reaction....the Doctor I saw for that (mine was out of town) Said it was a severe infection....(he was one of the 'assisting' doctors during my first surgery) LOL So that's what I'm going on ;)

So I guess a suture reaction there's no real way to prevent that?...

As for pain I was talking to my mother about it this evening...and I think even before I'm in the OR when my doctor comes out to do the 'pre surgery chat' LOL...I'll flat out request some perscription pain meds.....Having the relationship I DO have with him *been with him since I was an infant...*....he'll respect my request....well he dang well better or I'll pester him at all hours of the night with phone calls LOL (Kidding...really)...

I just hope it works for longer this time....I'm gonna be real peeved if I have to go through this every 7 years....but they seem more optimistic this time since their doing all the muscles...not just the two side ones in each eye.

Thanks for the info :D

hey dakota .. i have had the surgery that you are speaking of 3 times on both eyes and never had a problem with infection. my doctor always gave me some kind of cream-like medicine that i had to put in my eyes. he also gave me anti-biotic drops that i had to drop in them daily. make sure that you ask your doctor if he can hook you up with these .. i imagine that infection mess must pretty much suck. hope all goes well this time around for you.

THREE times? Oh don't tell me that....it's bad enough I have to do this a second time.....I don't even wanna think of it not really working this time to the point i would need it AGAIN...LOL

He gave me the cream last time but told me to only use it if an infection set in......I only got the anti-biotic/steroid drops after the infection was diagnosed...

Oh well I'm gonna drill him like no tomorrow on friday :D I'll ask if I should just use the cream anyhow blah blah....my main concern is a better pain med.....last time he told me to stick to advil....didn't work...I want the good stuff this time LOL

Thanks all :D

When I had a cornea transplant I had to use this antibiotic ointment three times a day, for the first couple of days and then antiobiotic drops 4 times a day for a month. Doesn't your doctor require you to do the same? If you were constantly administering antibiotics, wouldn't this eliminate any infection?

You would think...but like I said...last time he told us the ointment was only for if an infection set in.

Hoping things will be different this time...:D 17 hours and counting hehe

You would think...but like I said...last time he told us the ointment was only for if an infection set in.

Hoping things will be different this time...:D 17 hours and counting hehe

How are you doing? You should let us all know when you can OK?
Amy

yep just popped on to post...:p