Freaked out by upcoming surgery! - Eye & Vision Message Board

MrsGriffin · 10-29-2004, 07:49 AM

I have an upcoming surgery scheduled to remove a cavernous hemangioma that is growing below my eye and I'm a little freaked out. It's an outpatient procedure and they will need to make an incision below my eye and also at the outer corner. In addition, they may need to cut out a piece of bone at the outer corner of my eye to better access the tumor.

What is really freaking me out is that this will not be performed under general anesthesia. They are using intervenous sedation (along with local anesthesia). They say I will be in a "twilight sleep" and may or may not remember anything. I can't STAND the thought of being aware during this ordeal.

I would love to hear some reassuring stories of any of you who have gone under this type of anesthesia and really "don't remember ANYTHING". Advice or assurance dealing with recovery is welcomed as well. I have two kids - one pretty young, so I can't take it too easy.

HoustonTexan · 10-30-2004, 08:20 AM

I had cataract surgery a week and a half ago. What they did for me was knock me out briefly, gave me a shot under my eye, then you are in a dreamlike state while the operation takes place. You won't feel a thing.

And there was no pain when I work up either. I vaguely remember seeing some lights but only briefly. Other than that I don't remember a thing.

Relax. It'll probably go a lot quicker than you ever imagined and you'll be up and running in no time.

Good luck.

MrsGriffin · 11-30-2004, 07:12 PM

Quick update: surgery went fine - I really didn't remember anything. It took longer than expected since they found not a hemangioma, but a granular cell tumor that was imbedded in the inferior oblique and rectus muscles under my eye. They had to cut out quite a bit of muscle to get the tumor out, which left me with double vision. The pathology report showed that they didn't get it all.

I'm not sure what's going to happen next. Good news is that the tumor was benign. I guess it's pretty rare to have that type of tumor there.